I move to grab her, but she jumps back.
“For your information, I tried all of you. I even tried Liam.No one answered. I called my sister because I didn’t know what to do,” she is yelling, and the tears are streaming down her face.I try to move toward her again, but she puts her hand up, shaking her head. “Tori said she probably has a virus. I had Matthew get her some electrolytes and some soup.Then she told me to give hera teaspoon of Benedryl, so don’t try to give her any more medicine.”
She turns, walking away from me. I don’t even realize what she’s doing until she’s at the door. “NO! Cara, wait.” I call out. Igo after her, but I can’t go farther thanthe doorway because Lyra will be left alone.
Dammit, I shouldn’t have been so reproachful with her.No, I wasn’t reproachful. I was an ass. Ireferred to her as the nanny when I know good, and damn well she’s more than that.
All of the stress over Peyton bubbled to the surface atthat moment. I took my anger with Peyton out on Cara. She didn’t deserve it.
I sit on the sofa next to Lyra, rubbing hercurls that are stuck to her forehead. Probably burning off a fever.I pull out my phone and text Cara.
I hear it dingon the coffee table in front of me.She doesn’t have her phone. The day keeps getting better.
I lean my head back just for a second. I replay the last ten minutes and wonder if I could’ve been a bigger asshole.
I don’t even remember falling asleep. It couldn’t have been for long because Lyra is still out cold. Although, when you mix Benedryl with not feeling well, I know she can sleep for hours.
I pull my phone out of my pocketto check the time. Yep. Two hours. I wonder whyCara didn’t wake me when she came back. Then again, why would she?She probably went straight to the bedroom.
I get up, trying not to wake Lyra. I head to the bedroom to check on her.I need to apologize.
She’s not there.I have to leave in a few minutes, so I know she can’t be far.
Right?
Itry Maddox first. He and Ryder are where she went last time she took off.
“Cara, there with you?” I bark before he can even say hello.
“No,” he says, sounding like he’s out of breath.I can hear girlsgiggling in the background. “Shut it,” he barks. “Why would Cara be here?”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll try Dane.”
“What did you do to her?”
Irelease a long, tired breath. “I was an ass, okay. Lyra has been sick all day. All this shit with Peyton made me overreact.”
“Great. And you just let her take off,” he hisses through the phone. “Call the bodyguard. Make sure he’s with her.”
My spine goes rigid at what he’s saying. “You don’t think she went to Dane?”
“When her boyfriend upsets her? No, she wouldn’t go to her overprotective, overdramatic big brother,you idiot. If she didn’t come here, then she could be anywhere. With that psychopathicstalker close by, no less.”
“Goddammit,” I yell.“This is all my fault.”
“Damn straight, it’s your fault. You shouldn’t have taken your shit out on her.”
“Daddy,” a tiny, tired voice calls out, “my tummy hurts.”
“I’ve got to get to Lyra.”
“Call the bodyguard.I’m going to look for her.”
“Daddy,” Lyra starts to cry.My heart feels like it’s being ripped in two by the need to find Cara and the need to make my little girl feel better.
I pick her up, cradling her in my arms.I hate when she’s sick so much. But her little body tucked into mine relieves some of the tension I feelas I dial the bodyguard’s number.
“Hello.”
