Chapter Nine
Carter
For the third time, I hear pounding on my door, but just like the other two times, I ignore it. Instead, I turn the music up louder from my remote as I take my couch pillow and cover my face while lying down on my back.
The song I have on repeat plays again, and I hear someone storm into my apartment, turning offFalling Inside the Black.
“Man, not this shit again. How long have I known you?” Cole spits out.
“Turn it back on,” I grunt, removing the pillow only to glare at him, daring him to say anything else about her before placing it back over my face.
He stares at me, shaking his head in frustration. “Bro, I’m just looking out for you. It’s time to move on.”
Move on. Fuck, if only he knew what I had, then maybe he’d get it.
“Come on, let’s do it. Just me and you. No one’s around.” Evangeline grabs my arms, trying to convince me to strip naked.
“That lake is freezing,” I fight back.
“Oh, come on. It’s notthatcold.”
“Says the girl with no balls. They’ll freeze off.”
“Stop. No, they won’t.” She pushes back and slowly starts to pull her shirt up over her head. When it’s completely off, she steps farther away, throwing it in my direction before she slowly pulls down the jeans she’s wearing.
A few hours ago we walked across the stage, graduating from our small high school. We were on our way to Grad Night at the school campus, but she pulled off at the lake. There was one more thing she had to do before we entered the all-night party.
“Evangeline,” I whisper.
“Come join me, Carter.”
She steps out of her jeans and turns to walk toward the water, seductively pulling her panties down her legs.
My body has a mind of its own, and my arms pull my shirt over my head as I start to walk in her direction. It’s been four months since we started dating, and just when I think she can’t push my limits anymore, she pulls something like this.
Skinny dipping? Me?
Never in a million years would I have thought I’d be doing this here with a girl like her. Yet, here I am. And not with any girl, but the one I’ve had a crush on since I was thirteen. And here we are about to swim naked in the lake I grew up playing around in.
How’d I get so lucky?
Fuck, even though I hate to admit it, he’s right. I just can’t imagine feeling that way about another girl. Every few months something reminds me of her, and I get in a funk I can’t get out of. This time it was the stupid Facebook post.
I haven’t gotten that throwback Thursday picture out of my mind, so I messaged Kaitlyn to see if she had found her. When she said she had, I almost lost my shit. She went to her Facebook account to give me more info only to see that her account was deleted. She said the account was bare. There was no mention of where she was, and even though she accepted her friend request, she hadn’t answered any messages or posts beside their first interaction asking if it was actually her. She said yes then went silent again.
She did tell me she changed her name to Angie Smith, which at first gave me so much hope until I realized just how common that name actually is. Not knowing where she’s located, I feel like I’m looking for a needle in a haystack, but I’m up for the task and have already ruled out two states.
“Look. I know you feel like you were fucked over and that you still love her and shit, but fuck, bro, it’s been years. You have to move on at some point,” Cole breaks me from my thoughts.
“You’ll never understand,” I say through the pillow.
“You’re right, I won’t. It’s time to move on, though.”
I turn to give him a look that reinforces my previous statement, and he laughs, making me want to punch him across his glasses ridden face.
“I’d say you need to get laid, but I know firsthand that’s not the case. So what’s up?”
Cole has become a good friend of mine this past year, but he doesn’t get it. He knows a little about her, but not everything. He’s never had a serious relationship, and I doubt he ever will.
