“I think I might need to unbutton my jeans.” She laughs as I get in behind the steering wheel. “I really should not have ordered that dessert, but I’m such a sucker for carrot cake and that one was delicious.”

“It was good,” I mutter, pulling out of our parking spot.

“Is everything okay?”

Glancing over at her I wish I could tell her “yes” but it’s not—not by a long shot.

“Miles and Tucker want to speak to us back at my place.”

“Did they find something out about Carly?” She pales.

I reach over for her hand and place it on my lap. “We’ll talk when we get somewhere that I can hold you.”

Her fingers dig into my thigh where I’ve got her hand trapped. “Clay?”

“Five minutes, baby.” I drive to my place wondering what the fuck it is she’s done to me in such a short time. My insides are raw just thinking about how much pain I’m about to cause her, and I wish I could keep driving to avoid the conversation we are about to have.

Miles said he and Tucker would share the news that Carly’s body was found, but I don’t trust them, not with this and not with her. Miles might not go in with the intention of being harsh, but Tucker would rip that shit off like a Band-Aid, not caring about the kind of damage he’d leave behind. And as things stand right now between Tucker and me, I’m not sure I wouldn’t end up putting my fist in his face if he caused her more pain than she’s already going to be feeling.

When we arrive at my building, I park behind Tucker’s SUV, then put the engine in park and unhook her belt. “Come here.” I urge her over the middle console and once she’s settled on my lap, I wrap my hand around her lower jaw and wait for her to meet my gaze. “I don’t know all the details, we’ll have to wait to get those from Miles and Tucker, but Carly’s body was found.”

“No!” she gasps. She closes her eyes, dropping her forehead to my shoulder. “Are they sure?”

“I’m sorry, Mouse.” I slide my hand into her hair and hold her as she silently cries. Feeling her pain soak through my shirt is enough to make my gut twist. I hate that I’m so fucking helpless to do anything for her right now but hold her.

I don’t know how long we sit like that, in the darkness of the interior of my jeep, but eventually she lifts her head from where she had burrowed it into the crook of my neck and looks at me. “Sorry for crying all over you.”

“You don’t have to apologize for that.” I wrap my hand around the side of her neck as she drags in a breath.

“I hate this.”

“I know, Mouse.” I scan my eyes over her face while I wipe the wet from her eyes and cheeks.