Chapter 25 Carrie
Donovan’s huge arm just hit me square in the forehead. What the hell?
I duck under his elbow and look around. Everything seems pretty normal to me—people drinking, chatting. Standard.
“Okay, take two,” he starts. “Let’s try this again. I’m gonna shut the door and count to four, and when we come back in, I’m expecting the kind of birthday welcome your boy deserves.”
He presses his forearm into me again, pushing me back, and I swear if I were a couple of inches taller, I’d bite a chunk out of him. Amelia and I shuffle back, watching in dismay as Don slams the door shut.
“Seriously?” she sighs.
“Three… Four!”
He turns the handle, and we make our big entrance all over again, only this time, cries of “Happy Birthday!” light up the room.
“Oh my God, guys!” He widens his eyes. “You shouldn’t have! This is such a surprise!”
I jostle him forward. “Diva coming through!”
“Give me your stuff.” He turns to us. “I’ll put it in my room.”
We hand our bags and coats over, and before I know it, his entire gang is there, circling me.
“You had dinner with his parents!” Lois crows, like she’s accusing me of something.
Becca raises an eyebrow. “Care to tell me why I had to find out about this through Carter?”
“We’re supposed to be friends!” Lois adds, pointing at me like I’m on trial.
I stand there tapping my foot, waiting for the girls to pipe down.
“You’re the worst friend ever, Carrie!” Becca scowls at me. She gasps. “Oh my God! Is that my dress?”
Lois nods approvingly. “It suits her.”
Becca smirks. “It’s got a full-length zipper, Donny’s going to love it!”
“Yeah, although wearing it with tights… Tights are a pain in the ass.”
“Enough!”
I cover their mouths with my hands. These girls are out of control.
“Don’t mess up my lipstick,” Becca mumbles, prizing my fingers away.
“I can’t deal,” I sigh. “I’m gonna need a drink. Or two.”
Lois points to the door. “By the way—who’s the girl? The one who looks like she’s about to puke?”
“Shit! Amelia!”
I beckon her over, praying this goes smoothly. From the way she’s glaring at me, prayers are all I’ve got—she clearly hates me for bringing her here. But if I can learn to get along with her brother, I’m pretty confident I can tame her, too.
“Girls—this is Amelia, Donovan’s sister. This is Becca and Lois,” I add.
Lois smiles at her. “Welcome to Sycamore! Where you from?”
“Washington, DC.”
“You look so much like your brother, it’s crazy. I’ll get you two drinks!”
By the time Lois reappears clutching our cups, I’m still searching for a way to break the ice.
“Hey, guess what,” I try. “Amelia got dumped when school started, too. Guess ditching your girlfriend to screw around is trending.”
“Wow—you really know how to make people comfortable, don’t you?” Amelia gives me a hard stare. “What’s your secret?”
“Pure talent.”
“I’m so sorry to hear that.” Lois rests a hand on Amelia’s wrist. “Same thing happened to me, but now when I look back, I kinda think it was the best thing to happen to me.”
“That makes me feel a whole lot better,” Amelia drawls. “You’re dating one of my brother’s friends, right?”
Lois nods eagerly. “Lane. The big guy, over there.”
“He and my boyfriend write porn movies together,” Becca offers.
“Porn movies?” Amelia arches an eyebrow. “Fascinating.”
“It is, in a way!”
I suppress a heavy sigh and bring my cup to my lips. Just as I’m about to take a swig of beer, I sense movement behind me, followed by a soft weight landing on my head.
“What’s up, girls?”
Donovan rests his chin on me; his hands are draped over my shoulders.
“It’s my birthday, remember? Shouldn’t you be gathering ’round in a circle, worshipping the ground I walk on, or something?”
I’m feeling goose bumps every damn time he touches me.
“Damn—did you all know it was his birthday?” I turn to the girls in mock surprise.
Becca shakes her head. “No way! I just came to pick up guys.”
“I only came because Lane loves me so much, he can’t bear the thought of a whole evening without me.” Lois shrugs.
“I’m here because I didn’t have a choice.”
The group whips around to Amelia.
“Who forced you to come?”
“Carrie.”
Snitch!
Lois frowns. “How come, Carrie?”
“I was scared there’d be a lot of no-shows. I was trying to get a crowd together.”
“So thoughtful of you,” Don whispers in my ear.
“So unhinged,” Amelia corrects.
“Who is this charming young lady?” Lewis booms, pushing his way through the group.
Shit! I was hoping to ease her into it with Adam before hitting her with Lewis!
He offers a hand to Amelia, who pauses before taking it.
“Lewis Conley.”
“Amelia Wolinski,” she deadpans.
“Wolinski?” Lewis freezes, still clasping her hand in his. “You’re kidding, right? Another one? I should warn you—Carrie got there first! You’re gonna need to pick a different Campus Driver!”
“This is my little sister, you dumbass!” Don elbows Lewis in the side. “And I should warn you—you better show her some respect.”
“This is Coach’s daughter?” Lewis’s eyes widen. He bows low in Amelia’s direction. “You never saw me here.”
As I watch him weave his way back through the crowds, I can’t help but smile. Lewis needs help. Professional help. I glance at Amelia.
“Let me guess—that’s one of Donovan’s ‘super nice’ friends?”
“That’s Donovan’s weirdest friend,” I correct. “The others will seem exceptional by comparison.”
Lane has popped up beside Lois. “Totally agree.”
“Everyone knows Adam’s the best, though.” She glances at Lane. “Sorry, honey—but you come straight after Lewis on the crazies list.”
“Oh, God,” Don groans. “Not you, too, Lois. Don’t tell me you think he’s ‘charming’…”
“I mean, he is…”
“Adam!” Don yells out. “Get your ass over here!”
Adam wanders over from the couch obligingly.
“You know our girlfriends like you better than us?” Lane says.
Huh? Another one acting like me and Don are a thing.
We do spend a lot of time together, true.
But still—I’m surprised. And for once, the insinuation isn’t making me bristle or anything.
I don’t know whether it’s because I can still feel Donovan pressing into my back, which is soothing as hell, or because I actually am good with it all.
All that overthinking, the death spiraling—it’s exhausting.
Tonight, I just want to hit pause and breathe easy.
Adam is laughing. “No comment.”
“And here’s the last of them,” I whisper to Amelia. “Definitely not last on the list, though. He’s the alpha.”
“Whoa!” Donovan warns from behind me.
I look at Adam meaningfully. “This is Don’s sister.”
Recognition flickers in his eyes, and I suddenly remember he’s the only one who knows. He nods curtly, before flashing Amelia a warm smile. I glance at her, and I can see it on her face. She’s picked up on his positive vibes.
“Want to come help me make cocktails?” he offers. “I have dirt on your brother I’d love to share.”
“Traitor!” Don barks.
As Adam and Amelia trail into the kitchen, I can’t help but clench my fist. Victory! I’m pretty sure she won’t be able to resist him—this might be just what she needs to see Don and his friends in a whole new light.
“Well played.”
Don plants a kiss on my cheek, my stomach clenches, and I don’t even try to fight the spark of excitement that rushes low in my belly.
Carter’s telling us all about the project he’s working on with Lane, and I let his words wash over me, leaning into Don, letting myself fall back into his warmth.
“Don!” Lewis yells over from the couch, patting the space beside him. “Time to open your gift!”
“Is it a real one, this time?”
I twist around to look at him. “They gave you fake gifts?”
“They did.” He catches my wrist. “Come with me? They won’t try to embarrass me if you’re there.”
He leads me over to the living room, where the others are gathered around the couch. He pulls me into his lap. I instinctively try to squirm free, but he pins me down with one arm, holding me tight against him.
“I need a shield—I don’t trust these guys.”
“Aren’t you ashamed of putting me in the line of danger?”
“Agreed.” Lewis shakes his head. “Disgrace, dude. And probably the worst excuse ever for getting a girl to sit on you, you loser!”
He hands a small box to Donovan, who motions for me to open it for him.
“This isn’t going to, like, explode in my face, is it?”
“As long as you don’t touch Don’s fly, you should be safe,” Lewis quips.
An eye roll escapes me. “I feel sorry for your future girlfriend, you know.”
Lewis brings a hand to his chest. “I’m a proud member of the singles clan. No woman shall lay claim to my dick.”
Donovan nudges me. “Come on, already! Open my gift!”
Diva’s back.
I tug on the ribbon, holding the box as far from my face as I can as I prize open the lid, and when I’m sure it’s safe, I bring it closer, tilting it toward Donovan, waiting for him to fish out his surprise.
“Fuck! You guys are the best!”
I peer closer. It’s just a bunch of fabric, as far as I can see. I glance over at the girls, confused. Everybody but me seems to get what this is about.
“You can go talk to RJ and pick out the right leather,” says Lane. “Personally, I’m into number nine.”
“Yeah, that one’s not bad.” Don squeezes me. “What do you think, Carrie?”
“I’m so lost right now…”
“It’s for his seats,” Adam explains. “For his car. These are swatches.”
“Oh, that makes sense!” I reach over, taking the samples from Don. “Eleven is nice. It feels soft—but that’s just me.”
“Eleven, huh?”
“What about you, Carrie?” Lewis pipes up. “Get anything for our darling Donny?”
“It’s in his bedroom.”
“Ooh, spicy!”
I gasp. “That’s not what I meant!”
“Listen, you don’t have to explain.” Lewis grins. “All I’ll say is—my birthday is February twenty-ninth, and my room is the first on the right…”
“Dude—”
“Great!” I say brightly, cutting Donovan off. “See you in four years, then!”
“I’ll be waiting.”
He thumps his chest, glancing over my head at Don. I have no idea what kind of weird, silent conversation they’re having, but Lewis wiggles his eyebrows, winking at me.