13. Chapter 13
Beth
W as I really doing this? The last time I was in this apartment, it started the rumor that put me in this situation in the first place.
I took a deep breath, convincing myself that I owed Carter a thank you for getting me home safely—no matter how ridiculous I felt cradling that thank you in one hand while I knocked with the other.
Carter opened the door, lifting his brow when his eyes landed on the box in my hand.
“Beth? What are you doing here?” He leaned against the door frame, kicking one leg over the other.
His hair was messy, but perfectly so, like it was the right amount of effort to look like he’d put in no effort. How did he do that?
“I wanted to bring this to you. To say thank you again for the other night.” When I realized I was still holding the pie to me, I thrust my arms out toward him, cringing. Smooth, Beth. “It’s a pie. They had them at the union bake sale.”
“Pie?” Carter took the box, taking my nerves with it. When he smirked, I wished I was still holding the box in front of me like it was some sort of protective shield. “Do you want to come in for a piece?”
Did I? I looked past him, hoping the apartment was empty before I answered. “Yeah, okay.”
Carter stepped aside, letting me in. I scanned the familiar room—it looked different without the cloud of expectation hanging over it.
Relief flooded me when he looked over his shoulder.
“Nobody’s here.” Then he chuckled, and the sound woke the butterflies in my stomach.
“So what kind of pie did you get?” he asked, opening the lid to the box.
“Cherry.” The sweet smell drifted into the room, and my cheeks warmed with embarrassment when my stomach growled. “I hope you like cherry,” I added quickly, realizing that he may have preferred apple or blueberry.
“Who doesn’t?” He winked, cutting into the pie and placing a messy slice on two plates. “You know, you didn’t have to bring me anything. I was happy to help.” Carter handed me one of the plates, still holding onto the edge of it when I grabbed it.
I stared at him, my gaze bouncing from his to where our hands were dangerously close to touching.
It was like the air in the room got thicker—heavier—the longer I stared, even though I was sure it was only a couple of seconds.
I sucked in a breath of sugar-coated confidence and leaned forward, stretching onto my toes and leaning over the pie between us.
Carter’s eyes narrowed just slightly before I met his lips with mine.
I breathed in his exhale, realizing what I had done. My lips were touching Carter’s.
I gasped and took a step back, bringing the piece of pie with me and leaving Carter where he was standing with a smirk on his face. “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry,” I said, setting the plate on the counter and turning. “I should go.”
Carter’s hand closed around my wrist, stopping me mid-step, and my pounding heart crashed into my chest when it kept rushing for the door. “What are you apologizing for?” When he didn’t let go of my arm, I turned back toward him. He didn’t look angry or upset.
“For kissing you.” I looked at the uneaten pie on the counter, reminding myself that I had come here to thank him and not to find out if he was a better kisser than his roommate. He is.
“Don’t apologize.” He took a step toward me, silently taking my breath away when I could smell his cologne.
I shook my head, debating between hiding my face and stuffing it full of pie because having cherry filling all over my lips had to be less embarrassing than kissing a man who could clearly do better.
“I’ve never done anything like that before.
” I sucked my bottom lip between my teeth and bit down, noticing that Carter’s gaze followed.
“Do you want to do it again?” Was he serious? By the way he stepped away from the counter, leaving both slices completely untouched, it seemed like he had forgotten about the dessert too.
I nodded. “I think so.”
Carter lifted his hand, tucking his finger under my chin and lifting it until his stare drilled directly into mine.
“Me too,” he said, leaning down until his lips touched mine.
This time I didn’t pull away. Instead, I leaned into the warmth of his mouth and the comfort of his hand on my cheek.
When he ran his tongue along my bottom lip, I parted them, savoring the taste of his breath.
Then I whimpered, and I felt him smile. I could still feel his smile against me when he pulled back. Before my lips had stopped tingling, I already missed the feeling. Nobody had ever kissed me in a way that made me question how my legs were still holding me up.
“Is that cherry lip balm?” Carter asked, lifting a brow as he drew his finger across the corner of his mouth and smirked.
I nodded. “Good guess.”
When he looked over his shoulder at the counter, he chuckled. “You must really like cherry.” My stomach grumbled again, and I thought about grabbing for the pie I almost fled without.
“I guess I do.” I giggled, and the blush on my cheeks got warmer. By this point, I had to be bright red.
Carter looped his arm around my waist and tugged me against him.
When he kissed me again, I hummed. I didn’t want the kiss to end as quickly as it did.
He wiggled both of his brows before he let go of me.
I watched him reach for one of the plates.
“Thank you for the pie,” he said, taking a bite and groaning with approval.
Then he winked, and the butterflies in my stomach did somersaults.
“If I’m not careful, I just might end up liking cherry a bit too much. ”