Page 25 of The Logic of Loyalty

“Uh—um. What⁠—”

“He always makes me happy, so hold him while I talk.” He pats Cassian’s head before backing up a step. “I’ll be back in thirty minutes, so long as you have my boy. Just let your husband know the food is covered.” And before I have a chance to argue, he’s already striding away.

“Well, then. Okay,” I say, more to myself than to him. “Bye.”

“Look at this cutie,” Bethany singsongs from behind me. I turn to her and smile widely when I see how adorable she looks.

“Oh, you look adorable!” She spins, a shy look on her face as I take in the cute overall jean shorts and daring V-neck—daring because it’s on her bountiful chest.

“I feel like the Fourth of July.”

“Does it make you want a hotdog and a sparkler?”

“Real bad.” We both laugh, and she holds her hands up in a gimme gesture. A bouncing, happy Cassian transitions smoothly from me to her, and Bethany goes with joy, holding that baby in her arms.

Hands free again, I wrench my gaze from the heartwarming image of Bethany with the baby and check my phone again to finally see a message from an unsaved number sent about five minutes ago.

Unknown

I’m sorry, honey. I broke my phone, then something held me up. I’m leaving now.

I’m relieved and frustrated at the same time. I call, but get sent to voicemail.

Unknown

He’s borrowing my phone. He’ll drop me off then head to your place.

Paige

Please let him know to come straight home. He doesn’t need to get the meat anymore.

Unknown

I frown and look up to the worried expression on Bethany’s face. I paste on one of my bright smiles to chase that expression away. “Would you mind hanging with the little cutie while I do my hosting duty?” Her worry remains, but she nods, unable to contain the joy she gets from holding the babbling baby boy.

I busy myself by moving to the different members of the party, checking in on the little Bright and his glowing keeper periodically, until the sound of more vehicles arriving pulls my attention to our front yard.

Trevor and Josh have both arrived, and I watch as my husband walks past my employer and goes immediately into the house without a glance in the direction of our party or me. Josh, on the other hand, comes around the side and goes up to Carter, who has become a co-host of sorts—which I find hilarious. I watch him nod, turn to Becky for a quick kiss, then follow Josh back out front to the cars.

I rush over to the food table to prep the space for our main attraction to finally arrive. The vultures eye me from around the party, and I know that I have a limited amount of time to organize before they converge and pick it to pieces.

The smell reaches me before his arms. “Sorry I’m late, baby,” he says into my barely tamed mane of hair. I scramble out of his hold, turn around, and sniff him. My nose wrinkles at the vanilla rose wafting off of him. “What is it?” He looks legitimately confused, and I swallow my frustration. There’s a crowd gathered, and nobody needs to be in my business.

I already know he gave her a ride home. Even after our conversation. Now, I know what she smells like. The unease slithers down my spine. I open my mouth to say who-knows-what when Carter’s carefree voice interrupts the tense moment.

“Where do you want this, Paigy-Poo?” I dismiss my feelings in an effort to remain in charge of our party and peek around Trevor.

“You know I hate that name, Carter,” I tease him, then usher him past me to the table. He places the first two giant containers of the delicious barbecue pork and brisket I promised everyone. As Josh nudges past me to put the second batch down, I hear Trevor grunt from where he stands frozen beside me. I shoot him a questioning glance, but his eyes are on the man doing the job he said he would do … but didn’t.

Behind Josh is the perfectly prepared table, finished just in time to be completely demolished by our guests. Satisfaction runs through me with how well it all has come together. I reach out and squeeze Josh and Carter’s arms, who both give me big smiles. “Thank you both for all of your help. You really didn’t have to.”

Josh squeezes my arm in return. “Anytime, Paige. I’m always happy to help out when you⁠—”

Carter barrels into me, giving me a big hug that lifts me into the air. “Of course, Paigy-Poo!”

“Carter!” I squeal, wriggling in his hold. From over his shoulder, my husband stands with his arms crossed, glowering at the display. Josh slides past me and toward his child, who is currently bouncing in Bethany’s gentle arms.

I’m hit with the smell from Trevor again when he jostles Carter. “Alright, go get your own woman.”