Page 167 of Contentious

“They’ll be thrilled.”

“Pass along my apologies for the drama and the delay.”

“I’ll do that, but they know it’s not your fault.”

“Hopefully, it’s all behind us now that he’s in jail where he belongs.”

“I sure hope so. Please call me if there’s anything at all we can do for you.”

“I will. Thanks for the support.”

“You got it. Stay safe.”

“That’s the plan.”

Cresley ended the call and opened her message app. “Holy shit. It’s up to seven hundred and twenty-two messages.”

“I thought mine was bad at two hundred and thirty-two. Everyone I’ve ever met has texted me, along with a few numbers I don’t recognize.”

“Probably media. Welcome to being famous.”

“Oh joy.”

She laughed at the face he made. “Sorry about that.”

He put an arm around her and brought her in for a kiss. “More of that makes it all worth it.”

“I’ve got plenty where that came from.”

“Don’t get me fired up. It would probably kill me.”

“We can’t have that!”

“Soon, though. Very soon. We’ll pick up where we left off.”

“I’ve thought about that a lot since you got hurt and wondered if we’d ever get back to where we were before.”

“So have I, and let me assure you, all the equipment still works.”

She sputtered with laughter. “Well, thank goodness for that.”

“You know it, baby. Get your rest while you can, because the minute I can move without feeling like I’m getting stabbed again, it’s back on.”

“Thanks for the warning.”

The doorbell rang, and Ty let out a shout. “They’re here!”

Cresley got up to go with him.

“Wait,” Carson said. “Let me. We don’t want to give away your location.”

“Right,” Cresley said as she sat back down.

“Wait for me, Ty,” Carson said as he walked slowly toward the door. How long would it be until he didn’t feel like he was walking through quicksand with every step he took?

Ty bounced with excitement while he waited for Carson to get the door.

The young man on the front porch handed over the box to Carson. “Nice crib.”