by Lyla Grace
“I’m not living on might’s or maybes. What’s done is done.”
“Don’t you dare do that,” I yell at him.
“Excuse me?”
"Don't you dare give up. You are too damn good; you worked too hard." I take a step toward him. "I am not letting you give up."
"Oh?"
I can see a twinkle in his eye. Is he enjoying this?
I shake the realization out of my head. “Really. I will come up with a plan. We will start work tomorrow after my meeting with Ashlynn.”
“Whatever you say, Princess. Just, uh, know that I am okay with this. If it doesn’t…”
“It will. I will fix this.”
“I love your determination,” he says. He walks past me and presses a kiss to my temple. “Actually, I love everything about you.”
“Carter,” I warn.
“I know, I know. Friends.”
Chapter 21 – Carter
“What do you mean you're not going to be able to play anymore?” Cody asks.
It’s the first time I’ve been able to visit him since he started the program. I want to know how he’s doing, not talk about my stupid arm.
I'm not thrilled with the idea of my football career being over, but what can I do? There was no way I was going to let that asshole Garrison attack Lexie. I did what I had to do. And I would do it again in a heartbeat. And, let's not forget the fact that if I'm not playing for Coach Masterson, he has nothing to say about me dating his daughter. Okay, he can still have an issue, but I don't have to give a damn if I am not his "employee."
“How are you? How’s the program going?” I ask.
“Damnit Carter, do not avoid the question,” Cody says. “Tell me what’s going on.”
I sigh. “I went to go talk to Lexie, and… Do you remember Aaron Garrison?” Cody nods. Aaron is a dick, probably one of the worst guys in the league, though I still never thought he would have done what he did to Lexie. Christ, it took everything in me not to kill him. This wasn’t my first run-in with him. If I have anything to say about it though, it will be my last. “I walked in and found him trying to…” The idea, the visual still makes me sick to my stomach. “Christ, I can’t even say it. He was forcing himself onto her.”
"Jesus," Cody says, running his hand over his face. "So you punched him?"
"No, I couldn't. The motion of pulling his stupid ass off Lexie fucked my arm up good. I did get a good kick in though."
“And there’s nothing you can do? No therapy? No surgery?”
“The doctor said that there is a slight chance…”
“Then you better be getting your ass to work.” Cody gets up and starts pacing the room. “Fuck, this is all my fault.”
"No, it's not. Don't do that, man."
"I put all this in motion with that accident. I am so sorry, Carter."
“I’m not,” I tell him. He whips his head in my direction and looks at me like I’m insane. “If we hadn’t had that accident, I never would have met Lexie. And being with Lexie at our worst is still better than any day without her.”
“You and this love bullshit,” he laughs.
“What can I say, I’m a romantic.”
“An idiot is more like it.”
“Tell me about you. How are things going here?”
"I like it here. Almost two months, man. I feel good. And, knowing that you guys don't hate me for what happened to Luke…"
“I wish you would have talked to me, said something. I had no idea you felt like that.”
“Guilt, it’s a bitch. But it’s good now. I’m on the right path. Thanks to you.”
"Nope, this is all you. You made a choice, and you want this. All I did was help with some logistics."
“So what’s next?”
I hand Cody the envelope I've been holding. It contains everything about the foundation, including what his role will be when he gets out of here. I had initially wanted to involve him now, give him something to do while he is here. But, after speaking with his therapist, he made it clear that Cody's focus should remain on his recovery, especially considering all his relapses. He did say it was okay for me to give him opportunities of things to look forward too. Plus I thought he would get a kick out of the logo Chase's stepdaughter came up with for us. It's amazing.
“This looks great. And you’ve got Lexie on board, huh?” he says with a knowing smile.
“Keep your enemies close and Lexie closer,” I tell him. “I’m hoping that we can build on this friendship we’ve started. Make a real go of it this time without all the bullshit behind it.”
“Good luck with that,” he says.
“What’s with you and this anti-woman thing?” I laugh. “Savannah treat you that bad?”
He glares at me. "Do we need to do this?"
“Oh. My. God.”
“Shut up.”
“Oh, no. I am not letting this go. I need details.”
“Shut up.”
“Come on, what happened? Did you not learn from what I went through?”
"I said, shut up. I am not having this conversation with you. I feel bad enough."
“Great way to make it up to me,” I tease him.
Now he has me curious as hell as what went on between them. I thought I would be pissed, hurt, but I'm not. Savannah and I weren't meant to be. Before Lexie, though, I never would have seen that. Before Lexie, Savannah was it, even though we hadn't been together for years. She was the one that got away. Now, seeing things more clearly, I don't know how we lasted as long as we did.
"You sure you don't want to talk about it," I say, turning more serious. "I'm okay with it."
“I have therapists for that shit,” Cody laughs. “I’m good. Tell me more about the foundation.”
This, right here, is the brother that I remember. Seeing shades of him, it makes me hopeful. We talk for a while longer until I need to head back home.
“Hey, Carter?” he says.
“Yeah?”
“Tell Lexie I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt her in any way.”
"I will," I tell him, pulling him in for a hug. "I love you."
“I love you too,” he says.
∆ ∆ ∆
I pull in the driveway of my house after my drive back from visiting Cody, a figure standing on my porch. I hop out of my truck, skip going in through the garage entrance like I usually would, and head to the front door.
“Lexie?” I say surprised to see her standing there.
“It’s about time.” She’s standing there, hands on her hips, looking at me expectantly.
“Not that I mind, but what are you doing here?” I ask as I unlock the door and let her in.
"I told you yesterday. We start work on your arm today. I reviewed all the test results and…"
“And it’s over. I can’t play anymore.” I walk toward the kitchen, but she grabs my good arm and pulls on it with enough force I pause. “Damn, Princess.”
"I am not giving up. Either are you." She gestures to the couch, and with the look in her eyes, I follow her directive. "Sit."
“Yes, ma’am.”
She puts her bag on the coffee table. Bending in from of me, she digs in the bag searching for something. I silently pray she never finds it because her ass is on perfect display in front of me. I sit back and enjoy the view. She must feel the weight of my stare because her head turns, and she looks at me sitting here with a shit-eating grin on my face enjoying the hell out of watching her.
“Carter,” she scolds.
I can't help the laughter that bubbles over me. Did she think I wouldn't look? That I wouldn't enjoy the show?
She turns to me, “Take your shirt off.”
I pull the material off. “This therapy is sounding better and better by the second.”
She bends down, her face inches from mine. "You are going to be in so much pain, and you're going to hate me. But I will fix you, Carter. If you get your head out of my ass and focus on what I tell you to do."
&
nbsp; “I want to kiss you,” I admit to her. She swats my injured shoulder with her hand. “Ouch.”
“Focus.”
Oh, I am focused. Just not on what she wants me to be.
“Okay, okay,” I say as I let out a deep breath. “I’m ready.”
“Believe me, you are so not ready for this,” she replies.
She takes my arm in her hand. “Owe, fuck, Lex.”
“Suck it up, buttercup. No pain, no gain.”
I take a deep breath. I trust Lexie. Implicitly. I just need to focus on something besides the pain she is making radiate through my shoulder and arm.
“How are you?” I ask her.
“I’m fine.” Her reply is quick, without thought.
“Seriously Lex, how are you? After…you know.”
“I said, I’m fine.”
I rest my other hand on her arm. "I heard. I don't believe you."
"What do you want me to say, Carter? That I still have nightmares about it? Fine, I do. You want to know that when a man bumps into me or touches me, I jump? Fine, I do."
My hand is still on her. “Not me.”
She softens. "Of course not you. I …"
Say it, Lex, I silently urge her. Tell me you love me.
“I trust you,” she says.
Not what I was looking for, but not exactly a bad thing either.
“Maybe you should talk to someone,” I suggest.
Brushing my hand off of her, she goes back to work on my injured arm.
"I'll be fine. I need some time."
“You can always talk to me if you need too. You know that, right?”
She nods but refuses to look at me.
I am desperate to know what is going on in that head of hers. There is something else there, something besides the fear he instilled in her when he attacked her. “What is it, Princess?”
She stops and looks up at the ceiling, letting out a heavy sigh. “I feel guilty.”
“For what? You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I don’t know. Like I was unfaithful to you or something. It’s stupid, I know. I can’t help it though.” She walks away from me and looks out the window.
I step behind her, resting one hand on her waist, her back pressed to my front. "What he did to you, it was wrong. So wrong. But you? Lexie, you are the victim. You didn't do anything to ask for this and you sure as hell shouldn't feel bad about anything. If it helps, I sure as hell don't blame you for any of it. Nor does any of this make me look at you differently. You are still the strong, amazing woman I met a few months ago."
She turns in my arms. It kills me to see the tears that are rolling down her cheeks. “I can still feel him, taste him. It’s like he stole the memory of you away from me and replaced it with…”
I don’t know if it’s the right thing to do or not, but I kiss her. I gently press my lips against hers, waiting to see if or how she responds. Her mouth opens slightly allowing me further access. I keep the kiss slow and soft, hoping to erase the memory of him from her, almost cleansing her.
She pushes back, breathless, “Carter…”
I caress her cheek. “I know, friends. But, friends help each other out. I couldn’t let him be your last kiss.”
She smiles up at me. “We need to get back to work.”
“Ugh, fine,” I whine. I press a kiss to her forehead and turn back to the couch. “Just take it easy on me, will ya?”
Chapter 22 – Lexie
I should have known that Carter was never going to settle for just being friends. Hell, I don't want to settle for that either. I can't give him anymore right now. Not after everything we went through, not after Aaron.
Abbie thinks I'm insane. She goes on and on about a man like Carter. Blah, blah, blah. As if I don't know these things already. For as wonderful as Carter is though, we've had more than our fair share of ups and downs in the short time we've known each other. While I know relationships are work, should it be this rough? From the beginning?
Those first two weeks though, before the truth came out. They were damn near perfect. I wish I could get us back there, figure out how to forget the rest, and start over. That's not our reality, though. While Carter seems okay with forgetting and moving forward, I'm not. There was too much good mixed in all that bad for me to ignore.
Besides, this whole friend's thing has been working out great until the other night, when he kissed me. My lips and my body have been burning for him ever since. I swear the man has magical kisses. The moment his lips touched mine, my mind went blank, and the rest of the world ceased to exist. For that moment, it was only him and me. For that moment, life was perfect.
Then reality struck, and we went back to work on his arm. Aside from the foundation, that needs to be my focus, considering I am the reason behind his reinjury. Not that he hasn't done enough damage on his own.
“If you guys are just friends,” Abbie implores, “then why is this the fourth outfit you’ve tried on?”
"I just want to look professional." It's not untrue. I do want to look professional while Carter and I look at spaces for the foundation headquarters. But, yes, a small part of me wants to look good for him too. Is that so wrong? Even if we are just friends?
After everything that went down with the Spartans, I packed my stuff and moved back home. The move was much easier this time, thanks to Carter. He couldn't wait to get me out of there and was more than happy to hire movers to handle everything for me. Now, I'm back to sharing an apartment with Abbie, much to Carter's chagrin. I don't know why he thought it would be a good idea, or why he would even suggest it, but he did. He offered me the spare room at his house, free of charge. I respectfully declined. His response? Basically, it was along the lines of if we're just friends then what the difference is living with Abbie instead of him? Scammer.
Abbie pulls an outfit out of my closet and hands it to me. “Try this.”
I quickly put it on and look in the mirror, smoothing the fabric of the blue dress down. I twirl around, "So?"
I can hear a knock at the front door. "It's great. Even if it wasn't – looks like your out of time," Abbie says.
I grab my bag and head to the door. Carter's standing on the other side, looking sexy as sin in a button-down shirt and black dress pants.
"Damn, Princess, you look amazing," he compliments.
I blush at the words. “Thanks. Shall we go?”
"I would follow you anywhere," he says, placing his hand on the small of my back and leading me to his truck.
He slides on his black sunglasses, places one hand on the wheel, and takes off. “So what did you think of the properties I sent you?” he asks.
“They all had potential,” I reply.
“But?”
I hate that he knows me so well. Especially after such a short time. “But, I do have one that I am particularly fond of.”
“I bet I know which one,” he says utterly sure of himself.
I, on the other hand, am positive that he is wrong. "Okay, smartypants, which one?"
“The old building with the new features,” he says proudly.
“Wrong.”
He lowers his glasses and looks at me to see if I’m telling the truth or not. “Okay, which one then?”
I smile sheepishly. “The one on the outskirts of the city by…”
“The small town? Really? Our little trip to Brantwood turn you into a small-town country girl, Princess?”
"Maybe. Or maybe I think that it's a great location at a great price. Low operating costs – that's the plan, right?"
He leans in toward me. “I am footing the bill for the location myself.”
“What? Why?”
“Because I want you to have whatever you want,” he says.
“Carter, that’s very sweet, but…”
"It's nothing personal, Lex. I want to make this worth your while."
I rest my hand on his arm. "It is worth my while. I promise you. I want to be here, and I want to do this."
/>
We make our way through three locations, each more beautiful than the last. None felt "right" though. Sure they were large enough, completely updated, everything a business would need. But not for this foundation. No, it had to have the right feel, the right everything.
“So none of them, huh?” he follows up as we head to the last location.
"If I have to choose, I would say location number two." I shake my head. "I don't know. They just don't give me the right vibe."
“The right vibe?” he laughs.
“Yep. The right vibe means everything.”
“Oh? Did you have the right vibe about me?”
“I went home with you, did I?”
"Yeah, but that was your plan anyway. Bang, the quarterback. Not that I'm complaining."
“I would hope not,” I laugh.
“So, about that vibe?”
“The minute I walked into your home, saw you in your true surroundings, yes, I got that vibe from you. The one that tells me that you’re an amazing man and…”
I glance out the window, our destination directly ahead of us. I stop midsentence without even realizing it. It's perfect. It's well-kept and quaint and precisely what we need. Spacious without being too big, it has a grand entrance and lots of grass all around it. I hop out of the truck without hesitation and walk absently toward the building.
I stop abruptly, and Carter runs into me. "Hey, you okay?" he asks.
“This is it,” I tell him.
“We haven’t even gone inside yet,” he says.
I turn and look at him. "Sometimes, you just know."
Yes, there is a double entendre there, and yes I want him to kiss me this very second. In part, I'm sure because of my protests; he doesn't. He merely agrees.
Tucking a piece of hair behind my ear, he says, "Yeah, yeah you do."
We stand there for a moment gazing into each other’s eyes. That is until the obnoxious sound of the real estate agent’s overly enthusiastic horn sounds.
I cover my mouth to hide the giggle.
“Seriously, what the hell is with that horn?” Carter says. “I guarantee it scared away all the wildlife in the county. And if the horn didn’t do it, her voice sure as hell did.”