A beat. Then he added, almost as an afterthought:
"Oh right, Letitia brought him over to my place. Forgot to mention it."
Rage flooded her brain like a match hitting gasoline. Caroline stormed into Letitia's apartment and slapped her across the face. Once. Twice. Three times.
"Who gave you permission to take my son?!"
Corey lunged forward and grabbed her arm.
"What the hell is wrong with you, you psycho?! You're hitting people now?!"
Caroline wrenched free and backhanded him across the cheek. Then again. Her voice was ice.
"Why didn't you tell me? Do you have any idea how terrified I was?!"
The sudden fury in her eyes made him falter. He went still for a moment.
"...Nothing happened. What's the big deal?"
Letitia clutched her reddened cheek, seizing the moment to play the victim.
"Caroline, I know you look down on me. But Noah is Corey's son too."
Her voice quavered with practiced hurt. "Besides, we were busy preparing for the competition and just forgot to let you know. Did you really have to hit me?"
Caroline laughed. A sharp, mirthless sound.
"You still think you're competing?" She locked eyes with Corey. "Keep dreaming."
She pulled out her phone, dialed, and held it up to Corey's ashen face.