Page 161 of Contentious

“Don’t let me off the hook, McKenna. Don’t give me an out when I’m looking for an in. I want to be here for her, and I promise I won’t disappoint her—or you.”

“You shouldn’t make promises you can’t keep.”

“I expect that to be the easiest promise I’ll ever make and keep.”

* * *

Carson woke up to something warm and soft on his face. At some point during the night, he’d turned onto his side to face Ty, looking for some relief from the relentless ache in his chest and abdomen. Cresley had snuggled up to his back. He, who’d never liked sharing a bed with anyone, was thrilled to sleep with them. When he opened his eyes, Ty was grinning at him as he rested a hand on Carson’s face.

“What’s up?” Carson asked him.

“Your face is all bumpy.”

“They’re called whiskers, my man, and someday soon, you’ll have them, too.”

His wrinkled nose expressed his opinion on that. “Where are we?”

“My place.”

“How come?”

“The other one is a crime scene.”

“What does that mean?”

“The police are looking for evidence, and when they’re finished, we can go back if we want to.”

“What will they find?”

“Fingerprints and stuff.”

“Why do they need them?”

“To help make the case.”

“Against my dad?”

“Yeah.”

Ty seemed to ponder that. “Will he go to jail?”

“He was going there as soon as they released him from the hospital.”

“Will he have to stay there?”

“I think so.”

“I guess that’s good since he did a lot of bad stuff.”

“I’m sorry if it’s upsetting to you.” As soon as he said that, he felt stupid. Of course it was upsetting to him.

“He knew he shouldn’t have done that stuff, and he did it anyway. He hurt you, and that’s not okay.”

“No, it isn’t, but you know that none of it has anything to do with you, right?”

“It sort of does.”

“How do you mean?”