Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
CORINNE
It feels nice being able to walk around holding Carter's hand.
Letting everyone know we are together. This didn't happen the last time we were together.
Back then it was stolen glances and keeping as far away from each other as we could.
My brother hasn't talked to me all day. I half expected that, but it still hurts.
If anything, he should want nothing but happiness for me.
Instead, he's acting like a child and refusing to acknowledge my existence.
Well, too bad for him. I already talked to Audrey and we're going to get a friendly game of cornhole going.
We're just waiting for the current game to end.
Tiffany and Spencer purposefully lose their game against Audrey and Justin. Winner plays the next team, and I know it kills Tiff to not be the victor. I'm only happy she's willing to do this for me. It'll force Justin to talk to me. Maybe I can smooth things over between him and Carter.
I grab a couple of beers out of the ice chest and stand next to him. Carter walks to the other board next to Audrey. I hold one of the beers out to him, and he grabs it without a thank you. "Are you kidding me right now?"
"What? You don't like the fact you're about to have your ass handed to you?"
"You know exactly what I'm talking about. There's a reason I've been avoiding your love fest all day."
I roll my eyes. Ugh, he's such a man child. "And this is the only way I could force you to talk to me. I can drag this game out as long as I need to."
"Fine," he grunts. He grabs one of the bags and tosses it. It almost hits Carter and is nowhere near the board. "What do you want me to say?"
I grab my bag and toss it. It lands on the board. One point for me. "First of all, I'd like you to stop trying to take out my boyfriend with bean bags. And I want you to say you're happy for us."
"I don't know if I can, Rinne." Another bean bag flies through the air. This time he hits the board. Bastard. "I told the two of you not to get involved. What if things don't work out in the long run. That puts me in the middle."
"Considering we've already broken up once, I think everything will be just fine.
" I throw another bag and this time it goes in the hole.
I'm up again. "I know you think we're wrong for each other, but we're not.
We are actually very much alike. We're compatible, and love each other. What more could you want for me?"
"I don't know. Maybe for you to be with someone who isn't my best friend." He tosses the bag and misses the board completely. At least he didn't aim for Carter again.
"That's not good enough, Justin. There has to be another reason."
"There really isn't. I don't want to be put in the middle of your squabbles. And if you do one day break up, I will have to choose. My sister or best friend. It's not fair to me."
I toss another bag and make it on the board. "The proof of what happened between me and Carter before should make those fears less than they are. We avoided each other for the most part. That has to account for something."
"Maybe." He shrugs. He throws his last bean bag and I throw mine.
Silence sits between us as we wait for Audrey and Carter to take their turns. I'm still up after they are finished. "How are you feeling about your odds?"
"I need to switch sides," he grumbles and walks to the other board.
Audrey looks shocked but comes to stand by me. "I'm not sure that was a good idea."
"You aren't the only one." I sigh.
We both take our turns with our eyes on the two men at the other end of the yard. For a while, neither of them says a word to each other. This doesn't bode well at all, but I'm going to see how it plays out.
After each turn, they seem to be talking more and more. Each time a chance for them to speak to each other instead of yelling like what happened in the room this morning.
Carter and I are winning, and it's down to the last point.
If I make this, we're golden. I throw the bean bag and it lands on the board.
Audrey misses all of her shots and it's a victory for us.
Audrey doesn't look disappointed, though.
She points in the direction of the guys.
They shake hands and do that weird bro hug.
They walk toward us and Justin stands next to Audrey while Carter comes to my side and puts an arm around my waist. "You two have my blessing." I'm seconds from jumping for joy, but he continues, "just please don't be all kissy face in front of me. It's weird."
"I'm not making any promises," I grin and turn to kiss Carter. I hear my brother groan, but I don't care. He approves, not that I needed it. Things are just easier when we're not on the outs. "You can have the next game. I need to grab my camera."
"I'll get it," Carter says and bounds off toward the house.
"Hey, Tiff," I call out. "Are you and Spencer ready to get those pictures taken before we're all too buzzed to do it."
"Damn, that would be funny," Tiffany answers. "But yeah, we're in." She pulls Spencer by the hand and we wait for Carter to come back with the camera.
I had my doubts about how this weekend would turn out, but it may be one of the best ones I've had in a long time. After all this time, I can call Carter mine without having to worry about any sort of blow back from the people I love.