“I’ll see you in a couple of days,” I say, and she smiles.
“Goodnight, Carter.”
I say goodnight, then disconnect the call.
Two more days. Two more hockey games.
Then I’ll see her again.
I’ve never looked forward to back-to-back road games quite so much.
12
SARAH
The Bainbridge Studiois closed to the public on Fridays, so I start my day without any idea of how I’d like to spend it. I could go downstairs to paint, but I need a minute away from my canvas before I fixate so much on changing it that I wind up ruining it instead.
At this point in the process, tiny changes can make a huge impact for goodor bad.So I have to tread carefully. The best way to do that is to give myself some breathing room and not try to force it.
At least, if Carter’s advice holds any weight.
Carter.Thinking of him stirs up all kinds of uncomfortable feelings. I’m well aware that my tiny freakout after our last phone call was unreasonable.
Too aware.
But I couldn’t help it.
First, he walked me through astunninghouse because for some ridiculous—possibly chivalrous—reason, he thinks he needs my approval to buy it. Then he showed me the most incredible studio space I’ve ever seen and talked about it likehe’d already given serious thought to how I might use it effectively.
It was amazing. Generous, thoughtful—as kind as I have grown to expect Carter to be.
And then, we were back downstairs and I was face-to-face with his very beautiful realtor, and suddenly and completely irrationally, I wanted to jab my fingernails directly into her perfectly made-up eyeballs.
The jealousy that welled up inside me as soon as Shelby’s face filled my phone screen was sudden and fierce, and I really did not like the way it made me feel. Mostly because it came completely out of the blue.
My phone buzzes from my nightstand and I reach for it, somehow hoping it both is and is not Carter at the same time.
It isn’t Carter—the disappointment swirling in my gut makes mytruefeelings clear—but itisEmerson, my closest friend from SCAD, which is an unexpected surprise.
Emerson
SARAH. You’re in New York right now.
Sarah
Yes? Why do I feel like I’ve done something wrong?
Emerson
You’ve done nothing wrong. I’m just stalking your Instagram. Your account AND the Bainbridge account. LOOK AT YOU GO.
Sarah
Aww. Thanks. It’s been an amazing experience so far.
Emerson
I’m glad, but that’s not why I texted you. I texted to say…
