“Yeah, actually you are. Look at how you’re acting at this very moment.” He leans in close to me, his mouth right at my ear, and my entire body heats up. The server returns, handing Alex his credit card along with the receipts and making small talk, but all I can focus on is the warmth of Carter’s breath on my skin, and how my own breathing is accelerating. “You’re arguing with me for no good reason, and you know it.”
“Fine, move in with me then.” I turn to look at him, startled by how close our faces are. He backs up a little, as if he’s surprised too, and we blink at each other for one long second. Then another one. Then another one…
“Did you two just agree to be roommates?” Caroline is practically squealing, she’s so happy. “This is great! I think you two are really going to help each other out by living together for a while.”
I say nothing. Shit, did I just challenge him to move in with me?
“I’ll move my stuff out this weekend, and Carter can immediately move in,” Caroline continues animatedly. “I knew this would work out perfectly!”
He never says another word. The satisfied smile curling Carter’s lips has my hackles rising, and I’m tempted to reach over and slap it off his face.
But I don’t. I’m too busy being pissed over the fact that he’s goaded me into saying he can move into my apartment. He did some sort of reverse psychology on me, and the worst thing is, it freaking worked.
I got played.
Five
Carter
“I’m so glad you’re moving in with Stella.” Caroline beams up at me, patting my cheek with her hand, hard enough to make a smacking noise. I try to tilt my head away from her, but she’s too close. “I would worry about her living alone, but not with you there. You’ll protect her.”
We’re standing outside in front of the restaurant. Alex is trying his best to steer Caroline to his car, but she wanted to tell me yet again how happy she is, that I’m moving in with her best friend.
At least someone is.
“Let’s get you home.” Alex grabs hold of my sister’s arm and pulls her away from me. She goes to him easily, snuggling up close, her hand resting on his chest as she gazes up at him adoringly. He leans down, drops a kiss to her upturned lips, and I look away before I have to see anything too romantic.
I am that guy who’s uncomfortable with couples and their outward displays of affection. Our family isn’t big on loving gestures. Mom didn’t tell us she loved us all that often, and we aren’t big huggers. Naturally, I’m not much for public groping or cuddling. Neither was Caroline.
Until she got with Alex.
It’s surprising, to see how easily she goes to him. How accepting she is of his arm around her shoulders, his mouth on hers. It’s not really a big deal, I suppose. It’s late at night, and no one else is around. The only one they’re being affectionate in front of is me, and I’m family. No big deal, right?
I think about the women I’ve dated in the past. Try to imagine kissing and hugging on them in front of my sister. In front of my sister and Alex. I don’t see it. Not at all.
An image of Stella appears in my head, unbidden. Her snuggled up close, my arm around her waist, my mouth resting against her forehead as I breathe in the sweet scent of her hair…
“Thank you for coming to dinner with us,” Caroline says, waving at me. “I’ll call you in the morning.”
I wave at her in return. Say goodbye to Alex. Watch them walk down the sidewalk toward Alex’s parked car. Alex opens the door for Caroline, she climbs inside, he gets into the driver’s seat and then they’re off.
And I wait.
Scrolling through my phone, I keep one eye on the screen and the other on the entrance to the Treehouse Cafe. Most of the tables outside are empty. A couple exits the building, the woman’s laughter low and seductive, and I watch as they disappear around the building, headed down the nearest cross street. A cool breeze wafts over me, bringing with it the briny scent of the ocean and I reconsider my plan.
But then the door swings open and out walks Stella, her shoes clicking in the otherwise quiet night. She’s completely unaware of the fact that I’m standing only a few feet away from her, and I realize quick I don’t want to scare the crap out of her.
“Stel.” I step out of the shadows, revealing myself, and she shrieks when she spots me, her arm going back almost reflexively, her purse dangling from her fingers like she was going to slug me with it.
“Holy shit, Carter, you scared me!” She drops her arm to her side, her other hand going to rest against her chest. I can only imagine how hard her heart must be pounding.
Wincing, I shift closer to her. “I’m sorry. I tried not to.”
A big sigh leaves her and she tilts her head, contemplating me. “Waiting for your Uber?”
I haven’t even ordered one yet. “Sure.”
She looks around, and I wonder if she’s trying to avoid my gaze. “Want me to wait with you?”
I’m surprised she’d offer. “I’m good. I just—I wanted to make sure you’re not angry. With me.” When she sends me a questioning glance, I explain myself further. “Angry that I’m now your roommate.”
“Well, you did sort of trick me.” She moves so she’s standing right beside me, both of us facing the mostly abandoned street. “But it’s fine.”
“Is it really?”
“I suppose.” She wraps her arms around her waist, as if she’s trying to ward off that cool ocean breeze, and I’m half tempted to pull her in close to me to warm her up.
But I don’t.
“You don’t plan on staying at the apartment for long, do you?” she asks after we’re quiet for a moment.
“Of course not.” Honestly? I have no idea. I have no plan of action for once in my life, and I feel a little…lost.
Not that I’d admit that to anyone. Certainly not to the woman I’m standing next to.
“As long as you stay out of my hair, we’ll be fine,” she says with all the reassurance I’m searching for. “And I’ll stay out of yours.”
“I won’t be home much,” I tell her, though I have no idea if that’s the truth. “You’ll barely have to deal with me.”
“Perfect,” she says, turning to look at me. “That sounds ideal.”
I’m irritated by her cool demeanor. How she almost acts like she doesn’t want me there. This shouldn’t surprise me. She’s mad and I can’t blame her. I fucked up. Worse, I never apologized for what I did, which makes me an asshole.
“Can we start over?” I ask her, like a complete idiot. I should just say sorry. Right here. Right now. Her brows wrinkle like I’ve just confused her so I keep talking. “Put everything in the past where it belongs and start fresh?”
Now her delicate brows are arching upwards. “You want to pretend that what happened between us a year ago…never did?”
“Exactly,” I say with an enthusiastic nod.
Her arms dropping to her sides, she turns to face me, her finger darting out to poke me in the chest. “You wish it was that easy. I’m not the type to forgive and forget, Carter.”