Chapter 16
He may really be into me.
Ihopped in Carter’s truck, and he closed the door firmly behind me as he kept his attention on a livid Grey.
I hoped a fight wouldn’t break out because both men had egos.
I had no idea if Carter had a temper, but Grey did.
He reminded me of a panther. Cool, sleek, and watchful, he would attack and win if approached the wrong way or angered.
Two of the top athletes on campus fighting over a woman who didn’t belong to either one was not the image our university needed.
“Carter, come on. Let’s go,” I quietly urged. “I’m good. You got me.”
He looked at me, took a deep breath, and stepped into his truck.
I didn’t look in Grey’s direction as we drove away.
Too afraid I wouldn’t be able to handle seeing his hurt.
I had to remember he hurt me first, or I would’ve demanded that Carter turn around.
In seven years, we’d never fought like we just did, and my stomach burned with regret.
“What happened?” Carter asked after we’d been driving for several minutes. “Has he ever hit you? Be honest, Darren. You jumped out of his car while it was moving, and I’d never seen you look like that.”
“Look like what?”
“Devastated. Looked like fear to me. What’s up?”
I pulled my legs to my chest while we rode down the highway heading back into the city. “Grey would never hit me or any woman. He pissed me off, and I didn’t want to be in the car with him anymore. I didn’t mean to be so dramatic.”
Carter’s voice deepened. “What were you arguing about?”
I stared out the window, thinking of everything I’d heard about men like him from Chelsea, Grey, and my limited experience.
If I told him my “fake” relationship was over, my weekend may not happen.
He may feel like it’s too much pressure.
Then again, if he’s better than who Grey believes he is, he should like that I’m free to date him. “It was about you.”
“What about me?”
We sped by other cars and trucks, and the beach became restaurants, Wal-Mart, and shopping malls.
I continued to look out the window. It was easier to talk to him if I didn’t see his expression.
Didn’t see his true feelings about me. The argument with Grey exhausted me.
I wasn’t sure if I could take any more hurt. “He knows I have feelings for you.”
Carter sighed. “Did you tell him, or did he guess it?”
“He knows me.”
“Did you just break up?”
“I don’t know. But I left with you soooo...”
I felt his gaze on me before he urged, “Darren, don’t break up with him because of me.”
I closed my eyes and pressed my temple against the window, surprisingly numb to his reaction.
Maybe deep inside, I knew he would respond this way.
“Guess, Grey was right. Told me you’re only interested in me because of him.
That you couldn’t ever be serious about me.
” I blinked back tears. “Just drop me off at the nearest store. I’ll Uber to a friend until everything blows over between him and me. ”
“Hey.” When I refused to answer, he called, “Darren.”
“I’m good. No need to say anything else,” I answered glumly.
“There’s a Target next exit. Just drop me off.
I’ll figure it out.” I didn’t have anywhere else to go but home.
The friends I could always turn to during times like these were now my roommates.
Maybe I had enough for a hotel room somewhere until I felt like going home.
“Stop it. Please.” He squeezed my thigh. “First, he doesn’t know shit about me to speak for me. Secondly, I’m not dropping you off anywhere. Want to introduce you to my mother and brother. I’m meeting them for dinner.”
“Excuse me? You want me to meet your family? Seriously, you can drop me off somewhere. I’m sure they just want to see you, not some strange girl dressed like this.
” Although my heart soared at the thought of meeting his family, I gestured to my khaki, baggy cargo pants and pink midriff under a jean jacket.
Carter quickly glanced at my appearance. “Yeah, my mom may trip, but I’ll smooth it over. I’ll let her know we’ve been seeing each other, and I decided at the last minute I wanted you to meet. Didn’t give you a chance to change clothes.”
I checked out Carter’s fit. He’d changed into slacks and a blue polo and trimmed his mustache and goatee. Even his hair seemed more tamed. I groaned, “Your mama will think I’m a hot mess.”
He chuckled. “A pretty mess.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” I hit his arm.
“What?” He grinned.
“I literally had that thought at the coffeehouse when you first saw me. I’d hoped you saw a pretty mess, not a hot one.”
“You’re always pretty to me.” Carter flirted, and I melted at the warmth in his eyes.
He returned his attention to the road. “Before you give up on me, listen. I don’t want you to break up with him because of me.
If you decide you don’t want to be with him, it has to be because he’s not right for you.
I don’t want that expectation that once you leave him, we’ll be together.
You live with him, too. Where will you live, or can you afford to live alone if he moves out?
I don’t mind you staying with me while you figure it out, but honestly, that’s too much pressure for me with everything I have going on. ”
I couldn’t argue with his logic. “So, this weekend is off?”
Carter looked at me. “I didn’t say that.”
“I’m confused. Do you want me to break up with Grey or not?”
“I want you... been wanting you since you walked into Dr. Randall’s class last year. At first, I didn’t care if you had a boyfriend. Now, it fucks with me. Especially these last three weeks of not seeing you, and he got to see you every day.” He paused, “Is he your person?”
How he asked, I couldn’t answer. Grey meant the world. He would always mean the world. That didn’t mean he was supposed to be my man.
Carter quickly added, “Forget I asked that.”
“Why?”
He inhaled and exhaled deeply. “Because I’m not ready to hear the answer.”
My lips curved in a smile. “You might like my answer.”
He shook his head firmly. “Your fight is fresh. Don’t want your answer now. May not mean nothing.”
I threw my arms around his neck. “You really do like me.”
His lips curved into a bright smile, and he hugged my arms as he drove with one hand.
“I do. I just want you to figure out your shit before my heart gets further involved. When you ran to me, I wanted to be there for you. Ready to fight him for you, and you’re not mine.
And I actually do want you to meet my family. ”
I thought about our first conversation on the balcony when he asked if I was with Grey and seemed happy with my answer that we were only friends.
And I allowed my insecurities about whether he could really like me to place me in this huge lie that I had to climb out of.
Grey and I weren’t in a good space, but we would eventually work through it and continue living together.
In Carter’s eyes, my life was way more complicated than an argument with my best friend.
When we valeted at Moxies, an upscale restaurant in the ritzy Galleria area, I looked down at my outfit. “They’re not going to let me in like this.”
He pulled me to the side of the entrance and buttoned up my jean jacket.
“Wedges and this buttoned-up make your cargo pants more casual than sporty. Hold my hand, and we walk in as we fucking belong, and no one will question us.” Carter grasped my hand possessively, and we strolled inside the cool restaurant to the hostess stand.
“I’m here to meet with Veronica St. Patrick. ”
The stylish, model-like hostess with a sleek blonde ponytail smiled flirtatiously. “She told me that her son was on the way. Didn’t realize it was you. I go to Southern Texas, too. I’m at all the games cheering for you.”
Carter grinned and tugged me closer. “Appreciate that. So, will you take us to my family or point us in the direction?”
Her eyes slid to our clasped hands, and her smile tightened as she led us to his mother and brother, who were in a booth toward the middle of the restaurant.
His brother, a lighter version of Carter with long brown locs, nodded from across the room.
Ms. St. Patrick, an expensively dressed woman with flawless mocha skin, beamed when she spotted her oldest son.
She rose from her seat with flair to embrace him.
Her shiny black pixie cut framed her round face, and the flowy dress accentuated her natural curviness.
“Always late, Stank.” She stepped back to admire him. “I ordered a tuna sushi stack, spicy tuna roll, maple-glazed brussels sprouts, and calamari for appetizers. And who is your friend?” His mother asked without glancing my way.
Carter hugged me to him like we were already a couple and introduced me with the sun in his voice, “This is Darren Brown, a pharmacy major in her fourth year. We met last spring and started dating over the summer, and I decided at the last minute to bring her to meet you and Chase, so she’s just as surprised as you.
This is Veronica St. Patrick, my mother. ”
I smiled and awkwardly held my hand out. “Nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you and how you’re killing the fashion game.”
She took my hand and patted it, though I didn’t feel warmth. This woman didn’t like me as she gave me a quick once-over from head to toe. “I’m sure.”
“Stop acting brand new because Darren’s here.” Seemingly oblivious to his mother’s cold reception, Carter grabbed his brother’s hand and hugged him. His younger brother tried to hide his grin as he allowed Carter to hug him tight. “Missed you.”
“Stop all that. I’m good. Mama is being extra like usual.” He slid back in his seat, and Carter held a chair for me before settling next to me.
Ms. St. Patrick huffed. “I’m not being extra. You were in the hospital, and I told Carter not to come home.”
“But he only wanted to come home because you probably made it worse than it needed to be. I should be hanging out with friends since this is my last year in high school, rather than being here with Mama. But I had to prove I’m good so you can get your head back in the game.”
I looked at Carter. Get his head back in the game? He was killing it, and that was why our team had won three straight games.
“Oops...my bad for not speaking, Darren. Nice to meet you.” His brother held his fist out. “Chase.”
I bumped it. “It’s cool. I told Carter I was cool with catching up later so he could spend time with you.”
“And I said I wanted you here with me,” Carter reminded firmly.
His mother quirked a brow. “Is this your way of not returning to the Airbnb with us? I told you we needed to talk.”
I touched his hand that rested between us on the table. “Hey...it really is cool. I can catch an Uber back.”
Carter’s jaw tightened. “How many bedrooms does the house have, because either she and I are going home or she’s hanging with us?”
Chase picked up his iced tea to hide his amused smile.
He was probably used to this battle of wills between his brother and mother.
I didn’t know how to respond. I had an early class and nothing on me except my bookbag, and as much as I wanted to tell him that, I remained mute, wondering who or what Carter was running from.
Ms. St. Patrick’s nose flared. “A four-bedroom home.” She glanced at me. “You’re more than welcome to stay with us.”
I nodded. “Thank you.
Several plates of appealing appetizers were served and placed before us. The food looked and smelled delicious.
The waiter addressed me and Carter, “Can I get you something to drink?”
“Two glasses of water with lemons,” he answered before I could say anything.
Ms. St. Patrick tilted her head. “Your friend doesn’t want that. I taught you better than that. Ask her what she wants...don’t just order for her.”
He sucked in his breath. “Darren doesn’t mind water.”
“It’s fine. Really, Ms. St. Patrick. I drink a lot of water.” I nodded. This tension was a bit much after going through it with Grey. At this point, I was ready to leave.
Carter nudged my shoulder and asked softly, “What would you like to drink?”
I smiled at his gesture. “Guess.”
He grinned back. “Guess right, and that means we're compatible.”
“Mm... hm.” I leaned into him as his gaze dropped to my mouth.
His mother cleared her throat, and we both remembered where we were.
“Pass me the sushi if you can keep your hands off each other,” Chase added with a smirk, clearly enjoying this strange, unexpected meal.
I blushed while Carter kicked Chase under the table.
“Mama, Stank kicked me.”
Carter looked at his mother with feigned wide-eyed innocence, favoring the boy he probably once was. “I didn’t touch him. I swear.”
“I can show you the bruise,” Chase told his mother as he tapped his left leg.
“Bullsh...” Carter quickly stopped before he cursed. “I didn’t even touch him, Mama.”
Chuckling, she shook her head. “I miss this so much. My boys together.” Ms. St. Patrick smiled at me. “Would you like something other than what we ordered? The appetizers are their favs.”
“Everything looks good, Ms. St. Patrick. You don’t have to go out of the way for me.” I forked some calamari onto my saucer.
“Apparently, I do. My son has never brought a girl to meet me.” She twisted her lips slightly at her son, who tensed beside me while I pretended to be unfazed by her statement.
Never?