by Lyla Grace
My lips are just about to cover hers when there is a knock on the door. Before I can respond, I hear the handle turning. I pull back just as the door flies open and my Dad walks in.
“We need to talk,” he says.
There is no affection in his voice. His tone is serious, filled with – hurt?
I've always worked hard to be the ‘good' kid considering everything my parents have had to go through with Cody. I didn't want to cause them the grief I saw him causing them. Here I am having sunk to the same level. Unlike Cody, though, I've done worse. I've publicly embarrassed them. I'm surprised my mother could even look at me. I'm guessing though that she didn't see the video. Or, if she came across it, she shut it down immediately. There is no way she could think of her little boy like that.
“I’ll be down in a minute,” I tell him.
As much as I appreciate the save Lexie gave me, I know I have to face the music.
He nods and heads out. I put my shirt back on with Lexie’s assistance.
“I don’t feel right lying to them,” Lexie says.
“There’s no reason for them to know it’s you,” I tell her. “There’s no reason for anyone to know.”
She nods in agreement. “Still, it doesn’t feel right.”
“Do it for me,” I tell her as I caress her cheek with my hand. “I don’t want people thinking of you like that.”
Why the hell am I standing so close to her? And touching her, nonetheless?
“Like a slut?” she suggests.
"You are not a slut. You are fucking gorgeous. And I don't want my parents judging you based on something I did or guys looking at you and knowing and thinking about you when…"
"Oh my God," she gasps.
The idea obviously hadn't crossed her mind. But, it sure as hell had crossed my mind. Mostly because as I watched the video, I found myself completely turned on and touching myself.
“That’s only for me,” I tell her. Unable to help myself, I press a kiss to her forehead, “I’ll be back.”
Who knew that a simple kiss to a forehead could be so amazing? Just the feel of her skin on my lips has me standing at attention. That is the last thing I need. What I need to do is figure out how to get Lexie out of my head. It's going to be damn near impossible. I knew I liked her the night we met, knew that there could be more here than just amazing sex. We had potential until that sex tape came out. Until I found out who her father is. Until my whole life got turned upside down, even knowing all that – I'll be damned if the idea of throwing her on my bed, sliding inside of her, and making her writhe underneath me doesn't sound tempting.
I knock on the door to my dad’s office.
"Hey, Dad," I somberly say as I walk in.
"What were you thinking, Carter?" he blurts out. Despite having every right to be, he doesn't sound angry. He seems disappointed. The anger I can handle. But the disappointment? Fuck.
“I wasn’t. I’m sorry. I never meant…”
My dad looks down at his desk. “Was it worth it? This girl, is she worth the risk of throwing your whole future away?”
Oddly enough, I'm inclined to answer yes. I shouldn't be, but Lexie has me thinking about all sorts of crazy thoughts. Just a couple weeks, that's all I've known her, and somehow, I feel like it's been so much longer. She fits into my life so well when she is the last person that I ever expected would.
“I’m going to fix it, Dad. It’s why I’m here. I’m going to lie low, get my shit together, and get back to it. I promise, Dad. I will fix this.”
"Carter." He takes a deep breath. "I could care less if you're a football player or you pump gas for a living. It doesn't make a damn bit of difference to me. But I know it does to you. I – I don't want you to throw it away over some stupid girl."
“She’s not some stupid girl,” I tell him. I cringe, instantly regretting my admission.
“Oh? Who is she? Your girlfriend?” he pries.
"Not exactly," I admit. Fuck. I don't want to go into this with my dad of all people. I hate that I've disappointed him. I'm terrified that the respect and admiration that I spent earning growing up destroyed in that one moment. That glorious moment when I tasted Lexie for the first time, where this woman who had me going all night, made me want not to be a selfish dick and take what I needed but rather give to her everything I have. Still, it’s none of his business.
“Your “therapist”?”
“Dad—”
“Don’t Dad me. I could hear it in your voice the minute that you started defending her. It’s why I dropped it. I can see how much you care about her. You do realize how much worse that makes all of this? If Coach Masterson finds out…”
“He won’t.”
“He’s not stupid. If you go home, in a relationship with his daughter, he’s going to put two and two together.”
“That’s not going to happen, okay? We’re not together anymore. Problem solved.”
I’m lying. My problems with Lexie are far from being solved. They’ve only just begun.
"Promise me you won't tell Mom. Lexie's nervous enough about being here; I don't want to make it worse."
“Are you in love with her?” he asks.
I damn near choked. "Love? Dad, I've only known her for a couple of weeks. Let's not get carried away."
He raises his eyebrows at me. Yep, score one Dad. I’m the jackass that got carried away in a parking lot and caught on video.
“Point taken.”
“Okay, I won’t say anything to your mother, but she is already suspicious, so you better be careful. One false move and you're going to blow your cover kid. Especially with that stupid grin on your face,” he says as we head toward the dining room.
"What, grin?" I ask.
“The one you get every time you say her name. The one that tells me your falling for this girl.”
He drops the conversation the minute we hit the entrance to the dining room. I can feel myself grin the moment I lay eyes on Lexie. Shit, I hate it when he's right. He chuckles a little then heads over to his seat.
That grin instantly disappears the minute who I see Lexie is standing next to - Cody. My body instantly tenses at sight. I stalk over in their direction and grab ahold of Lexie's arm.
“Hey, little brother,” he says when I approach them.
I don't respond. And I don't care what the hell my family thinks about it. Because if they knew the truth, his sorry ass wouldn't even be standing here.
“Hey,” she protests as I drag her away from him. I’m well aware that my father’s eyes are on me.
Once we are away from everyone, in the safety of the living room, I tell her, “Stay away from him,” My tone is hushed but adamant.
"Excuse me?" she says as she yanks her arm out of my hold. “What the hell is going on?”
"You tell me. We're you hitting on Cody?" Well, that's not where I intended to go with this, but I guess I was a little more jealous seeing her with another man than I thought even if that guy is my brother, a brother who is very bad news.
“Are you serious, right now? Is this some macho, possessive caveman bullshit?”
“So you were?”
“What do you care? You said we’re through.”
"We are. I just didn’t realize you would be trying to hop into bed with the next guy you walked past.”
Fucking idiot, I berate myself the minute the words come out of my mouth. This is wrong. This whole conversation is wrong.
“Lexie—”
"Don't you Lexie me. I get that you're angry with me. That's fine; I deserve it. But that, what you just said, was out of line Carter Wallace. And for the record, you don’t get to tell me what to do or who I can be friends with.”
“Fine. Do whatever you want. But don’t come running to me when he hurts you.”
Pissed, hurt, and completely unsure of what else to do I walk back into the dining room.
“Honey, I made your favorite,” my mom says. “Pot Roast.”
“Th
at’s amazing, mom,” I say as I press a kiss to her cheek. “Thank you.”
I wait for Lexie to sit down and take a seat next to her. No way in hell am I going to let Cody sit next to her. I can’t have her, but Cody sure as hell isn’t going to either.
“Carter just loves my pot roast,” my mom tells Lexie. As if she cares.
“I can see why,” Lexie replies. “This is delicious, Mrs. Wallace.”
You wouldn’t tell by looking at her right now how pissed she is at me. She is certainly playing it off well.
“I could teach you how to make it,” she suggested. “After all, if you’re with Carter, you’re going to have to know how to cook. The boy loves his food.”
“Mom, we’re… she’s just my therapist.”
I hate saying the words, and I immediately want to take them back, even if they are right. We're not together. We can't be. So why entertain an idea that can never come to fruition?
“Oh, well, you’re just so cute together. I…”
“I would like that, Mrs. Wallace,” she tells my mom. “I love to cook.”
“You do?” I ask. “I didn’t know that.”
"Why would you? You’re just my client,” she replies before taking a bite of her food.
She’s got me there. Rather than say anything else, I just dig in. The quicker I eat, the sooner this meal is over, and Lexie and I can finish our conversation.
When dinner is over, Lexie immediately starts to clear the table. My mom begins to help, but I stop her.
“Thanks, sweetie,” she says with the biggest smile I have seen on her in a long time. I move to take the dishes in her hands from her, but she doesn’t let go. “You can try to hide it all you want kid, but you like that girl. I suggest that you don’t screw it up.”
She gives me a wink before leaving the dining room. So much for keeping my personal life, well personal.
I take the dishes into the kitchen where Lexie is standing at the sink. I place them down on the counter and stand there, behind her.
“Need some help?” I ask.
“No.”
Stubborn damn woman.
I reach around her to grab a towel. My body is pressing against her, and I can hear her inhale sharply at the connection. Rather than doing the smart thing and walking away, I forget the towel and run my hand across her stomach.
“You like that?” I whisper into her ear. God knows that I do.
“Mmm-hmm,” she moans.
The sound makes me forget everything, that I’m pissed at her, that we can’t be together, and that I’m standing in my parent’s kitchen where anyone can walk in.
“Yo, Carter,” Cody calls out.
“What?” I bark out. My hands are still on Lexie, holding her to me because need and desire have me not wanting to break this connection for anything in the world.
“Can we talk?” Cody asks.
“I’m a little busy right now,” I reply clenching my teeth.
“With your coach’s daughter, nice. Bet he would love to know about that.”
My hand, the one that was flat against Lexie's smooth skin, ready to explore her, clenches. I turn and face him. Considering I know that he's still using, he doesn't seem to look any worse for the ware. Me, on the other hand -
"Fine, what do you want?"
“Alone.”
I glance at Lexie and then back at Cody. “Whatever you have to say to me, you can say in front of Lexie. Or do you not want her to hear what a loser you are?”
"Me? I'm not the one banging my coach's daughter on tape," Cody retorts. "She is sexy as hell, though."
His eyes graze over Lexie’s body.
I step in front of her, shielding her from his prying eyes. “Stay away from her.”
“Or what?”
It's the last straw. I can't control it anymore. Charging toward him, I slam him into the kitchen wall. "Or so help me God, I will kill your sorry ass. Do you hear me?"
“Ohhh, I’m scared,” Cody taunts.
“After everything you’ve done to me, you should be,” I yell back.
“What the hell is going on?” my dad asks from the doorway.
I shove off Cody. “Ask him.”
∆ ∆ ∆
I pull in front of Charlotte’s large farmhouse and kill the engine. My run-in with Cody left me feeling the need to escape. The nearness of Lexie made me need to talk to Char and get her advice. So, I decided to kill two birds with one stone – hideout at Char’s place.
I enter the house without knocking.
“Sis?” I call out.
Charlotte emerges in the doorway, dishtowel in hand. "Hey there, lover boy," she says as she embraces me. "Nice to see you without your face buried in some girl's crotch."
"Nice Char, real nice," I say. Despite the irritation in my voice, I smile at her. This, it's exactly what I need.
I give her a quick kiss on the cheek.
“So, to what do I owe this visit?” Char asks.
Good question, I'm not sure how I intend on answering it yet. Char is my sounding board – always has been and always will be. "I just needed to get out of that house. Away from…" I sigh. "Cody and Lexie."
“Cody, I get. Who’s Lexie? Is she the video girl?”
“Lexie Masterson. And, yes.”
"As related to Coach Masterson?" Charlotte asks for clarification. I nod and hang my head. Not much else I can do at this point. "Holy shit little brother, you are in trouble. What were you thinking?"
"That I had no idea she was his daughter. I'm not that stupid Char. But she wasn't exactly forthcoming with that information." I glance around the room, then back to her. "And even though he has no idea that was her in the video, he decided to punish me. Little does he know what a great fucking job he's doing."
"Oh my God, you like her. You really, really like her. Wow, after everything with Savannah, I didn't think I would see the day," Char replies.
"Yeah, well, it's not like anything can happen. No matter how much I like Lexie."
"Look at me, Carter," she demands. Her voice is changing from playful to stern in a matter of seconds. Must be the mom in her. "Don't you dare throw a chance at happiness away. You know that love and happiness matter so much more than your damn football career does. Because no matter how good you are little brother, your career can be taken away in a heartbeat." She looks longingly toward the hallway that leads to Luke's room. "But love, that's what matters. That's what lasts. That is what gets you through all the rest of the shit."
I nod, knowing she is right. That right there, the truth bombs Char is always willing to drop on me? It's why I love and respect her so much. It's what makes her the one person I will go to for advice. And even though I know she's right; I'm just not sure if I'm willing to throw it all away on a woman. Let alone one I've only known for a few weeks — especially not one that lied to me. I'll be damned though if every time I look at her, she doesn't make me want to throw caution into the wind.
Chapter 10 – Lexie
After his blow up with Cody, Carter went MIA for the rest of the night. I desperately wanted to seek him out and make sure he was okay. Considering my body was still on fire from his touch, I thought better of it. Instead, I excused myself from a very awkward situation and headed to what would be my room for the foreseeable future.
When morning comes, I quietly sneak to the bathroom, then back to my room. I dress and wait patiently, hoping to hear from Carter. When I don’t, I decide to reach out to him.
Me: Hey, where are you?
No response comes. Great. As if being in a completely unfamiliar place isn't bad enough, the one person that I do know isn't around.
My stomach grumbles loudly, a sure sign that it's past my usual breakfast time. Without any other options, I head out of my room and venture into the kitchen. There is a plate of food on the stove with a note from Rebecca letting me know that it's mine. I'm so hungry that I by-pass heating it and sit at the table and begin to dig in.
“Y
ou must be Lexie,” a voice says from behind me.
I turn in my seat to see a woman entering the kitchen. She heads directly to the coffee pot and pours a cup before taking place across the table from me.
"That's me. And you are?" I reply.
She extends her hand to me. “I’m Char, Carter’s older sister.”
Shaking her hand, I say, "It's nice to meet you. You don't by any chance happen to know where your brother is, do you?"
She nods as she sips her coffee. "Carter's hiding out at my place. Any idea why?"
“He and Cody got into it last night.”
“About what?” she asks.
“Me?” I reply.
“You don’t sound sure about that,” she laughs.
“Honestly, I’m not. I think Cody’s comment about me was just an excuse to go after him.”
“Any idea for what?”
I shrug my shoulders. “No clue. Your brother isn’t exactly speaking to me right now.”
She leans in closer, her voice a whisper. “Are you her?”
I know what she's asking. I'm inclined to play dumb, but so far, I like Char. I don't want to destroy what may be my one chance at a friend in this Podunk town. Unable to verbally admit to the transgression, I nod my head. Much to my surprise, she smiles.
“Come on,” she says. “Let’s go drag him home.”
The car ride over to her farm is short but informative. Char tells me that Carter has always looked up to Cody, wanted to be like him. He even followed him to college, joined the football team, all in the name of impressing Cody. Carter began to surpass Cody on the field, and the better Carter did, the worse Cody got. By the time Cody was graduating, he had sunken so far down into drugs and alcohol that no team wanted him, while Carter was getting offers left and right before he was even a senior.
Carter was a first-round draft pick for the Knights. He jumped at the chance. It was his favorite team, and it was close to home which Char said was extremely important to Carter at the time. She didn't go into details, but I'm sensing it has something to do with a woman which only intrigues me more. Who is this woman? Why aren't they together anymore?
“Who is she?” I ask Charlotte.
“Huh?”
“The girl, the reason Carter wanted to stay close to home.”