“That fucker. That motherfucker. What did he say?”
“I. . . . really don’t want to talk about it,” I gulp.
“Where are you?” he asks, his voice taking on a level of authority I’ve never heard out of Lincoln. It’s so reminiscent of Barrett that it makes my heart hurt. “I’m coming after you.”
“No, you aren’t. I’m taking Hux out of town for the weekend.”
“Alison . . .” he sighs. “Barrett had no idea Daphne was going to be walking with him tonight at the Gala—”
My laughter, a sad, heavy chuckle, stops him.
“That’s not even the biggest issue, Linc.”
“What the fuck does that mean?”
“It means . . . it means that I’m overwhelmed and I need some space, okay?”
“No, no, it’s not,” he huffs. “Barrett left the event early because he wanted to find you, realizing what it probably looked like, especially on the heels of the baby thing earlier today. And when he finds out about the incident with you . . .”
I take a deep breath and hold tight to my guns. If I go back now, I’m setting myself up for heartbreak. How do I know the thing with Lacy tonight doesn’t just make Barrett feel bad? Maybe they want to spin that to make Barrett look better in the media too?
I can’t back down. Not until I know for sure.
“Let him know I’m fine and that I’m not necessarily running from him,” I say, gauging Huxley’s response out of the corner of my eye. “I’m just overwhelmed right now, and I feel like I need to take Hux and just settle down.”
“My brother loves you. I’ve never seen him like this about anyone. He’s always been pretty hedonistic, to tell you the truth, and right now, all he’s thinking about is you.”
I fight back the tears again. “Well, if that’s true, it will work out,” I sniffle. “Just tell him I’ll be back after the election and we can talk then. My phone is dying, Linc . . .”
“Ali, wait.”
The line goes dead.
Barrett
I pace back and forth across the living room of the Farm, my phone in my hand. I wish I had spent more time paying attention to her work schedule.
No, I wish I would’ve made her not fucking go to work tonight. I should’ve been me, the man I feel like when I’m with her. I should’ve taken charge, protected her, made her realize she’s the most important thing to me in the world.
I should’ve been her man.
Fuck!
“Why is Alison not answering my calls?” I ask Graham.
“How do I know? She’s not my girlfriend.”
I stop in my tracks, ready to fire off some hasty comment when Lincoln clears his throat. Turning to look at him, he’s sitting at the desk in the corner, facing the computer, his brows pulled together. He looks over his shoulder at us.
“Hey, who was here today?” he asks.
“I don’t know. Why?”
“Humor me.”
I blow out a breath, frustrated. “Dad. Nolan was here for a while with Rose, I think.
Maybe Camilla?”