Page 20 of Wicked Devotions: Part 2

“Good. You’re all too young to slip up and have a baby.”

“You and Mom weren’t much older than I am when you had me.”

“Different times, different circumstances.”

“I guess. Is there anything else?”

“Your grandparents called. They’d like to see you when you play at Northrup.”

My mom’s parents still live in Connecticut, pretty close to Northrup University, one of our conference rivals. “Of course. I’ll make sure to take the time to see them.”

“No flying.”

“No promises.”

“Declan.”

“Dad.”

The sound of the door to the mudroom opening is the perfect excuse to get off the phone before this call devolves into an argument. “I have to go. I’ll talk to you later.”

“We will talk about this later.”

“Uh huh. Bye.”

“Goodbye.” He hangs up with a click right as Harper and Emerson, along with Cy trailing, walk into the room.

Harper surprises me by coming straight to me and wrapping her arms around my waist. I pull her tight to my chest and kiss her forehead, dragging her sweet scent into my nostrils. She loosens her hold, but I don’t, I’m not ready to let her go.

“Who were you talking to?” she asks.

“Dad.” I drop my arms and let her step back. “I wanted to fill him in on what’s happening.”

She shrinks into herself. “What did he say?”

“He’s reaching out to the school administrators to see if the cameras in the lecture hall caught anything.”

She looks down and nods. “I’m going to go take a shower before dinner.”

As soon as she’s out of the room, the three of us turn to each other to strategize. She won’t want us to intrude but fuck that, she needs protection, and she’s got the three of us. Plus Banks. Am I jealous that he is still the one she runs to for comfort first? Yes. But I’m not blind to the fact that he knows her best and that knowledge is invaluable to the three of us.

“I’m going to call Banks; he should be involved in this conversation.”

Both Emerson and Cy nod in agreement.

“Hey.” Banks answers on the second ring. “What’s up?”

“Harper got another letter.”

“Fuck. At your house?”

“In class.” I cast my eyes from the phone up to the guys. “We’re sitting here brainstorming ideas of how to protect her since this guy is getting so bold.”

“Ways that she won’t be opposed to,” Emerson adds.

“Truthfully, I don’t give a fuck if she’s opposed to it or not,” I say.

“Agreed,” Cy says.

---