Avery's POV

By the time Nick and I moved from the office to the living room, we had seventeen missed calls between us.

Nick stared at the notifications stacked across his screen. "Six from my mother."

"I have four from her."

He looked at me. "Why is my mother calling you when I'm the one who nearly got arrested?"

"Because she likes me better."

My phone vibrated again. Mom flashed across the screen, followed almost immediately by another incoming call from my father.

Nick held up his phone. "Do we want to do this once or suffer through two separate interrogations?"

"Once."

"Good choice."

He started a group FaceTime call before either of us could reconsider it. Christine answered before the first ring had finished. Her face filled the screen at a wildly unflattering angle.

"Nicholas Lane Hartley."

"Hi, mama." Nick sank down beside me on the couch.

"Do not 'hi, mama' me. Are you hurt?"

Daniel appeared over her shoulder. "Give him a chance to answer, Chris."

"You had a chance to answer when I called you six times," Christine continued, her eyes fixed on Nick. "Then I talked to Logan and he said Grant shoved you, you grabbed him, security got involved, and the police showed up."

Nick tipped his head back against the cushion. "Logan talks too much."

"Logan answered his phone," Christine snapped.

A second window appeared as my mom joined the call. She was seated at the kitchen table, her expression unnaturally composed. That was never a good sign. Somewhere behind her, my father's silhouette hovered just off the edge of the frame.

"Avery Elizabeth."

I sighed. "I'm okay, Mom."

"Are you?" Mom's gaze didn't waver from my face.

I opened my mouth, then closed it again.

"No," I admitted. "But I'm safe."

My dad leaned into the frame beside Mom, his shoulder brushing the top of her head. "Where is he?"

"Who?" Nick asked, although he knew exactly who Dad meant.

"Grant."

"We don't know," I said. "The police released him after formally trespassing him from the dealership."

"They released him?" Dad's voice rose. "After he came all the way to North Carolina to threaten you?"

"He wasn't arrested," I explained. "The officer said there wasn't enough to hold him. Nick didn't press charges for the shove, and Grant didn't threaten me with physical violence."

Dad's hand curled into a fist on the kitchen table.

"He threatened your career to force you to withdraw a complaint about him putting his hands on you. What the hell do they call that?"

"Retaliation," I said. "Hartwell & James legal is treating it that way."

Mom's eyes narrowed. "You've already spoken with them?"

"We just finished an emergency meeting with Helena, HR, and legal."

"Without calling us first?" Christine demanded.

Nick held up a hand. "Mama, we needed to deal with the immediate problem."

"I am your mother. I am excellent in immediate problems."

Daniel's mouth twitched. "Your mother has also packed a bag."

Nick looked at Christine. "You did what?"

"It's by the door."

Nick sighed. "You're not driving here tonight."

"We haven't decided that," Daniel said.

"Yes, we have." Christine narrowed her eyes at Daniel.

"No," Daniel said calmly. "You decided it."

Christine turned the phone slightly, revealing that Daniel was wearing his shoes and had his truck keys in one hand.

Nick stared at him. "You're dressed too."

"I know my wife."

Dad pushed closer to the Cole family's camera. "Back up. What exactly happened?"

I looked at Nick. His posture stiffened beside me, but he nodded.

"Grant waited until the appearance was winding down," Nick said. "He approached me near the service corridor."

"Was security there?" Mom asked.

"They were nearby. Reid and Logan were with me." Nick explained.

"And Grant just walked up to you?" Christine's voice sharpened. "After he was specifically told not to contact either of you?"

"He claimed the directive only kept him away from Kent Motorsports."

"That's not what it said," I replied. "It prohibited contact with me, Nick, or anyone involved in the investigation. He knew that."

"What did he want?" Daniel asked.

"He wanted me to convince Avery to withdraw the complaint," Nick replied.

In our parents' window, Dad's face darkened.

Nick continued before anyone could interrupt. "He said if she didn't, Hartwell & James could lose the PeakForm account. He implied Avery's career would take the blame and that my sponsorship could become collateral damage. He didn't know that Avery had already disclosed our relationship."

"That son of a bitch," Dad muttered.

"He also admitted grabbing her," Nick said.

I felt him tense beside me.

"He said it wasn't a big deal because Avery bruises easily."

Dad stood so abruptly that his chair scraped backward across the floor.

"Robert," Mom said.

"That bastard already put his hands on my little girl. He's not going to do it again."

"Dad..."

"No." Dad paced out of view before turning back, his frame filling half of their window. "He does not get to grab you, harass you, threaten you, and then go down there to intimidate the man you love because you finally stood up to him."

"I know."

"Do you? Because I am about five minutes away from getting in the car."

"You live way more than five minutes away," I pointed out.

"That is not the important part of that sentence."

Despite the knot in my chest, I almost laughed.

Mom remained seated, but her calm expression had hardened into something I recognized from childhood. My mother had never needed to raise her voice to make someone regret disappointing her.

"Robert, sit down," she said.

Dad scowled. "I don't want to sit down."

"I know. Sit down anyway."

He did, although not happily.

Daniel looked at Nick. "What happened after Grant admitted grabbing Avery?"

Nick's gaze dropped to his hands.

"He kept pushing. I told him to leave. He wouldn't." He paused. "Then he shoved me."

Christine leaned toward the screen as if she could inspect him through it. "Where?"

"My shoulder. I'm fine."

"Show me," she demanded.

"Mom."

"Nicholas."

With a sigh, Nick shifted his shirt enough to expose the top of his shoulder. A faint patch of red had already begun to darken near his collarbone.

My stomach turned. "That wasn't there twenty minutes ago," I said.

Nick glanced down. "Huh."

"Huh?" Four parents said it at once.

"I didn't feel it," Nick insisted.

"You feel it now?" I asked.

"Not really...okay, maybe a little," Nick admitted.

"I'm taking a picture when we hang up."

"Good," Mom said.

"What happened next?" Daniel asked.

Nick let his shirt fall back into place. His jaw tightened.

"I grabbed Grant's shirt."

Silence settled over the call.

"I had both hands on him," Nick continued. "Reid and Logan pulled me back. Logan reminded me that I promised Avery I wouldn't go after Grant."

"But you didn't hit him," Christine said.

"No."

"You stopped," Daniel added.

"Eventually."

Dad stared at him through the screen. "Did you want to?"

Nick looked at me. "Yes."

Dad nodded once. "So did I, and I wasn't even there."

"Robert," Mom warned.

"I'm being honest."

"So is Nick," I said quietly.

I reached across the space between us and took his hand.

"He told HR and legal everything," I continued. "He didn't minimize what he did or ask them to leave it out. They have Logan's full recording, Reid's statement, the dealership footage, and the police information."

Christine's expression softened as she studied her son. "You should not have grabbed him."

"I know."

"But I'm proud of you for stopping."

Nick looked away.

"Grant wanted you to hit him," Daniel said. "That was the entire reason he went there instead of contacting Avery directly. He wanted a public altercation with an angry race-car driver. Best-case scenario, he gets video he can use against you. Worst-case scenario, you're arrested, Kent has to discipline you, and Avery blames herself."

Nick's grip tightened around my fingers.

"He wanted to isolate her," Mom said.

I went still.

Mom looked directly at me through the screen. "He has already tried to convince you that your reactions are unreasonable. That your boundaries damage your career. That you create problems for the people around you. Today he tried to turn Nick into another consequence you were supposed to feel responsible for."

The words landed hard enough that I momentarily forgot how to breathe.

Nick moved closer until our shoulders touched.

"He doesn't get to do that," he said.

"No," Mom agreed. "He does not."

Dad pointed toward the phone. "Which is why none of you should be alone tonight."

"We're together," I reminded him.

"And where is Logan?" Dad asked.

"He went home."

"Call him back."

"Dad, we have an alarm system."

"Does the alarm system throw a decent right hook?"

"Apparently Nick does," Daniel murmured.

Christine turned on him. "You're not helping."

"Sorry."

Nick rubbed a hand over his face. "Nobody is driving here tonight. It's late."

"We can be there before midnight," Christine said.

"So can we," Dad added.

"No."

Four parental faces stared back at him.

Nick leaned closer to me and lowered his voice. "I don't think they respect my authority."

"You don't have any authority here."

"Noted."

"We're coming," Mom said. "Your father will not sleep until he sees you."

"I could sleep," Dad said. "I'm choosing not to."

"And Christine already packed," Mom continued. "So there is no point arguing."

I exchanged a look with Nick. His house had more than enough room. Under any other circumstances, their simultaneous arrival would have meant food, teasing, stories from our childhoods, and four people witnessing exactly how thoroughly I had taken over his home in such a short amount of time.

Tonight it meant something different. It meant we didn't have to be brave alone.

"Fine," Nick conceded. "But everyone drives carefully."

"Obviously," Daniel said.

"And no one goes looking for Grant," I added.

Dad looked offended. "I'm not an idiot."

Mom slowly turned her head toward him.

"I'm not," he insisted.

"Dad."

"I won't go looking for him."

"Promise me."

Dad's expression changed. For a brief second, I saw past the anger to the fear beneath it. My father had recently learned that another man had put bruises on his daughter, and now that same man had crossed state lines rather than accept that she had moved on.

"I promise," he said. "But if he comes near you again..."

"We call the police," Mom finished firmly.

Dad muttered something I couldn't hear.

"What was that?" Mom asked.

"I said we call the police," he muttered.

"That is not what you said."

"It had some of the same words."

Nick coughed into his fist to hide a laugh.

Christine pointed at him through the screen. "You have no room to be amused. Put ice on your shoulder."

"Yes, Mama."

"Take pictures first," my mom instructed.

"Yes, Ms. Kim."

"And eat something," Daniel added. "Neither of you looks like you've had dinner."

Nick glanced at me. "We haven't."

Four expressions of parental outrage appeared simultaneously.

"That," Christine announced, "settles it. We are absolutely coming."

"We have food," Nick argued..

"That's not the same as eating it," Dad replied.

"We'll pick something up on the way," Mom said. "Avery, do you need anything from home?"

My throat tightened. "No. I just need you."

Mom's composure finally cracked.

"Oh, sweetheart."

Dad wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her against him. On the other half of the screen, Daniel did the same with Christine. I leaned into Nick.

"We're coming," my dad said again, quieter this time. "You don't have to handle tonight by yourselves."

"I know."

"And Avery?"

"Yes?"

"I am proud of you."

My eyes burned. "For what?"

"For refusing to let that bastard scare you into silence."

Nick lifted our joined hands and pressed his lips to my knuckles.

"We'll see you soon," Mom said.

The call ended after another round of instructions about locking doors, documenting the bruise, eating dinner, and not opening the door for anyone who arrived before them.

For several seconds, Nick and I sat silently on the couch. Then Nick looked at me. "All four of them are coming."

"They love us."

"They're going to turn my house into a command center."

"They're going to feed us."

"Your father may patrol the property line with a baseball bat."

"He promised not to look for Grant."

"That is not the same promise."

I rested my head against his shoulder, carefully avoiding the bruise.

"No," I admitted. "It really isn't."

Nick kissed the top of my head. "I like your dad."

"He's planning a felony."

"I didn't say I admired his judgment."

I felt Nick's chest move beneath my cheek as he released a long breath.

His phone vibrated on the coffee table again. This time it wasn't one of our parents. The screen displayed a notification from the team scheduling app. I caught a glimpse of the next day's itinerary.

8:00 a.m. - Shop media availability
10:30 a.m. - PeakForm content capture
1:00 p.m. - Coca-Cola 600 community appearance
3:30 p.m. - Simulator session

That was only tomorrow.

"Your week is insane," I murmured.

"It's a home race." He replied.

"I know."

Race week in Charlotte always looked deceptively convenient on paper. Nick slept in his own bed, but that was the only normal part of it. Because the teams weren't traveling, sponsors crammed every possible appearance, interview, fan event, and content shoot into the days leading up to the race.

A home race also meant everyone knew exactly where to find him.

The thought made me lift my head.

Nick was still staring at his schedule, but he wasn't really reading it. The tightness had returned to his jaw.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing."

"Nick."

He picked up the phone and dismissed the notification. "I'm glad they're coming."

I studied him. "You fought them remarkably hard for someone who's glad."

"I had to make an effort. I have a reputation."

"As a difficult ass?"

"As an independent adult."

"Those are not mutually exclusive."

His mouth almost curved, but the expression disappeared quickly.

"I'm serious, Aves." He set the phone facedown. "I'm glad they'll be here."

"Because my father may patrol the yard with sporting equipment?"

"That's a bonus."

Nick rubbed his palms against his thighs. "This week is packed. Tomorrow starts at eight, and if everything stays on schedule, I probably won't be home until after six. Next day isn't much better. Friday we have the hauler parade and another sponsor event. We have media, then the track schedule starts."

"You're worried about leaving me here."

"Yes." The word came without hesitation.

"Nick..."

"I know you can take care of yourself." He turned toward me. "That is not what I'm saying."

"It sounded a little like what you were saying."

"Then I said it wrong." He shifted closer. "You are capable. You're smart. You have the alarm, cameras, and enough stubbornness to terrify most intruders before they cross the front porch."

"Better."

"But Grant came to North Carolina."

The attempt at humor vanished.

"He knew where I would be today," Nick continued. "He knew the appearance was public. He waited until it was almost over, found a spot away from most of the crowd, and walked up to me like he had every right to be there."

I folded my arms over myself.

"He planned it," Nick said. "Maybe not every second, but enough of it. He knew the directive existed, and he spent time looking for a way around it."

"The directive included you."

"I know. Grant either convinced himself it didn't or decided the consequences were worth it." His eyes held mine. "Neither option makes me feel better."

I looked toward the dark windows at the back of the living room. The property beyond us was quiet. Familiar. Safe. At least, it had felt safe that morning.

Nick reached for my hand.

"I can't cancel everything this week," he said. "I can get out of some of the optional stuff, but not all of it. PeakForm has people coming in. It's a home race for them too. The team has appearances scheduled. Fans already have tickets. If it were any other week..."

"You would still have a job to do."

"I'd have more flexibility."

"And this week you don't."

"No."

I watched his thumb move over the back of my hand. "So you're glad our parents will be here because you don't want me alone."

"I'm glad they'll be here because I'm going to spend every minute I'm away from this house wondering if he found my address."

The honesty in his voice made my chest ache. "Nick."

"I know that's probably not reasonable."

"It's completely reasonable."

"I don't want you to feel watched or babysat."

"I won't."

"I also don't want your dad arrested."

"That one may be harder to guarantee."

He gave me a look.

"I'm kidding. Mostly."

"Avery."

"My mother will control him."

"Your mother may help him hide the body."

"That is an unfair assessment of her."

"She scared the hell out of me on that call, and she barely raised her voice."

"That's how you know she was truly angry."

Nick leaned back against the couch, but the tension remained in his shoulders.

"I hate this," he said.

"I know."

"I hate that he made me afraid to leave you in our own house."

Our own house.

I felt those three words settle somewhere deep inside me.

Nick didn't appear to notice that he'd said them. He was looking toward the front door now, mentally calculating locks, cameras, response times, and every possible route Grant could use to reach me.

I moved into his lap and placed my hands on either side of his face.

His eyes returned to mine.

"I'm not going to be alone," I said. "Our parents will be here. We'll keep the doors locked. I'll be there for the PeakForm content surrounded by people. Other than that I'll be here. If I leave the house, someone will know where I'm going."

"Someone will go with you." He corrected.

My eyebrows rose.

"Please," he amended.

"Better."

"I'm going to talk to Max and Marshall about additional security at the shop and track."

"That's reasonable." I agreed.

"And I want Grant's picture sent to everyone working security for the team."

"It probably already has been."

"I want confirmation."

"Also reasonable."

"And until we know where he is..."

"Nick."

He stopped.

"You don't have to build the entire safety plan tonight." My thumbs moved slowly along his jaw. "Our parents are coming. Hartwell & James is holding an executive review in the morning. Leah is contacting PeakForm. The police have documented what happened. We have time to breathe."

"I'm supposed to show up tomorrow and smile for cameras."

"I know."

"Pretend I'm excited to answer the same fucking twelve questions about racing at home while you're here dealing with this."

"I'll be dealing with it surrounded by four parents who have already assigned themselves shifts."

"Your dad gets daylight hours."

"Why?"

"I don't trust him after dark."

I smiled. "He likes you."

"He likes the version of me who didn't hit Grant."

"He also likes the version who wanted to."

"That's what worries me."

My smile faded as I searched his face. "You cannot spend the entire week feeling guilty every time you leave."

"Watch me."

"I mean it. Grant has already taken enough from us. He doesn't get to make you feel guilty for doing your job too."

Nick's hands settled on my hips. "What if you need me?"

"I'll call."

"What if you don't call because you know I'm busy?"

"I'll call anyway."

"Aves."

I leaned forward until my forehead rested against his.

"I promise."

He closed his eyes.

"And if you need to check on me," I continued, "you can call. I won't accuse you of being overprotective unless you become obnoxious."

"What's the threshold?" He asked.

"More than once an hour."

"That feels restrictive."

"Every ninety minutes." I amended.

"Forty-five." He countered.

I sighed. "An hour."

"Deal."

I kissed him softly. Some of the tension finally left his body.

"I really am glad they're coming," he admitted. "Even if your dad brings a weapon."

"He won't bring a weapon."

Nick glanced toward the front windows. "Your father threatened to throw hands over FaceTime."

"He said Grant wasn't going to touch me again."

"That is not as comforting as you think it is."

"It was a little comforting."

"Yeah." Nick's arms tightened around me. "It was."

I rested my head against him again. "You don't have to worry about me every second you're gone," I whispered.

"I probably will."

"I know you will."

"But I'll feel better knowing you aren't alone."

I pressed a kiss against his chest. "Then I'm glad they're coming to