Page 151 of Contentious

“No problem.”

Carson huffed out a laugh. “Sure it wasn’t. Did you have to cancel a gig?”

“We postponed it to tomorrow night.”

“Ugh, I’m sorry.”

“It was for a good cause.”

They pulled up to Spencer’s house a few minutes later to find numerous cars parked on the street—one for each of the girls, their mom, their dad, Ethan and Jackson.

“It’s a full-on fucking party.”

“Everyone’s upset,” Julian said. “Tell them to get lost.”

“I’m not doing that.”

“You can if you want to.”

Julian got out of the car and came around to help Carson, who couldn’t believe he actually needed to be helped out of a vehicle like his grandfather did at nearly ninety-four. “Take it slow.”

“That’s my only speed at the moment.” His legs felt like they were made of Jell-O, and his body ached from the long hours in the car.

As he watched Cresley carry a sleeping Ty into the house, he wished he could do that for her.

“I hate that she’s walking into a Remington family circus after the day she’s had. Will you show her where my room is and tell her to put Ty to bed up there?”

“Yep.” He turned Carson over to Jackson, who’d met them at the door. “Find him a horizontal surface.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Hey, Cres, wait up,” Julian said. “I’ll take him for you.” To Isla, he said, “Be right back.”

“Take your time.”

When they walked into the kitchen, Carson, who was leaning on Jackson, was swarmed by his parents, sisters and grandfather.

“What’re you doing out after curfew?” Carson asked Spencer.

“Checking on you, my friend.” He put his hands on Carson’s shoulders. “How’re you holding up?”

“Better now, but I need to sit.”

Corbin took over for Jackson and walked Carson to the family room, located next to the kitchen.

“Are you hungry, honey?” Kate asked.

Until he’d gotten stabbed, she hadn’t called him that since he was ten. “I could eat something.”

“Coming right up.”

“You guys… give Cresley some space when she comes downstairs, okay?”

“What do you think we are, Carson?” Jordan asked. “A pack of savages?”

“You said that, not me.”

Gillian came to sit next to Carson on the sofa, her soft eyes wet with tears. “I was so scared for you guys.”