"You’re such a terrible actor," Carter snapped at his father. "Stop pretending you feel bad for me."
"I don't want you to be hurt, Carter."
"Just say it! Say I told you so."
"I'm not saying anything about your life choices. You're an adult."
"I can't deal with you right now," Carter said, standing up and stalking away.
He stood to the side of the bleachers and watched Allie. She was wearing a flowing white dress with a big straw hat, and her hair was in a messy braid over her shoulder. He couldn't believe she had just dismissed him.
"Why aren't you with Allie?" his uncle asked him, coming up beside him.
"She doesn't want me," he said dejectedly. "She doesn't think we're meant to be together."
"And are you going to curl up and take it, or are you going to actually fight for what you want?" Walter asked Carter.
Carter opened his mouth to explain.
"Don't," Walter said, holding up a hand. "This is a decision you have to make. I'm leaving, by the way, so tell your mom. Grant's not doing well—Kate took him back to the house, and I don't really want to leave him alone with her just in case…"
Carter knew that PTSD could sometimes cause people to lash out. Grant would never willingly hurt Kate, but better safe than sorry.
Carter walked around the grounds and watched the match from the sidelines while sneaking glances at Allie. He probably needed to prove that he was worthy. She wanted someone competent, someone powerful—someone like Grant.
After the match, when Carter and his family arrived back at the cottage, the door was half open. Carter motioned his family back and slowly walked inside. A chair was smashed, and there was glass on the floor. Carter pulled out his knife as he heard someone walk in.
"Oh, Uncle Walter," Carter said as Walter came in carrying a broom.
He had a bruise on his cheek, and his shirt was ripped.
"Maybe we'll just go out for dinner," Nancy said after a moment as Carter grabbed the broom and started to clean up.
After sweeping and making sure Grant was calm, Carter and Kate met the rest of their family at the restaurant later that evening. His parents were already there with Stacy and Harris, who were both very tipsy. He could hear Stacy's shrieking laugh as soon as they entered the restaurant.
"Mr. Holbrook," the hostess greeted them.
"You're free to throw out my grandfather and his date," Carter said. "None of us here will be offended."
The hostess's eyes widened, and she said, "Oh no, it's perfectly fine. We have your table ready."
"We should order something for Grant and Walter," Nancy said.
Kate looked ashen faced. Carter ordered her a glass of wine and a scotch for good measure, and she sipped it gratefully.
"I haven't seen him this bad in a while," she said to Carter.
Grant didn't eat the food they brought back for him, and Carter sat with him until Walter told him to go to bed.
In the middle of the night, he felt hands crawl up his chest.
"Allie," he murmured.
"Baby," said a woman.
A weight settled on him, and something in his brain nagged at him to wake up. Margot barked, and Carter jolted awake. Blond hair and blue eyes stared back at him. He cursed and struggled out from under Stacy.
"What are you doing?" he hissed, pushing her hands off of him. "Stay away from me."
