Page 21 of Fall Wherever They May

“Hey, are you okay?” I ask them.

They both nod their heads in response, but I’m not picking up what they’re putting down.

“While we are here, are you hungry?”

Tuck nods his head, and Aspen shakes hers no. Well, that’s too damn bad; she’s getting something anyway, whether she eats it or not.

“Okay, you two stay in here, and I’ll go grab you something to eat. I’ll leave the truck running, but when I get out, I want you to lean over the seats and lock the doors.”

Aspen nods, and I hop out, leaving my keys in the truck in case they need to make a getaway. When I walk back outside with their food, everything is still calm.

I slide back into the truck, start driving, and press the hands-free button on my steering wheel. “Call Teagan Price,” I say into the speaker when it makes a beep. The phone rings a few times before she picks up.

“This is Teagan.”

“Teagan, it’s Cal. Listen, I don’t have a lot of time, and I don’t really want to explain right now, but I need you to be aware the paparazzi know about Aspen somehow, and they swarmed her and her son at the bookstore. I have them with me, but you’re going to have to work your PR magic.”

“Shit.”

“Kid in the truck, Teag. You’re on speaker.”

“Shiiiiiiooooot.”

She pulls a laugh out of Tuck. “That’s five dollars in the swear jar, ma’am. Carter was right! I’ll be rich by the end of the season,” he says.

Teagan laughs. “Yes, sir.”

I can’t help but love the girl for making Tuck laugh when he’s clearly not okay.

“Alright, I have another call to make,” I tell her.

“Miss Taylor, I’m sorry about this. I’ll do my best to clean it up, but I have to warn you, I can only do so much.”

“You have my authorization; try to outbid the paparazzi to keep my son out of the tabloids. Just text or call to keep me informed. I’m not worried about me, but I am worried about Tucker.”

“Will do, Miss Taylor.”

“Thank you,” Aspen says as Teagan hangs up.

I press the hands-free button again. “Call,” I pause and try to keep my voice down to a whisper so Tuck can’t hear me.

“Fuck Face,” I whisper.

I renamed Carter in my phone after he spouted off about me being fucked. Now look at me; I realize he might not be wrong.

“I’m sorry, who would you like to call?” The AI voice responds.

I try again and whisper. “Call Fuck Face.” I hear chuckles from the back seat.

“I’m sorry, who would you like to call?”

I sigh, then say loud enough so I don’t have to repeat myself. “Call Fuck Face.”

“That’s fifteen dollars, Cal!” Tuck says loudly.

“Calling Fuck Face.” The AI voice says, and boisterous laughter fills the back seat.

Carter picks up on the first ring. “Yo, Smiley… Do I hear laughter? Where are you?”

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