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I’m about to try to wiggle free from Greg’s grip when it tightens on me, seconds before Carter freaking Williams steps into my peripheral vision. I expect him to walk on by, but when he stops, I’m shocked.
“I think you need to let her go and walk away,” he says calmly, and all I can think iswhat?
Greg scoffs but finally releases me before standing up. “This is none of your business, man.”
Carter takes a step forward, and Greg tries not to cower.Ialmost cower. He’s a huge guy—not The Rock huge but he’s close. And intimidating.
“Lucy’s a friend. So it’s one hundred percentmybusiness. I don’t want to cause trouble. I just need you to walk away,” he says calmly again, and I have to stop myself from reacting.We’re friends? I mean, I’m not about to call him out on it, but we’ve never even met.
“We’re just having a conversation, and don’t think I don’t know who you are. You’re Carter Williams, one of San Francisco’s offensive tackles, best friend to Wes Johnson. You’re the guy that after all these years might finally get a shot.Youshould walk away. You don’t need bad publicity.”
Carter laughs, and I have to admit he sounds a little unhinged. “Why are you making threats if it’s just an innocent conversation?”
“It’s just the kind of guy I am.”
“So I gathered.”
Greg gets up in Carter’s face, and to his credit, Carter doesn’t even look rattled as Greg spits out, “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Instead, Carter takes a subtle step in my direction, placing me behind him. “You should leave.”
Greg stands his ground. “I’m not going—”
“You need to leave!” Carter yells, and even I jump at the demand in his voice. My eyes shoot to the second story once more.
Looking over Carter’s shoulder, Greg meets my eyes and his features soften.That’s weird.
“Can we talk soon? Please?” he asks, with a relaxed tone.
I say yes because I don’t know what else to do, and then watch as he stalks out of the building.
Carter turns to me the second Greg is out the door and sighs. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. He didn’t hurt me.”This time.
Carter stares at me for a minute, probably trying to see if I’m lying, and then ever so slightly nods before walking to the glass sliders leading to the parking lot. “I’m going to double-check he’s gone. You head on up. I’m on the approved visitors list.”
I return his nod and walk as fast as I can toward the elevator, suddenly desperate to see Katie.
When I reach Wes’s office, he’s huddled on the floor with Katie, both intensely drawing. Leaning casually against the frame of the door, I watch them for a moment, enjoying the peace, until Wes looks my way.
“Are you—”
“It’s all good.” I wave him off, preferring to stay in this new reality where Wes and Katie have some kind of relationship.
Katie looks up at that moment, and I smile. “Hi, sweetie.”
She smiles but immediately goes back to her drawing, leaving me to talk to Wes.
“So Carter’s lovely. If not a little over-the-top.”
Wes huffs out a laugh. “Shit, I thought you needed help. What did he do?” His eyes flash to Katie’s for a second before coming back to mine, like he’s checking she’s okay. I may be back in the room, but he’s still keeping an eye on her.
“He was fine,” I say, when I have his attention again. “I just didn’t expect him to come in guns blazing. Actually, I didn’t expect him at all. Thank you.”
Carter appears at that moment with a megawatt smile. “My ears are burning.”
Wes rolls his eyes, and when he meets Carter’s stare, Carter flashes him with a look of something I’m not expecting…pity.What’s that about?
