In a daze, Carter returned to the penthouse.
"You were at the office late," Grant commented when Carter walked through the door.
He felt sick as he thought of Allie—the way she wrapped around him, how somehow he had ruined his chances with her.
"Was working on a project," he said numbly. How could she not want him? How did he screw this up?
"You need to meet people and stop working so much," Grant told him.
"What about Liz?" Kate said. "Take her out. You two were spending a lot of time together at the foundation dinner."
"I'll think about it."
Carter couldn't sleep that night. He flipped through pictures of Allie that she had sent him.
What did I do wrong?
He wandered around the penthouse and drifted out to the deck. He leaned over the balcony railing and watched the cars drive past far below.
"What's wrong, Carter?" Grant said. His voice was careful and measured. "Why don't you come inside?"
"Away from the ledge, you mean?" Carter said.
He turned around and looked at Grant. His cousin's stance was loose, and Carter knew he was readying himself to lunge at Carter.
Carter shook his head and went inside. Grant locked the door behind them.
"Sit down. Talk to me."
Carter wanted to spill his guts about Allie. He struggled briefly then made his decision.
"You can't tell my father," he said finally.
Grant cocked an eyebrow, and Carter took a deep breath.
"I've been having a relationship with Allie."
"So you just lied about breaking it off with her," Grant said.
"Well, it's broken off now," Carter said crossly. "She doesn't want anything to do with me."
Grant looked at him with sympathy. "It's probably for the best. She didn't really seem like your type."
"How do you know what my type is?"
Grant held up a hand. "I don't. She just didn't seem like she cared about you that much is all. She didn't seem particularly shaken up after the car accident is all."
Carter stared out of the window.
"There are other people out there," Grant said.
"I feel like she was the one," Carter said softly.
"There's no such thing," Grant told him. "There are lots of people you could have a happy life with."
"I guess so. I just feel like I messed up. If I had been better…"
"Sometime you mess up and you can't fix it. You just have to learn and apply those lessons the next time."
