Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 99313 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 397(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99313 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 397(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
“I asked you to explain your disappearance and you won’t tell me.” I point to the swelling on his cheek. “I asked how you got the bruise and again, you refuse to tell me.” Much like ripping off a Band-Aid, this needs to be done swiftly. “If you want to be with other girls, that’s fine. But don’t expect to slide into my bed and have me, too.”
That thought is so repugnant that bile rises in my throat.
Carter raises a hand to massage his temple. “Wait a minute, you think I’m screwing around?” His eyes widen. “Why the hell would you think that?”
“Explain why you ran out of here earlier.” I wait a beat and add, “Oh, that’s right, you won’t tell me.”
“Daisy, I haven’t been with anyone since we…”
“Fucked?” I supply helpfully.
“No!” he snaps with a scowl. “We aren’t fucking.”
“That’s exactly what we’re doing.” What’s the point in denying it?
“Look, I haven’t been with another girl since we got together.” His gaze is unwavering. “Whether you want to believe it or not, that’s the truth.”
Somehow, when I wasn’t looking, this relationship with Carter became so much more than it was ever meant to be.
His words alleviate some of the pressure in my chest, but they don’t explain where he took off to and why. I wait, hoping that he’ll exonerate himself, but he doesn’t.
“So, you’re going to leave me hanging without an explanation?” I say with disbelief.
“I’m sorry. Something came up that I had to take care of.” Carter closes the distance between us until he’s able to thread his fingers through mine and reel me closer. Once I’m within striking distance, he wraps his arms around me and presses me against his body.
“It’s not something I can talk about. But I promise that it had nothing to do with another girl.” His voice dips, becoming so low that it sounds as if it’s been roughed up by sandpaper. “There’s no one else. Just you.”
A little thrill slides through me as I relax against Carter.
More than anything, I want to believe him.
I just don’t know if I can.
30
DAISY
“So,” I tilt my head and squint. “You’re not going to tell me where we’re going?”
Carter skewers me with a glance and shakes his head. A smile clings to his lips. Every so often, our eyes catch and hold, sparks of desire flaring to life, before he jerks them back to the road.
This is a first for us. We never go out in public together.
Sure, we walk to class and sit next to one another, but there’s always a distance between us. Everything about our demeanor screams friend zone. Which is exactly why girls still approach him. They flick their hair and flutter their lashes. They press their hands to his chest or trail their fingertips along his bicep. I might be standing next to him, but it’s like I’m wearing an invisibility shield. As much as I want to growl and tell them to back the hell off, I can’t.
What am I going to say?
That he’s my secret boy toy and to keep their sticky mitts off my man?
Not going to happen.
Although, Carter doesn’t encourage their behavior. He’s polite but nothing more.
It must suck to be so hot and talented. Yeah, that thought makes me laugh every time.
Poor Carter.
Wahhhh.
It’s not lost on me that if this had happened two months ago, it wouldn’t have bothered me in the least. I would have rolled my eyes and sneered at these dumb girls for being into a guy who’s only interested in getting between their legs for the night.
And now…
It’s probably best not to go there.
We’ve yet to define what this is between us and that’s dangerous. As much as I want to remain aloof and detached, I’m not. The fact that I want to scratch their eyes out tells me everything I need to know about the situation.
And none of it is good.
“You’ll see,” he says, breaking into my thoughts.
Which is for the best. This is our first outing together. It should be light and airy. Not mired in complications.
I stare out the passenger side window as we leave the city behind us. Houses set in the middle of postage stamp sized lawns on city blocks give way to fields and patches of woods that dot the picture-perfect landscape. Trees are in the middle of changing colors and the sky is a deep cornflower blue. White clouds that look like cotton candy float by.
I close my eyes and tilt my face toward the sun, enjoying the feel of it stroking my cheeks.
My aunt and uncle live on the southern tip of the city. We’re traveling north on a two-lane county road. After about fifteen miles, we hit a small town. It takes a few minutes to travel through it and then we’re picking up speed, continuing north.