I look over at Carter as he sits down and mouth, “What the fuck do I do now?”
“I don’t know,” he mouths back as he turns on his phone, leaving me to stew in silence. Something catches his attention when it comes to life, and he quickly begins typing a message, his attention taken by whoever it is on the other end.
Chase and Max talk like I’m not even there, their conversation easy, casual—everything ours used to be. Jealousy eats away at me, at the closeness they have and the distance that drives us further and further apart.
I try to eavesdrop on their conversation, while still trying to remain cool. Pulling out my phone, I try to make it look like I’m doing something else and scroll through my contacts. There’s one person I really need to tell something to.
Me: I fucking hate you.
When I hear him laughing beside me, I know he got my message. While he thinks this situation is humorous, I don’t. This was supposed to be my opportunity to talk to Chase, to make things right. But instead, I’m banished to the backseat like a misbehaving child, unable to have a much needed conversation with him.
“So I hear the DJ at the club tonight is insane.” Max’s voice is full of excitement.
Club? What does he mean? My ears perk up, wanting to hear more of their conversation to figure out just what they’re talking about.
“So you don’t know him?” Chase asks.
“No. The doors open at ten, but as long as we get there before eleven, then there’s no cover charge.”
They’re going to a club? Is it a date? Shit, this sounds like a fucking date. Have I lost my chance to mend my relationship with Chase? My heart is racing, my head pounding, and I feel like I’m going to throw up. The temperature in the truck beginsto rise and all I want to do is reach through the seat and strangle the man in front of me.
My eyes dart over to Carter, wondering if he’s aware of what’s going on, but instead of paying attention, he’s busy messaging on his phone, oblivious to the conversation being had between his brother and the homewrecker. What the hell is going on?
By the time Chase drops me off at my building, my chest feels hollow. He’s dropping me off before Max, leaving me with no chance to talk to him about us. I step out of the truck, the cold night air wrapping around me. Chase doesn’t even glance my way as he drives off, leaving me alone on the curb, staring after the taillights until they disappear.
This isn’t how it was supposed to go. None of this is how it was supposed to go.
Chapter 11
Carter
From the moment Igot in the truck, the tension was suffocating—mostly between Chase and Blake.
With Max in the truck, there was no need for the headphones. Blake and Chase weren’t going to be having their conversation. When I turned on my phone, I was happy to see that Ginny had messaged.
Unknown: Hey Carter, it’s Ginny. This is my new number. We need to talk. You’re right. We need to fix Blake and Chase. When can we meet? We just have to make sure my dad and Antony don’t find out.
It isn’t exactly a confession of love, but it’s progress. Not only do I have her number now, but she is ready to take the next step in our plan. The one we haven't been able to finalize because her overbearing partner and father showed up early, interrupting us. While they practiced, I’d distracted myself by working on someshots, all the while mesmerized by how effortlessly amazing she was.
Me: Hey Ginny. Just got out of practice. I agree.
Me: Want to get together to figure out a plan to make sure it happens?
It’s crickets. Nothing. No jumping little circle to tell me she’s replying.
I look over at Blake, who’s barely holding it together, clenching his jaw as he listens to Max go on and on about a club they’re going to. His face turns redder with each word that comes out of Max’s mouth. I could try to distract him from his thoughts. But I don’t. The drama between him and Chase is exhausting. Instead, I open the text thread with my mom to find out how her trip was. They got home yesterday and I haven’t called her yet. Surprisingly, she hasn’t even messaged me. Not the norm for her, so she must’ve had a blast.
Me: Mom, how was the trip? You’ve been home for 24 hours and haven’t messaged yet.
Me: Are you okay?
She must’ve had the phone near her, because the dancing bubbles I wanted so badly to see when I was messaging Ginny appear.
Mom: It was amazing. So relaxing. I’m sorry, we’ve just been so busy unpacking andanswering messages and such that we haven’t even had a chance to breathe.
Mom: We’re thinking about making it a yearly trip. You boys have gotten older and since we don’t have grandkids yet it’s the perfect time.
What?
