Avery:
She asked for you too, bro
Fuck.
My hesitation lasted about two seconds before my resolve took over. “I’m going to have to drop out of this meeting, unfortunately. Evelyn, can you send me a copy of the notes later?”
“Of course,” she replied with a nod.
“Any decisions that need to be made can be presented to Evelyn, and she’ll give them to me. My apologies for leaving early.”
“Is everything all right?” my advertising manager asked.
“Obviously not,” my head of accounting said next to him. “Don’t be rude.”
“Nothing life or death at the moment, but it does need my immediate attention.” I quickly packed up my shit and rushed out of the room, finding Logan waiting outside.
“You saw?” he asked. “I was about to go in and get you.”
“Evelyn saved you the trouble of interrupting. Let’s go.” Once we were safely ensconced in the car, I called Avery and put him on speaker. “We’re on our way. Where’s the vehicle now?”
“Headed to the dealership to see if it can be saved.”
“You’re coming home?” Clover’s voice came across the speaker.
“Avery said you asked for us.”
The sound of a muffled slap was followed by Avery’s laughter. “I said I wished you guys were here, not that you had to leave work.”
“You think we would stay at work when someone tried to hurt you?”
“Your work is important?—”
“Youare important,” I snapped, probably too roughly. “If you need us, we’re there.”
“How are you feeling, mama?” Logan asked as he navigated us through traffic.
“I’ve definitely been better, but Avery is taking care of me.”
“Do you want us to get you anything on the way?”
“Just yourselves.”
We kept her on the speaker while we drove, checking in on her well-being every few minutes when Avery’s purrs stuttered. The entirety of the drive gave me time to stew. Who was coming after her? Or was it Magnolia they were after? If the girls had gotten to the vehicle a few minutes sooner and come face-to-face with whoever had done the damage…
The endless questions made me nauseated.
“Do you want us to come to the nest when we get home?” I asked.
“I wouldn’t say no to some cuddles.”
“Let’s get you tucked in.”
I caught the start of her purr before Logan announced our arrival into the neighborhood, giving her a two-minute ETA.
Selfishly bolting out of the vehicle the moment it came to a stop in the garage, I took the stairs two at a time and burst into Clover’s room. She sat up, and I swept toward her, dragging her into my arms. “You’re okay.”
“Avery and I both told you I was,” she said, even as she burrowed into my embrace. I couldn’t help noticing she didn’t have a stitch on her.
