Chapter 29 Donovan
Carrie’s chewing on her nails, watching me pack my bags. We’ve been discussing her mom for an hour, and now that she’s finally dropped her walls and admitted we’re officially together, she’s opening up to me.
“Mom’s really starting to get it—she gets just how depressed she is.” Carrie turns her attention to her thumbnail. “We’ve been speaking more since the fire. She’s starting to get that shutting herself away from the world just made the pain worse.”
“And that she ended up hurting her daughter, too,” I add.
I zip the last bag shut.
Carrie nods. “It’s like the fire was a wake-up call. She needed it to happen to understand that something had to change. There’s definitely a long way to go, but she’s seeing a therapist after Thanksgiving, and I gave her the number for that charity—the one that helps people like her.”
“That’s awesome.”
“It’s early days, but I’m super happy.”
I stretch out on the bed next to her. “And you know I’ve got your back.”
She pauses for a moment. “It’s so weird to think you’ll be coming back to the house with me tomorrow.”
“Do you wish you hadn’t said yes?”
We spent hours arguing about it, until finally, Carrie agreed to let me come with her.
“I don’t regret it—but it does make me anxious.”
“If you’re scared I’ll stop lov—”
“No!”
I sigh. “I was just about to say something super romantic.”
“I’m just really nervous my mom will smother you in your sleep.”
I raise my eyebrows at her. “Sounds like a great time.”
I scoot up and lean against the headboard, pulling Carrie back to lie against my chest, clasping my arms over her stomach.
“I hope us tidying it all up and getting some paint on the walls makes her feel good,” she says. “She needs positive vibes.”
I hope so, too—because while I really want her mom to get better soon, I also really want Carrie to come with me next year wherever I end up when I go pro.
I’ll be earning enough to cover her tuition at one of the city’s top colleges, and that whole conversation will be so much easier if her mom is back on her feet.
It’s too early to bring up now, and I’m pretty sure she’ll make me work for it.
But I plan on doing everything I can to make it happen.
I don’t want to be without Carrie. I don’t want to be away from her—not for a single second.
I reach across to the bedside table. “Wanna read a chapter?”
She scoops her hair into a bun, glancing at the book I’m holding.
“How far did you get?”
“How dumb do you think I am?” I protest. “We said we were reading this together—I know what you’d do to me if you found out I read on without you.”
“Right answer.”
It’s our thing, now—Carrie had to learn to slow it down to match my pace.
I flip the book open to where we left off yesterday, and we pick back up.
Halfway through chapter 21, she shifts between my legs, reaching up and over her head to stroke my cheek, turning her face to offer up her lips.
I give her a quick peck before turning back to the page.
“Donovan…”
I mutter something back at her.
The protagonists are just about to get it on, and I’m invested. I want to savor it because I’m pretty sure everything is going to go off the rails in the next chapter—Jeremy’s a pretty complex guy. I can’t wait to see how he develops and wh—
“Don!”
“What?” I glance down.
“I’m done for today.”
She rolls over to face me and pulls herself up, straddling me as she tugs her sleep shirt over her head. Keeping the book in one hand, I rest the other on her hips.
“Damn. Are you saying that sex scene is getting you in the mood?”
“Maaaybe…”
“Remember what you said the first time I went to book club?”
She shakes her head. “Nope.”
I put on my best high-pitched squeal. “I’m paraphrasing, but it was something like ‘Obviously, if all you focus on are the sex scenes, then I guess you missed all the stuff where the characters grow, their feelings develop—that kind of thing.’ ”
“You sure that was me?”
“Your mind should be blown at just how far I’ve come.”
“Can’t you blow my mind some other way?”
She wraps her arms around my neck and starts grinding against me, trailing her tongue down my neck. I’m immediately hard. I glance to the left. But if I could just read one more page… I let her squirm in my lap, sneaking a peek over her bun as her hips sway against me, flicking over to chapter 22.
“If you don’t put that down right this minute, the Punisher is getting one hell of a paper cut.”
Jeremy and Jenna will have to wait.
I toss the book across the room.
“So disrespectful.” Carrie pouts.
“Sorry…”
“You’re going to have to earn your forgiveness, you know.”
And that’s exactly what I do. Twice over.
ONCE I’M SURE SHE’S SATISFIED, I lie on the bed waiting for her to shower and doll herself up for our Thanksgiving dinner. I hear Adam arrive, and I wander into the living room to find him waiting there with my sister. When I hear he picked her up from the airport, I squint at him.
He narrows his eyes back at me. “What?”
“Just wondering who you are and what you did with Adam.”
“I’m just wondering how long you spent getting your ass kicked by a bookworm warrior woman—you look rough, buddy.”
“And tomorrow, there’ll be two of them.”
He laughs. “Shit! It’s the big day, huh? You finally get to meet the mom.”
“We’re gonna head out in the morning.”
“I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
“Have you met my girlfriend?” I stare at him. “Imagine her personality, but a hundred times worse, and scarred by an insane ex-husband.”
“Sweet, sweet revenge.” My sister laughs, leaning into Adam.
“Good to see you, Amelia.”
She nods before scurrying off to drop her suitcase in her boyfriend’s room.
We’re not exactly best buddies yet, but the ice has definitely thawed.
I smile to myself. A lot of it is down to Adam—since they started dating, my sister spends all her free time in Sycamore, and every time she shows up, we get a chance to talk and deepen our relationship.
Some of it is down to Carrie, too—whenever Amelia hangs out with us as a couple, it reinforces just how much I’ve changed.
And what I’ve become. The best boyfriend ever.
“If you managed to get Carrie on board, her mom shouldn’t be too different,” Adam says.
“Except this time, I can’t use my stallion physique.”
“I’ll pretend I never heard that,” Carrie croons, slinking past the couch and into the kitchen, humming a tune as she goes.
Adam starts to laugh, and I shake my head. “How come whenever I say something stupid, it’s always at the exact wrong time? Her humming freaks me out, by the way,” I add. “I’m always expecting to turn around and find her standing there, holding a kitchen knife.”
“You better be more careful once you get to Cincinnati!”
“Her mom’s gonna hate me.” I groan.
Lane and Lewis burst through the door, their arms weighed down with bags.
“Yo, Lewis!” I call out. “Wanna come to Carrie’s mom’s house?”
He drops the groceries on the ground. “Why do I feel like I’m being set up?”
“Pretty please? You always make me look good…”
“Hey, you wanted a woman in your life—deal with it!”
“Why didn’t you ask me to come?” Lane asks, offended.
“Sorry, man. But Lois has basically got you whipped.”
“Bullshit!”
I make a ball-crushing motion.
Lane shakes his head. “Take a look in the mirror, dude. Carrie told Lois she plans on waxing your—”
“She’s obsessed,” I interrupt. “She can’t get enough of them—but trust me, that’s not happening. Ever.”
Lane eyes me. “Listen, I let mine put footstools in the apartment. Footstools. You have no idea.” He drops his voice. “Plus, she turned my brother’s bedroom into, like, this designer office space thing.”
“How’re you holding up?”
“Better than I expected.” He flashes me a smile. “I guess I needed change—it took Lois for me to finally realize that.”
Now that I’m with someone, I’m starting to realize a couple of things, too. Lane’s words are still ringing in my ears when Carrie steps back into the living room.
Lewis turns to her, flinging his arms open wide.
“Happy Thanksgiving!” He starts throwing some shapes. “How about a little line-dancing to kick it off?”
“How about you go play on a highway?” she snaps back, shrugging on her coat.
“Where you going?” I ask.
“Greyson just arrived—I’m gonna head down and walk him up.”
I bat back a flicker of irritation, my eyes trailing her as she slips out the front door.
“So, that just leaves Lewis to set up,” Adam muses aloud. “Let’s get real—he’s gonna end up caving like the rest of us.”
“Why don’t we just let him handle the new Campus Driver hire.” I elbow Lewis. “Right, Conley?”
He shrugs, scooping up the bags and disappearing into the kitchen, whistling as he goes. He can bury his head in the sand all he likes—the truth is that soon, none of us will be SHU students anymore.
“Has he even spoken to her yet?” Lane asks.
“No, but he needs to—we can’t put this off forever.”
I’ve had a lot of ideas for growing the business once we graduate, and I make a mental note to schedule a meeting with the others.
“Adam, come help me!” Lewis yells out from the kitchen.
He jumps to his feet. “Let’s get this party started.”
The front door swings open, and my girlfriend steps in with Greyson, who waves and smiles before heading for the bathroom.
I beckon Carrie over, and as she slips her coat on the hook, she stares at me, narrowing her eyes in concern. I pat my lap, and she settles down against me.
“Everything okay?”
“I love you.”
“I love you best.” She smiles, draping her arms around my neck. “Since I’m the best girlfriend ever.”
It’s our thing. And what she doesn’t know is that I’m making her a small gift, just to really ram the point home. For now, though, I bite back on what I really want to say—which is that I’m bossing this.
“Did we really have to invite Greyson?” I groan, nibbling on her shoulder.
“Yes, we really did. He’s helping out with Mom, and he’s all alone for Thanksgiving.”
“I know, but…” I sigh. “Greyson, man. The guy you played basketball with—naked.”
“Almost naked,” she corrects. “And it was a very long time ago. It’s basically ancient history.”
“Well, when we get to your mom’s, I want you to show me the court—I plan on getting you naked, too.”
“You know it’s freezing cold in Cincy right now, don’t you?”
“I’m a pro, baby.”
She clasps my face in her hands and kisses me.
“You know, I can even dribble with my di—”
“Don’t give me the ick, Wolinski.” She pushes away from me. “How about you go help the others in the kitchen, instead of finishing that sentence?”
I salute her. “Sure thing. But only because I’m the best boyfriend there is.”
Slam dunk.
THANKSGIVING brEAK WENT ACCORDING TO plan—I met Carrie’s mom; she hated me. I put Greyson back in his place. Classes picked back up, and if I didn’t overthink too hard about how the Cardinals got their asses whipped last night, I’d say life’s good.
I’m standing with the others in the parking lot, Carrie’s back pressed to my chest as I hold her in my arms. It’s insane how I want her close all the time—how I want to spend every second of every day just looking at her.
Except for right now, because all eyes are on Lewis.
He finally decided to grow some balls and go talk to our future Campus Driver.
We’re watching them thrash it out, and to say I’m on edge would be an understatement.
He better not screw this up. We need fresh recruits, and this girl and her kickass car check all the boxes.
Lois holds up a hand, shielding her eyes from the sun. “I can’t make out what he’s saying, but if looks could kill…”
“What the hell is he doing?” Lane frowns.
I’m about to reply, when shit gets real.
Carrie gasps. “Oh my God!”
“Should we go help him?” Adam asks.
I sling an arm over my girlfriend’s shoulders. “I think he’s got this—his recruit, his problem.”
I glance back across the parking lot. Lewis looks like he can handle this alone—unless it all goes up in flames, that is. And from where I’m standing, it’s looking heated.