“Of course not.” Val’s cheeks went pink. She was adorable.

Hailey cocked a brow at Will and Jace. “You two are taking hazing to a whole new level.”

“We learned from the masters,” Jace volleyed back.

Landon cleared his throat from a few seats away. “Jace, I’m changing my mind about letting you give that speech.”

“Way to have faith in me.”

Val blinked. “A speech?”

Jace stood, taking a glass of champagne. The chatter around the table died down. “I know Landon is the speech master in the family, but I want to say a few words. We’re all proud of you, Val, and we’ll always have your back, no matter what. I hope you know that, but it’s worth repeating. We’re all happy things worked out today. A big thanks to Carter for stepping up to the plate and looking after Val. To Val and Carter.”

Val’s smile was a little wobbly as we all clinked glasses. I squeezed her hand under the table.

While we dug into our dinner, Hailey captured Val’s attention.

“We’re making plans for a girls’ evening out right now. We haven’t had one in a long time,” said Hailey.

“I know. Things have just been a bit crazy.”

“Well, I’m not taking no for an answer.”

Val nodded, then said, “Okay. Carter, can you pull up the calendar app on my phone, please? My hands are sticky from the wings.”

I took her cell phone from the table, pulling up her electronic calendar. Something wasn’t right. Most of the events in the afternoon were crossed off. I swiped back to the previous weeks and saw most of her afternoon activities had a red line over them. Did past events automatically cross off? No, that wasn’t it, because all the past events that were in the mornings still looked normal.

We still hadn’t found someone to spend the afternoons with Peyton and April, which meant Val and I were alternating working afternoons from home. I’d insisted that I could work from home every afternoon, or April could watch Peyton on her own until we found someone, but Val wouldn’t hear of it.

I’d been so lost in my hectic schedule that I hadn’t realized she’d canceled so much.

“This evening here is free,” Val commented.

Hailey clapped her hands, asking the rest of the girls at the table, and then declaring it a done deal. April was giving me the evil eye because she’d wanted to ask Val to let her tag along on girls’ nights out, but I told her she could only ask after she turned eighteen.

I hadn’t wanted to bring up the issue of her canceled events while we were celebrating, but on our way to the car, I did address it.