Chapter 23
Something Brewing.
Being the baby of a loving, successful family isn’t always easy.
I had not one but two older siblings who’d done exceptionally well.
My sister, Danielle, who is four years older than I, had been married for two years and had just passed the bar.
She and her lawyer husband had just moved to one of those trendy apartments in downtown Houston where cars weren’t necessary.
Then there was my brother, Darryl, two years older, a newlywed, living his best life with his wife, who jointly owned a small contracting business in Beaumont.
My parents had partially funded their business, had worked hard as bankers, and had excellent financial management skills.
My parents may have started living in an efficiency when they married, but they had done well over the years.
During my last years in high school, they could finally afford their sprawling five-bedroom dream home.
To say they were overly thrilled that I finally had a boyfriend, one who was bound for success, was an understatement.
I didn’t even get the usual criticisms about my wild hair or grades, which hadn’t been the best lately because of my Carter fever.
My brother and sister left their respective spouses to join our parents for dinner at my condo, and it was cool to be the original five again.
We preferred home-cooked meals so that we could actually hear each other and bond.
My father, who’d always been the better cook, insisted on grilling his favorite rib-eye steaks in the pit outside the complex near the beach despite the fifty-degree weather.
Grey and Darryl joined my father to drink beer and catch up.
Meanwhile, my sister, Mama, and Chelsea prepared fresh mashed potatoes, corn, and lemonade.
They allowed me to sit at the table and brag about Carter, who would be arriving later because he had meetings with his team.
“I can’t wait to meet him.” Mama beamed.
I was the only one to inherit her deep indentations, and she would remind me of my beautiful smile when I doubted my looks.
She was the youngest of five children, and she understood my position all too well.
She would temper my father’s tendency to compare his children with warmth and praise.
“The picture you sent of the two of you is so cute.”
“Which did you send?” Chelsea asked as she pushed the pitcher of fresh lemonade to the side and sat beside me.
“This one.” I picked up my phone and showed her a selfie of us after one of his victorious games. Our cheeks touched while we grinned at the camera. We looked happy and in love.
She looked but didn’t say anything. Lately, she’d been distant.
Even when we were together, Chelsea didn’t say much.
She didn’t seem angry or sad, just caught in her world.
A world I no longer knew, and it saddened me because it reminded me that my close friendships would change.
Carter and the family we would create one day would be my focus.
I’d seen it with my siblings and my parents.
Though they had friends, they now only gathered during special occasions and holidays.
I would be moving in with Carter. Since we were both graduating, we could end up living out of the state for jobs, school, or if Carter changed his mind about playing professional football.
My cell rang while she still had my phone and announced, “Speak of the devil.”
She passed me my phone, and I stepped out on the balcony for privacy. “Are you on your way?”
His deep voice replied, “In a little while. Still on campus. Should I bring something?”
“Trust. My family has plenty of food, and Chelsea made a big pitcher of lemonade. Just bring yourself.”
“Oh... Chelsea is there.” He sounded disappointed.
“Yeah, why wouldn’t she be?”
“Thought tonight was about your family and about me meeting them?”
“She’s like my family, and besides, she lives here.”
“I guess that means Grey will be there, too?” I could feel his irritation.
“Yeah. Sorry, I thought you knew.”
“How could I know if you didn’t tell me? When you spend time with my family, it’s not me, you, and my friends. It’s just us two. I’m already nervous about meeting your parents, and then you add Grey and Chelsea in the mix,” he grumbled.
I closed my eyes and silently prayed that Carter would magically like my friends.
I met a couple of his friends, and we’d gotten along well.
I enjoyed spending time with the people he cared about.
And I kept hoping that the more time we spent with my friends, the more he would loosen up around them.
“I should’ve said something. I didn’t think. ”
“No, you didn’t,” he replied sharply. “I’ll see you in a few.” He hung up without saying goodbye.
“Shit.” I shivered from the cold air, and before I could go back inside, Grey placed his jacket around me. His jacket, still warm from his body, immediately comforted me.
He leaned against the rail, nursing his beer bottle in his hand while I still faced the beach. “Everything good?”
“I messed up.”
He quirked a brow. “You? Mess up? Never.”
I rolled my eyes. “Carter assumed it was just him and me with the parents.”
“Why did he think that? Your peeps are like my peeps.”
“I need you not to be so cozy with my folks in front of Carter.”
Grey took a long sip before replying, “He jealous?”
“Not jealous. Just nervous about meeting my parents.”
He snickered. “Yep, he’s jealous.”
With a wagging finger in his face, I warned, “Behave.”
“Don’t worry, I wouldn’t want to hurt your precious Carter.” He finished his beer.
“It’s not like that. He knows you’re my first, and it’s got him crazy.”
Grey’s forehead suddenly furrowed. “Thought you weren’t going to tell him?”
“I wasn’t, but he asked. He still doesn’t know when.”
Grey whistled. “Nope. Don’t tell him that. It might be over for real.”
I smiled triumphantly. “See, I told him you were rooting for us. He didn’t believe me.”
He placed his empty bottle against my forearm. “He’s right not to believe you. Why would I want you and him to work out? I don’t trust him, but I respect your decision.”
“He doesn’t trust you either, so I guess you’re even,” I retorted childishly. “You’re not even giving Carter a chance. He’s been good to me. The only issue we have is you.”
He frowned. “Issue?”
I averted my gaze. “Nothing.”
He dipped his head to see my face and said quietly, “Truth.”
I turned to face him and admitted, “Carter thinks I’ll leave him for you if you get your shit together.”
Grey studied my face longer before carefully asking, “He doesn’t know you already chose him?”
“Exactly. Now he wants me to move in with him because our living together makes him uncomfortable. I told him I would because I get it. I wouldn’t like it if he lived with a woman he’d slept with. Friend or no friend.”
“Do you want to move in with him?” Grey quickly added, as if he didn’t want to know my answer, “You want me to talk to him? Let him know that we’re never getting together.
” He swallowed hard. “I can also tell him that you know I’m in love with you, but you would rather be with him. Is that what you want me to tell him?”
“Grey...” I locked eyes with him, wanting to reassure him that I would always love him. Hated that he had such strong feelings for me when I’d made another choice. Hated that a part of me still wanted him, too.
“No need to say anything. We’re good.” He opened the sliding door and walked back inside.
I glumly kicked the bottom of the railing, wishing somehow I could be with both.
“Hey.” I looked up at my sister standing at the door. “Dinner is almost ready. Is Carter on the way?”
“Yeah.”
She looked at me and stepped outside. “What’s up? Grey walked past me like the world is over, and you’re out here moping.”
I beckoned her to close the door. “Can I tell you something that Mama can’t ever, ever know?”
Danielle shut the door and moved closer. “What?”
“I’m serious. You and Mama tell each other everything. This is my secret, and I’m telling you.”
She looked behind her through the doors. “What? I won’t tell.”
I whispered, “Grey is in love with me. He told me that right before I got with Carter.”
Danielle grinned. “I knew it. He’s too involved with you to just be friends. Why didn’t you give him a chance...wait, never mind. Carter is one fine ass man. And I’ve only seen pictures. You lucked up with him.”
I strongly defended, “Grey is fine too.
She chuckled. “He is. But he’s like my baby brother who finally grew up. Sounds like you're feeling him too.”
I leaned closer to whisper. “I slept with both of them my birthday weekend.”
My sister squealed, “You slut.”
I hit her arm hard. “Shh...the whole world doesn’t need to know.”
“See, you got a little me in you. Always thought you were too proper about sex.... waiting and waiting for what? Sex is so much fun.” She grinned and tossed her weave over her shoulder. “Which one is better?”
I blushed. “I’ve only been with Grey twice and lost count with Carter. They’re different, yet both are addictive. Carter is more aggressive, but I suspect Grey can choke a woman out when he wants.”
She wrinkled her nose. “He’s still like my brother. I’ll take your word.” Danielle bumped my shoulder. “Which one do you love more?”
“Carter. But then Grey knows me better than I know myself, and I’m madly attracted. Yet I can’t deny that Carter steals my breath every single day," I groaned. "How did you know Nate was the one?”
Dani smiled dreamily. “I felt safe, and my heart sang every time I saw him. Still does whenever we’re apart, even for a few hours. He values me and our marriage. Like Daddy feels about Mama. I think any man willing to be your friend and lover and believes in commitment is a keeper.”
I looked back into the condo as Grey opened the door for Carter.
To his credit, Carter held his fist out for Grey to bump before he came inside.
My heart melted at his effort, knowing how he truly felt about Grey.
His jealousy had a basis, if I was honest. Maybe it was best that I distanced myself from Grey.
I wasn’t fair to my relationship with Carter.
A man who wanted to be my friend and lover and believed in marriage.
“Well, Carter just walked in. So come meet him.” I started toward the door, and she grabbed my arm.
“Hey...something’s up between Grey and Chelsea. I actually thought you were going to say they were hitting it when I came out here.”
“What?” Grey and Chelsea? I pressed against my stomach to stop the churning. “Why do you say that?”
“I came back upstairs while everyone was outside around the grill, and they were alone in the apartment in a heated argument. They both seemed embarrassed when I walked in. Grey immediately headed back outside, and Chelsea laughed at nothing and started boiling lemons for the lemonade.”
“They argue all the time.” I shrugged, though I knew it was something else. Maybe they had hooked up. Maybe they were thinking about being more. Before my birthday, I didn’t care if they did anything with each other. Now, it was different. I didn’t like it.
I didn’t like it one bit.
DINNER HAD BEEN A SUCCESS. My family loved Carter, though I noted curious looks between Grey and Carter as if both were trying to be cordial by finding similarities or something to like about the other.
They’d engaged in sports talk with my brother and father on the balcony, drinking beer.
Mama couldn’t stop smiling because Carter made it clear that he cared for me.
Fixing my plate and being attentive, anticipating my needs.
Around eleven, Carter excused himself because he needed rest for the big game.
I walked with him next door to have a moment alone.
“My family loved you.” I hugged him.
He gave a lopsided grin. “Your fam is cool. Def can feel the love between your parents. Must have been nice to see that growing up.”
“I guess I took their love for granted. It’s all I know.”
Carter ruefully said, “I know a different example, and it’s not a good one. Sometimes, I wonder if I can have a healthy marriage if I never saw one.”
“Your grandparents.”
He nodded. “But I didn’t see them that often.”
I tiptoed to press my lips against his briefly.
“You’re doing a good job so far. All any of us can do is take it one day at a time.
” I looked up at him. “I love that we could talk this way. I’ll do better about warning you when Grey is around.
I put myself in your shoes. I couldn’t stand it if you lived with a woman you were once with. ”
He stiffened. “Please, Darren. Don’t like talking about him, especially seeing how close he is to your family. I tolerated him tonight because of your family. But other than that, he and I never need to be in the same close space again.”
I removed my arms. “Let’s not argue. I’ll come back once my family leaves.”
“Naw, don’t bother. Need to jog to clear my mind. Don’t need any more distractions when I have a game tomorrow. Like you wearing his jacket.” He turned without saying goodbye and bounded down the stairs.
I’d forgotten Grey had given me his team jacket on the balcony when I was cold. Fuck. Fuck.
Instead of returning to my apartment, I moved to the stairwell and watched him run.
I did love him. I was in love with him and would lose him if I couldn’t give him my whole heart.
I propped my hands underneath my chin, staring at him as he grew smaller.
Grey ran toward the beach as I stared and took off quickly after Carter.
My heart raced as Grey appeared to be calling Carter’s name.
Carter stopped and turned around impatiently.
Grey slowed down the closer he approached Carter.
Words were tossed at each other. Angry words, if their rigid bodies and agitated movements were indications.
In the distance, the two men I loved were arguing.
About me.