“Stop doing that,” I finally said.
“Doing what?”
“Measuring everything I say. Every intonation. It’s just a work thing.”
“Okay. Then let’s discuss something else.”
“Like what?”
“The next time I can see you.”
I smiled in spite of myself. My body warmed at just the idea of seeing him face-to-face again. But I had to control myself, for my sake and for my son’s sake. I was no longer the shy, hungry for attention, nineteen-year-old girl I once was. I needed to be smart about things this time around. Especially given Carter’s background. He may not work for the family business but he was still a Townsend and that gave him immeasurable power and influence.
“I think … I think we need to slow down a little bit.”
“Slow down.” He repeated the words, as if rolling them around in his mouth to see how they tasted. Obviously, he didn’t like the flavor because he soon came back with, “No.”
I sighed, rolling my eyes. “What do you meanno?”
“I mean, when it comes to you, I’m going as slow as I possibly can.”
My shoulders slumped a little. Somehow I knew what he meant. He’d been insistent from the very beginning but I could tell he’d been showing restraint. I suspected if he had things his way, we’d be living together by now. He was that damn intense, but he sensed my hesitation and didn’t want to scare me off.
“I’m not saying we should totally stop seeing each other. I’m just saying we need to take things a little slower.”
“Go out with me this Friday and we’ll discuss it some more.”
I lowered my head and giggled. When I caught my breath, I stood all the way up, releasing a breath. “Fine. This Friday.” My mother was actually taking Diego Friday night, per one of their traditions, so I’d have the evening to myself anyway.
“Friday night! Whoop! Carter, you got a date.”
I pulled the phone away from my ear, eyeing it suspiciously upon hearing the unfamiliar man’s voice.
“Hello?” I squealed into the phone.
“Gimme the fucking phone you dipshit!” Carter’s growl came across the line loud and clear.
“Hey, Michelle, is it? How about you bring us some more of those donuts? They were delicious!”
“She’s not bringing you dickwads shit! I’m going to break both of your fucking legs!”
I bent over at the waist, holding my hand against my knee while my phone was in the other, laughing hysterically. I heard the scuffle of Carter with one of the guys from his squad. I had a guess as to which one.
“Is this Don?” I questioned between laughs.
“The one and only, dollface. Ouch, shit! Your boyfriend just smacked the back of my head.”
“I’m going to do a lot worse once I hang up the phone,” Carter yelled in the background.
Don was breathless when he said, “Michelle, I know Carter’s rich and all that bullshit. And I get how that’d be attractive to a woman, but you and I both know, I’m the better looking one out of the two of us. What do you say, dump that loser and hang out with me Friday night instead?” Don proposed. By the panting in his voice and the background noise I could tell he was running, most likely being chased by Carter.
“Ah shit!” I heard loudly through the phone.
A second later, Carter’s voice was back on the line. “I’m going to kill that fucker,” he growled. “He’s not funny,” he said to my continued bout of laughter.
“Are you all always this way?”
“He is.”
