Chapter 25 Carrie #2
Don’s arm tightens around my waist as he uses his free hand to play with one of the curls that has sprung loose around the nape of my neck, and though I’m not the touchy-feely type, I let him.
There’s something reassuring about it. The conversation around us flows, and nobody seems to bat an eyelid at the way we’re sitting here, the two of us.
At one point, I jump up to head to the bathroom, and by the time I get back, Don’s nowhere to be seen.
I dip in and out of rooms, craning for a glimpse of him, when finally I spot him by the window, deep in conversation with his sister.
I smile. Finally! My heart is racing as if this were my shit to handle.
Don has slipped off his tie, I notice. The top buttons of his shirt are undone, and he’s frowning, his lips moving quickly, while Amelia stays staring out the window, nodding quietly every now and then.
He must sense my gaze on him, because he looks up and smiles at me, and when Amelia notices me lingering there, she mutters something I can’t make out.
He’s talking about me. I narrow my eyes, desperate to figure out what Donovan’s thinking, but he just keeps on staring at me, until suddenly he laughs and nods, smirking at his sister. Sus…
I find a free seat and settle in, soaking up the energy in the room.
Lois and Lane, loved-up and tangled together.
Becca and Carter in the same old scene—languid kisses spliced through with spats.
From the snatches of conversation I can make out, it seems like Carter is still trying to grind her down over the whole dog thing.
My gaze shifts to Adam, chatting to a few other basketball guys over by the TV—the way he’s sneaking looks at Amelia.
He finally notices me watching him and offers me an unapologetic grin, not remotely ashamed to confirm that his roommate’s kid sister has caught his eye.
Not long ago, I would’ve hated being surrounded by all these new couples, but not tonight.
It actually looks… nice. My gaze slips to Donovan.
He offers a hand to Amelia, and she takes it, studying him with a very serious expression.
She’s far from over it all—it’s way too soon for that—but it’s already real progress.
She lets go of her brother, and Adam swoops in immediately. Am I becoming the queen of matchmakers?
Donovan settles onto the arm of my chair, props his elbow against my backrest, and pokes his finger into my temple.
“Are you meditating?”
“Just plotting my next move. Adam and Amelia are vibing, don’t you think?” I smile. “I missed my calling as a dating coach.”
“Who’s your next victim? Lewis maybe?”
“Yeah, right. When I try to picture him with a girl, I get spasms. And anyway—look at you! I still haven’t managed to set you up with anyone. So, in terms of Lewis…” I shrug. “It’s basically mission impossible.”
“Don’t you worry about me.”
Something about the way he says it makes me look up.
Does he mean that girl he mentioned, back in his parents’ kitchen?
I’m struggling to get a read on him. It almost feels like he’s insinuating I’m the girl.
He’s been coming on to me all night, that’s for sure.
But we’ve got baggage. How the hell can we go from casual hookup to serious relationship?
“Earth to Carrie…”
He traces a finger along my forehead, and I blink. He’s towering above me, and all I need to do now is reach for his collar and pull him down to kiss me. So, why don’t I? I could just give in to the urge, forget about how scared I am to…
“What’s going on in there?” he murmurs, tilting my chin up.
Wouldn’t you like to know…? What’s going on in there is a whole bunch of images flashing through my mind, veering dangerously close to X-rated territory. Reading a spicy scene in public isn’t usually an issue for me—but playing one out here in this crowded living room with Donovan as the hero…
Suddenly, I can’t breathe.
“Don’t you feel awkward, seeing Adam and Amelia basically eye-fuck like that?”
I just pulled a U-turn, and he’s surprised, I know. He stares at me for a moment. It’s like he saw how flustered I was getting—like he recognized that feeling.
He turns to look at his sister.
“Why would I feel awkward?”
“Why?” I snort. “Isn’t that Bro Code 101? Thou shalt not hit on your best friend’s little sister? You’re supposed to throw the table over and go crazy on his ass.”
“It’s Adam.” He shrugs. “It’s cool with me.”
“Maybe Amelia will be his first—”
Donovan widens his eyes. “He told you about that?”
“Something about me just makes guys want to open up.” I smile at him. “So—are you going to go set some boundaries?”
“I trust Adam—I’m definitely not ‘going crazy on his ass.’ ”
I hang my head. “So disappointing. All my favorite clichés, gone.” I snap my fingers. “Just like that.”
“Hey—you’re the one who set them up. How about you go show him who’s boss?”
“You just don’t get it, do you?” I stare at him. “I was hoping you’d entertain me. Absolute disgrace, dude. I guess I’ll just have to head back to mine. Maybe watch a movie.”
“You’re not going anywhere,” he warns. “It’s my birthday, remember? I decide when you leave.”
Kinky.
“And anyway,” he continues, “we’ve got Lewis’s charades to get through first—it’s a birthday tradition. You can’t miss it.”
I frown. “ ‘Consider me preemptively triggered.”
As if by magic, Lewis jumps to his feet and cups his hands in front of his mouth.
“Time to get your game on, y’all!”
Don laughs, pulling me up from my seat. “You’re on my team.”
“There are teams?” I shudder.
“Just you wait. All you gotta do is exactly what I say.”
“Yes, Professor.” I bat my eyelashes, before cringing. It sounds like I’m coming on to him.
He slings an arm around my shoulders and leans into my ear.
“I’m looking forward to this.”
Same here. And I’m not talking about charades.
I’m talking about what’s going to happen any minute now—what I’ve been holding myself back from doing for way too long, and what’s been eating at my nerves.
Especially knowing he’s thinking about trying his luck with someone else. It’s now or never, I decide.
I want him. And I’m over denying myself.
I hope everyone clears out fast.
I take a deep breath in to ease my nerves and head over to where people are pairing up in teams. Lewis kicks us off, and I suddenly get why we’re working in twos, here.
This isn’t the kind of charades I’ve ever played—I watch in horror as Lewis uses his teammate’s body as a prop to help the crowd guess the word.
My cheeks flush. Oh no. No, no, no… Donovan’s hands will be all over me, with all these people watching, too. This is too much!
The game starts. I was right to be nervous—it’s the third round, and this is so fucked up.
“Just rest your ankle on my lower back,” Don instructs, pulling me in front of him, slipping a hand under my thigh. “Keep your other foot on the ground, and on three, dip back.”
“If I do that, that coffee table is taking me out.”
“I’ve got you.”
I roll my eyes. “Want to share the word, at least?”
“It’ll be more fun if you have to guess, too.” He nudges me. “Come on—we can’t let Lewis win.”
“I always win!” he crows in response. “Get moving, guys. My next card is gonna blow your minds.”
I sigh. “I never want to play this game again.”
Don gives me my orders, and I follow his instructions, until suddenly I’ve got one leg snaked around his hips and I’m leaning all the way back, floating in the air as he holds me tight. Even upside down, I can see Lois and Lane laughing at me.
“What’s so funny?” I yell.
“It reminds me of that one time Lois wanted to prove that one of my sex scenes didn’t work.”
“That’s great, guys, really gr—”
Don’s hand is flat on my belly, sliding up to my throat as he moves up and down, down and up. I can feel myself blush, wishing I had the abs to pull myself back up to standing. What the hell is the word?
The answer occurs to Adam and Lewis at the exact same time.
“An ironing board!”
“Correct! I’m giving the point to Adam.”
“Foul!” Lewis yells.
Donovan’s hand floats down to the small of my back, and before I know it, he’s pulling me back up. My head is spinning.
“What the…” I glare at him. “A fucking ironing board?”
“That’s what makes the game so much fun.”
“Burn in hell, Wolinski. I’m out!”
“No! You can’t do this to me!”
I slouch in the seat farthest away from my teammate.
I do my best to ignore his stares, hiding behind my cup, bringing it to my forehead to cool my skin.
I’m boiling—I can feel the heat coming off Don in waves, too.
When finally the game is over, guests start trickling off into the night, and the apartment empties.
“Want a lift home to Dad’s?” Don asks his sister.
“Don’t sweat it.” Adam slips on his jacket. “You just enjoy your night, buddy—I’ll take her home.”
Don thinks for a moment. “Okay. But I’m warning you—” He shoots me a glance. “You keep your hands off my sister!”
I nearly choke on my drink, flashing him a thumbs-up when he winks at me. I smile to myself.
“You are so fucking embarrassing.” Amelia groans.
Adam heads for the door, laughing. Amelia goes to follow him but changes her mind, walking over to me instead, shaking her head.
“You’ll pay for this, Carrie Wolinski.”
She’s actually terrifying.
“Don’t think that’s all it’s going to take to smooth things over—but thank you for what you said to me,” she says, softer now.
“He cares about you, you know.”
“He cares about you, too,” she whispers before leaving.
I glance around the room. The only people left are Lewis and the random girl he met tonight.
I watch them slip into his bedroom, and slowly, I turn.
Here we are, then. Just me and Don. My stomach is doing somersaults, and I don’t care whether it’s a bad call anymore—all I know is I want him. Right here. Right now.