From a Wrong Turn to Mr. Right novel Chapter 74

“How am I supposed to talk to you? Do you even know what time you’ve been getting home these past couple of days? Out the door first thing in the morning—am I supposed to talk to you in your dreams or something?”

Lance Carter knew he was in the wrong, and it showed on his face. “It’s just been a busy couple of days. Plus, the guys dragged me out for dinner, so I was out a little late. Wait, so you only just found out?”

He tried to steer the conversation back on track.

Adelina Lane nodded. “Jasper spotted it—came running to tell me the first chance he got.”

Lance let out a dry chuckle. “Your son acts like nothing ever fazes him, but he’s always thinking. See? Now you can stop worrying.”

Adelina shot him a look. “When was I ever worried?”

Lance grinned. “Who was it sighing every day, moping around the house the second a wedding invitation arrived?”

Adelina rolled her eyes. “Oh, and you weren’t concerned? Look, it’s perfectly normal. Everyone his age—if they’re not married with kids, they’re at least caught up in a scandal or two. Look at your son—he meets all kinds of women at work, but aside from business, it’s like he doesn’t even know how to have a conversation. Can you blame me for worrying something’s wrong with him?”

“Oh, please. If you hadn’t dragged him into Carter & Sons since he could walk, maybe he’d have more on his mind than work. If there is a problem, you’re not off the hook.”

She shot him a pointed glare.

Realizing the topic was drifting dangerously close to blaming him, Lance quickly pivoted. “He’s just a straight-laced guy. Like me, you know? He’s got his own plans. But hey, now he’s actually interested in someone, he’s making moves. You didn’t see him, but he was holding hands with Aileen—sorry, Olivia Bennett—chatting and laughing like a couple of butterflies in spring.”

Adelina perked up, her curiosity piqued.

She leaned in, resting her hand on his knee, her tone playful and nosy. “So did you actually talk to them?”

Lance nodded.

Adelina was practically green with envy.

Because Ethan Carter had set up a meeting, she’d been terrified of scaring Olivia off—she’d only dared to sneak by the café pretending to be a customer, and even after she found out Olivia was pregnant, she never revealed who she was.

And now here comes Lance, just bumps into them, and instantly gets called ‘Dad.’

And he didn’t even appreciate it!

If she’d known, she would’ve made her move sooner.

She pouted, “They’re basically already a couple—what do you mean, ‘the real deal’? You think our son’s the type to say that without meaning it? He wouldn’t introduce her like that unless he was serious.”

Lance paused, finally catching on. The thought was so wild, he could hardly believe it. “Wait… you mean…?”