Page 23 of Between Now and Always

“Cater, man. I’m so sorry,” he says with empathy that’s rare for him.

“Me, too. But she’s made it clear she only wants to be friends.”

“That letter was from her?”

“Yeah. But it doesn’t say how to reach her. Our tour starts next month and then I’ll be gone for another three. How will I find her?”

“You can ask Phil. He’s looking for you because he wants your help with something. He came to us because he said he couldn’t wait for you to get your head out of your ass and call him. Whatever it is, it’s time sensitive.”

Guilt at how my childish avoidance of Phil has cost us both precious time assails me. But I push it aside, I can self-flagellate later. Right now, I want to find out where Liz is and what we’re going to do about bringing justice to the two criminals walking free.

“I’ll call him.”

One side of his mouth lifts in his trademark smirk before he pulls his phone out.

“I’ll do you one better. I told him you’d be here at 8 pm. But, let me see if he’s free now.”

I surge to my feet in surprise and look around the room even though I know we’re alone.

“He’s here?” I ask, suddenly nervous at facing him properly for the first time since he came back into the picture.

“No, he’s in Austin. He couldn’t get away. But you should return his fucking call, C. He’s a decent guy who gives a shit about you and Beth. And he’s trying to bury those crazy assholes in Texas. He says he needs your help.”

Shame washes over me, but I know it’s pointless to give that any energy right now. I want to focus on what I’ll do from here out.

“I’ll call him tonight.”

He nods in approval. “Cool, and once you’re done with him, you can to talk to mom.”

I groan at the knot of apprehension that forms in my gut just imagining that conversation.

“Does she know all this already?” I ask, hoping they’ll say yes.

Jack’s head shake in the negative is completely unsympathetic. “Nope, that honor is going to be all yours. You owe her that conversation. And it should be face to face.”

My shoulders droop under the weight of my resignation, but I nod in agreement.

“I’ve got a couple of weeks left out here. I can’t bail. Not when we’re still doing so much promo for the launch.”

His eyebrows draw together as he fixes me with a menacing glare.

“As soon as you can. If Penn finds out from anyone but you, it’ll devastate her. And thenI’llhave to devastateyou.”

I roll my eyes, dismissing his threat.

“Don’t act like you forgot how I used to kick your ass, Carter,” he punches my shoulder.

“Yeah, when I was a scrawny 6’2 and 150 pounds.”

He leans in and wraps his arm around my neck in a choke hold. “Just cause you’ve got some weight on you doesn’t mean I can’t still take you.”

He’s been 6’4 and built since he was thirteen and he’s always used his size to his advantage. My mother joked that his rough housing was how he expressed his love. The tension between us has fallen away as quickly as it came.

So today instead of being annoyed that he’s giving me Noogie, I’m nearly dizzy with relief.

The Free Beth

BETH

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