He shrugs a shoulder. "I just figured you could use a friend. Wanna go grab a burger or something?"
I bite my bottom lip. I don't know if I should. I mean, we're just friends, but will Xander get upset?
"I already asked your husband if it'd be okay if we hung out. He's cool with it."
I lift a brow. "Really."
"Hedidthreaten to cut my balls off if I even looked at you wrong."
I laugh. "Nowthatsounds more like Xan."
He nods and chuckles. "Let's go eat. I'm fucking starving."
"You've been lifting?" I ask, remembering how hungry Carter always is when he lifts weights and works out.
He nods. "Swam for an hour and lifted for another."
I whistle. "Swimming is so exhausting. I'm a little surprised you lifted after that."
"I didn't push myself. Kept the weight my norm and the reps and stuff low. I just don't want to get out of shape. I'm gonna have a hell of a summer when I get to NYU."
"They're gonna work your ass off," I tell him, unable to imagine how hard they're going to push him.
He nods. "I know it. Let's take my car. We'll come back and pick yours up."
"Sounds good."
The ride to Gill's is short and filled with small talk. When we walk in, I see Shea sitting with a bunch of Carter's friends. I turn to look at him and smile, tears welling in my eyes.
"Thank you."
He merely nods. There's no smile. None of this can be easy for him. He's so selfless. It's no wonder I love him. I'll always love him, it just wasn't the way I love Xander and knowing I can feel that way, I would never settle for less.
We sit down and order. We're joking and waiting for our food when Shea's mouth pulls tight and her eyes go flat.
"Well, well. Look who's here."
I turn and there's Sasha Clay, her two minions standing right behind her. I grind my teeth. Rumor has it she's one of the chicks Xander would take to the shack on a regular basis, which means he fucked her on a regular basis. Married or not, that eats at me something fierce because that was during the time he made me feel as ifIwasn't good enough—and he succeeded.
"Oh look, it's the Wicked Witch from Slutsville," Shea taunts.
A few of the guys cough "whore" into their hands, and as immature as that is, I want to hug every one of them for doing it.
Sasha zeroes in on Shea. "Have you decided which way you're gonna swing?"
I fist my hands and my eyes narrow. No one has ever made fun of Shea's sexual orientation and this slut isn't going to start now.
"Why? You want a piece of her?" I ask, looking her up and down with disdain.
Shea snorts. "She wishes, but I don't want to ride the bike everyone in town's already ridden."
The guys chuckle and Sasha fumes. Her face gets red and she takes a step forward. I sit up straight and Carter rests his hand on the small of my back to comfort me. This bitch isn't going to hurt, intimidate, or try to shame my best friend. I won't allow it.
"How unoriginal," Sasha retorts.
"Like you, you mean," I taunt.
"Your husband's been gone less than an hour and already you're with your ex," she tsks. "I wonder what Xander would say if he knew."
