Page 68

“That time I went to court, it took four hours before I saw the judge,” she said, sitting on the floor by her daughter.

My brow lines. “Why did you have to go to court?”

Looking down, she clears her throat. “Just some... misunderstanding in Myrtle Beach.”

“Oh my god,” I say, remembering Star’s former occupation. “I’m such an idiot. I’m sorry.”

Seeming to read my mind, she shakes her head. “No! It wasn’t anything like that. I just... it was sort of a wardrobe malfunction, you might say.”

Blinking around, I try to place what that might mean. “Oh...” is all I can manage.

“They’re stricter than I realized on the public beaches.”

“Ohhh!” It’s clicking into place when another knock on the door makes me jump. Nodding at Elaine I head to open it. “I didn’t scream that time.”

“It’s the wine,” my best friend calls after me.

She’s right. I’m feeling warm and less panicky for the first time all day. Last night all I did was roll around in Derek’s king-sized bed missing him and wishing I could call him. We’d already used our one phone call, so I was left with my stomach twisted and aching, hoping he still had his own cell, praying that he wasn’t being targeted. I’d heard stories of prison justice. At the same time, Derek wasn’t in prison yet, and Sloan wasn’t a helpless victim who needed avenging. Stuart had texted yesterday asking for pictures of me and Dex to send to him, and the request made me simultaneously happy and miserable. Happy that he was thinking about us; miserable at the thought of him needing pictures to get through extended periods of separation.

Kenny, Slayde, and Mariska are at the door, and when I open it, Mariska pulls me into a hug.

“How are you holding up?” She studies me, her golden-brown eyes full of concern.

“It’s possible this is the worst thing I’ve ever had to endure,” I confess.

“That’s saying a lot,” Elaine mutters, taking another sip of wine. “Anybody need a glass?”

“I’ll have some,” Mariska goes over to her, smiling.

Kenny goes straight to Lane on the carpet, and he’s in her lap at once, hugging her and sliding his fingers in her violet hair. “Mommy purple,” he says.

“How’s my big boy?” She kisses his cheek. Slayde sits on the leather sofa beside her, and watching them makes me want Dex here even more.

“I should have Dex,” I say mostly to myself.

Elaine’s beside me. “It’s better he’s with your mom.” She slides my hair back from my shoulder. “He’d be fussy if he were here. You’re stressed, and we need to know what’s going to happen first.”

Dropping my chin, I rub my forehead hard. I know what she’s not saying. If the outcome is not what we’re all straining for, I’d rather not come apart in front of my little boy.

“Oh, Lainey,” I say as she hugs me again.

Slayde’s deep voice cuts through the tension. It’s so calm, I welcome the change. “I know this isn’t the most correct thing to say, but why didn’t he... not get arrested?”

For a moment, I consider the attractive young man sitting in Derek’s living room. He’s dressed in jeans and a navy tee with a matching navy windbreaker on top. We’ve only met once before at Elaine and Patrick’s wedding. He’s the love of Kenny’s life, and his past is so mixed into what’s happening here, it’s hard to fathom.

As he waits for my answer, his dark brow lines, and Kenny looks up at him then at me. I can tell she’s thinking the same thing, wondering why I’m hesitating.

Star jumps in from where she sits across from them on the floor, Cammie pulling up in her lap.

“It’s my fault,” she says, pulling her face away from the baby’s grasp. “He was protecting me... or us.”

“I don’t understand,” Kenny says, and her large blue eyes flicker from Star to me. “How was he protecting you if he killed Melissa’s ex?”

My eyes go to Elaine’s, and her expression is worried. I’m not sure how much Stuart’s told Mariska, but Kenny and Slayde know nothing about this story. I’m not sure how much Derek wants Slayde to know.

I’m about to answer, but Star continues. “A guy that used to work for him... Bennett? He started blackmailing me, saying he was going to turn me in for the murder. But when Derek met with him, he was really after revenge. Derek put his son away for life... I think for the same thing.”

“Star!” I say, trying to head her off, but it’s too late. The words are out before I can distract her.