Cal slides into view in front of us, hands in his pockets, amber eyes warm with something that looks like pride. “Besides, you saw those high fives? We basically just became the cool guys. Their stock just went way up.”
A laugh bubbles out of me—surprised, genuine, desperately needed. “You think you’re cool?”
“Angel, I know I’m cool.” He winks. “The question is whether you’re ready to stop being terrified about them and start being terrified about your first board meeting.”
The reminder hits like cold water. Right. The meeting. My first official appearance as Chief Strategic Officer. My first time sitting at a table with men who knew my father, who probably have opinions about me, about my sudden return, about my children.
“I’m not terrified,” I lie.
“Your hand is shaking,” Jace observes quietly.
Damn it. It is.
“You’ve got this,” he continues, his thumb stroking across my knuckles. “You’re brilliant. You’re prepared. And you’ve got us.”
“For intimidation purposes?” I try to joke.
“For whatever you need.” His steel-blue eyes hold mine. “Always.”
Movement at the curb pulls our attention. Sienna gives me a quick hug, pressing a kiss to my cheek. “You’re going to be amazing. I’ll see you tonight for dinner?”
“If I survive,” I mutter.
“You’ll survive,” Charles says, appearing at her side. “You’re a Carter. We’re built for this.”
The guards are already shifting—Marcus is helping Sienna into the third vehicle with one guard, preparing to take her home. Charles moves toward the second SUV where the remaining security waits, but pauses.
“Parker, ride with them,” he gestures to Cal, Jace, and Silas. “We’ll convoy to the office.”
“Why—”
“Because you look like you’re going to throw up, and if you do, I’d rather you do it in their car than mine.” But his smile is gentle. Loving. “Besides, they’ll keep you from spiraling.”
I want to protest that I don’t spiral, but we both know it’s a lie.
Cal’s already moving toward the driver’s seat. “Come on, angel. Let me drive you to your first day in style.”
“That’s not helping,” I mutter, but I follow.
Silas claims the front passenger seat with that casual sprawl that somehow makes the SUV feel smaller. Jace opens the back door for me with old-fashioned courtesy that feels both natural and strange after six years apart.
I slide in. He follows, settling beside me with careful distance—close enough to feel his presence, far enough to let me breathe.
The motorcycle guards fire up their engines, that deep rumble that’s more growl than purr. Charles’s vehicle pulls into formation behind us.
Cal navigates out of the school zone with the same precision Jace had driving in, his amber eyes constantly checking mirrors, tracking our escort, monitoring everything.
The silence in the SUV feels weighted. Heavy with everything unsaid. I can still see the school in the side mirror, getting smaller as we pull away. My boys are inside. Starting their new life without me.
My chest tightens. My hands shake in my lap.
Without thinking, I lean into Jace. Just slightly. Just enough to feel the solid warmth of him beside me.
His arm comes around me immediately. Natural. Like my body called and his answered without consulting his brain. His hand settles on my shoulder, thumb stroking gently through the silk of my blouse.
“Tell me everything’s going to be okay,” I whisper. The words tumble out unbidden, vulnerable. “I just want everything to be okay.”
His finger finds my chin, tilting my face up until I have no choice but to meet his eyes. Those steel-blue eyes that see everything, miss nothing, have always looked at me like I’m something precious.
