Chapter 13 Daisy #2
Thank God Mom booked a suite at a nearby hotel and isn’t staying at the house.
I think Uncle Craig would probably pack his bags and vacate the premises if that were the case.
The last time Lydia stayed with them, she had Uncle Craig running all over the place.
By the fourth day, he was ready to wring her neck.
Just as I start to relax on the plush cushion, I catch the sound of the French door opening and closing.
I keep my eyes squeezed shut, wanting to block out reality for a moment longer.
I suspect Aunt Marnie has noticed my absence and has come to check on me.
And probably sneak a smoke. She quit years ago, but Lydia tends to drive her bat shit crazy.
She keeps a secret stash hidden in the garage for emergencies.
A visit from Lydia is most definitely classified as an emergency.
When Aunt Marnie drops onto the lounger next to mine, I turn my head and open my eyes only to find that it isn’t my aunt at all.
It’s Carter.
The surprise of finding him a few feet from where I’m sprawled stuns me into silence. We’re not ones to seek each other out. Ever. What he’s doing is unprecedented.
He sits facing me. His knees are spread, and his elbows rest casually on them. Unsure what to say, I remain silent and wait for him to start the conversation. After everything that’s transpired between us these last few weeks, I feel at a loss as to how to act around him.
Apparently, I’m not the only one who feels ill at ease, because Carter clears his throat and shifts on the lounger. “Your mom is wondering where you’ve disappeared to.”
The breath slowly escapes from my lungs at the notion of heading inside again.
I thought it would take her longer to notice my absence.
I love being with my aunt and uncle. Not once have I ever considered escaping from their presence.
Guilt slides through me that I feel that way about my own mother.
I should be thrilled that she carved out time to visit me.
Instead, I feel resentful that she’s impinging on my time which only prompts more guilt.
I’m not ready to head inside just yet, but there doesn’t seem to be a choice in the matter.
As I sit up, he says, “Don’t worry, I told her that you were in the shitter. Salmonella poisoning from bad brownies. That should buy you some time.”
My mouth falls open.
Is Carter really cracking a joke about the brownie incident that is never to be mentioned in Noah’s presence? Because he certainly didn’t think it was amusing at the time.
I wince at the laxative-brownie aftermath.
Poor Noah…
The chocolaty dessert really did a number on him. Who knew he had such a sensitive system? He wasn’t right for days after that. Thankfully, he’s forgiven me. It took about fifty apologies and lots of sad, puppy dog looks for him to speak with me again.
As the edges of my lips reluctantly bow upward, his do the same. My belly flutters at the penetrating look he gives me. I’m not sure if we’ve ever shared a smile. Usually, I’m too busy biting his head off or glaring for that to occur.
It’s kind of surreal to be having this moment with him.
We both fall silent. Oddly enough, it’s not stifling or uncomfortable. Carter glances at his hands before his gaze pierces mine. A sizzle of electricity zips unwantedly through my body. “So, that’s your mom, huh?”
I collapse on the lounger again and close my eyes.
His words send a myriad of emotions crashing through me.
“Yup, that’s her.” The woman is a train wreck.
Albeit a gorgeous, well put together train wreck.
Most kids, at some point, want to grow up to be like their parents.
Not me. I don’t want to be anything like her.
The thought of turning into Lydia is a frightening one.
I’ve taken my fair share of psychology classes at BU.
I’m well acquainted with the whole nature-verses-nurture debate.
In this instance, I hope nurture crushes nature.
When I say nothing more on the topic, he picks up the thread of our conversation. “She seems…” his voice trails off as if searching for a complimentary adjective to describe the woman he just met. “Interesting.”
I burst out laughing. Carter has no idea just how interesting Lydia can be. “That’s an understatement.”
A slow grin spreads across his face as his eyes take on a teasing glint.
My heart stutters for a beat or two. It’s a little disconcerting to have all that charm focused solely on me.
I’m tempted to blush and play with the ends of my hair, but I resist the urge.
Barely. This guy right here, this is the one all the girls fall for.
“I was trying to be polite.”
Now that’s funny. “Since when?” Polite has never been part of his playbook when dealing with me. Some of the attraction ebbs making it easier for me to breathe.
Carter sighs. His unflinching gaze locks on mine until I find myself trapped within his unrelenting stare.
“I don’t want to fight any more, Daisy.” His voice drops, becoming deeper. “The situation never should have escalated to the level that it did.”
I nod in agreement. He’s right. It shouldn’t have.
“Let’s call a truce. No more fighting or pranks. We have less than a year under the same roof. Then we’ll be graduating and moving on with our lives.” His voice softens, becoming almost uncertain. “We can get along for eight months without trying to poison one another, can’t we?”
“I didn’t try to poison you,” I say quickly, but my voice lacks conviction.
How did we end up in this place? I’ve never had an issue with anyone.
I get along with everyone. Carter has always been the exception.
I shake my head trying to make sense of it all.
“I’ve never understood why you have a problem with me. ”
His gaze flickers to something at the far corner of the yard. Time slows, and I wonder if he’ll bother with an answer.
Is there one?
I can’t imagine what it could be.
“There was never a problem.” Avoiding eye contact, he keeps his gaze trained on something in the distance.
Disappointment sets in and I sputter out a laugh.
For a moment there, it felt like we were making progress.
Guess not. “Oh, come on,” I mock. “You’ve never liked me.
You’ve always been a prick.” My upper lip curls with the memory and the subsequent confusion and hurt that quickly followed in its wake. “You never gave me a chance.”
The longer Carter remains silent, the more restless I grow wondering if he’ll finally give me the real reason for his behavior.
Looking distinctly uncomfortable by the forced conversation, he shifts on the lounger. His gaze bounces around the yard never once landing on me. “It was never like that.”
I jerk upright and swing my legs around to face him. Our knees bump. This time, the contact does nothing for me.
How can he lie with a straight face?
This conversation is probably the longest one we’ve ever engaged in without sniping at each other. I should count that as a win and move on. Not five minutes ago, Carter called a truce.
I need to let this go. For my own sanity.
But I can’t.
I want an explanation. As much as I hate to admit it, his behavior has always bothered me. It’s like a painful sliver I’ve never been able to dislodge from beneath my skin. One that’s been festering for years.
How can I possibly ignore it?
I drag in a breath and attempt to settle all the rioting emotion inside me. “It’s always been like that and you know it.”
He mutters something unintelligible under his breath.
I lean toward him so that we’re closer. All I want is for him to look me in the eye and tell me the truth. No matter what it is, I can handle it. Only then can we move forward with a clean slate. “I’m sorry, I missed that. What did you say?”
He glances up, his gray gaze skewering mine. My breath catches as emotion flashes in his eyes. It’s so much more than I’m used to seeing from him.
There are times when it feels as if Carter has built a wall around himself. At least where I’m concerned. Although with other people—girls especially—he’s relaxed and even gregarious. For some reason, he’s always treated me differently.
“I never meant to come across that way.” His voice is painfully uncertain. “Can we just forget about it and move on?”
Even though I want to push for answers, it’s doubtful he’ll be honest with me. Maybe I just need to let it go and bury the hatchet. “Yeah, I guess we can do that.”
He nods, relief transforms his expression. “Good.”
His lips lift. My gaze drops unconsciously to the full sexiness of his mouth. An unwelcome rush of desire floods through my body before pooling at my core.
What am I doing?
It takes effort to shake myself out of the weird mental fog that has fallen over me. I shoot to my feet, needing to put a little distance between us.
At my sudden movement, Carter bolts upward as well. You wouldn’t expect someone so large to move that fluidly, but he does. We’re practically standing toe-to-toe.
There’s a devilish voice inside my head urging me to stroke my palms over the graphic t-shirt clinging to his chest and arms. The material wraps around his thick, sun-kissed biceps.
Is his body this bronzed all over?
My mouth turns cottony at the thought.
I retreat a step in my haste to get away. As I do, my calves hit the back of the lounger and I lose my balance. Carter’s eyes widen as my arms pinwheel. He snaps forward and makes a grab for me, yanking me against his chest.
But it’s too late. I’m falling and now I’m taking him with me.
He wraps his arms around me, locking me against his bulk as we crash onto the sunbed.
I brace myself for impact. He grunts as we land but I feel nothing.
Carter’s body absorbs the brunt of our fall.
With labored breaths, we lay entwined. My breasts are crushed against his rock-solid chest.
“Are you okay?” A shiver dances down my spine as his warm breath feathers against my ear. That’s all it takes for my nipples to pebble. I send up a silent prayer hoping that he doesn’t feel them poking through the fabric of my shirt.
“Yeah.” I make a concerted effort to clear the huskiness from my throat. “Sorry about that.”
I know I’m in trouble when I have to fight the urge to burrow against his strength.
Instead of doing just that, I push against his upper body, trying to separate myself from him as quickly as possible.
Our limbs are tangled together. Goose bumps rise across my flesh as my calf slides against the crinkly hair of his leg.
“I should get back inside.” The words come out sounding thick and hazy. “My mom…”
Carter snaps to, immediately releasing his hold as if I’ve scalded every part of him.
I scramble away and fill my lungs with fresh air. His scent surrounds me, clinging to my skin, making me feel lightheaded and achy. Once I find my footing, my hand rises, nervously fluttering over my shirt and shorts.
Carter rolls onto his back and stares up at me with enough heat to singe the hair right off my arms. I blink in bewilderment and the look disappears, leaving me to wonder if it was ever there to begin with.
When I don’t move, he growls, “Go inside, Daisy. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
Part of me wants to stay and figure out what just happened, but I have no idea how to do that. Instead, I nod and flee to the house.
Who would have ever thought that my mother’s presence would feel like safe harbor?
Guess there’s a first time for everything.