Page 45 of Clap Back (Carter Brothers)

Awful.

Really fucking awful.

Not only was I blessed with heavy periods that sucked. I was blessed with heavy periods that lasted a really long time.

I was on day seven of probably ten, and was eating iron supplements like they were candy, and I was about sick of eating red meat.

“Okay,” I lied.

She eyed me sitting in the chair, raised her brow, and I sighed. “Okay, so they’re still bad. But they’ll start to taper off soon.”

She sighed. “Back to the Carters. I haven’t seen them in here in three days. Why? You didn’t do anything wrong. I saw how he was looking at you when y’all left me to the Spanish Inquisition.”

I tossed her a smirk, which she ignored.

The door opened again, and an official looking lady came in with her eyes taking everything in as she moved toward us.

“Hello, welcome to Pie Hard. Can I help you?” I said sweetly.

The woman glanced at me, then at Pepper, before saying, “I’m Garnett Carter.”

I blinked. “Umm, hi.”

“I came to tell you something, but I don’t want you to take it out on my son because his father and brothers gave him dumbass advice.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

I tilted my head at her and said, “And what would that be?”

“Can I have a muffin first?” She looked at the display case. “I’ve been staunchly against this place since the beginning because my kids prefer your food over mine.”

I burst out laughing. “And you’re eating one of my muffins? Which kind do you want?”

“I hate to admit this, but they’re right. Your baked goods are preferable over mine. Which, in the end, I guess works out well because now I don’t have to cook as much.” She pointed at the peach muffins. “That one.”

I pulled one out of the display case and handed it over.

“These are delicious,” she gestured toward a table. “You want to come have a seat?”

Pepper patted me on the shoulder and said, “Go.”

I went, taking a seat at the table with Auden’s mother moments after skirting around the counter.

My place wasn’t the biggest, but there were four large tables in the front that allowed for people to eat a quick bite if they felt so inclined.

I leaned forward in the seat across from Garnett, I raised a brow at her, waiting.

She shot me a wink before digging into her muffin, but she did talk in between bites.

“So my husband came home complaining about your father three days past.” She paused. “Well, that’s not quite true. He’s been complaining about your father since Chief Austin took the chief position, and that’s understating it. But this thing he was complaining about three days ago was new for him.”

“What was it?” I asked, having a feeling I wasn’t going to like what I was about to hear.

She took another bite of her muffin, chewed, and said, “So good.”

I smiled despite the nerves that were taking flight in my belly.

“What I understand is that Auden was at your place when he got the SWAT call out, right?” she asked.

“Yes,” I drawled.

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