“Depends on the success,” I said. I felt successful every day of my life, even if other people maybe wouldn’t have agreed.
Carter laughed. “Sometimes I hate how figured out your life is,” he said. “You’re happy, aren’t you? Genuinely happy.”
“Yeah,” I agreed. “I’m doing what I love, I’m surrounded by great people, and I get to live my truth, as much as that sounds like some Instagram fitspo model quote. That’s how happiness works.”
“Well, good,” he said. “You deserve it.”
We lapsed into silence for a few moments, Carter focused on the road, me watching the scenery whip past as we headed back to the hotel. The schedule saidfree afternoon, but neither of us had thought to plan anything.
In my defense, I’d only had a handful of hours’ notice before leaving on this trip and I’d spent most of it agonizing over which parts of my wardrobe were wedding-appropriate.
Carter seemed to appreciate what I’d come up with, so I was fine as far as dress-casual dinners went, although I wasn’t exactly looking forward to more of them.
“You should go to dinner with your dad,” I said. “He wanted you and me to go, but I think… I think you oughta take some time to talk to him. I think he has things to say that you might wanna hear.”
“You sure?” Carter asked. “You’re the one who won a date with him.”
“Believe me, I’d love to go on a date with your dad,” I teased. “I could use a hot older man in my life.”
“You think my dad’s hot?” Carter asked, eyes wide as he glanced at me.
I laughed. “You don’t?”
“He’s mydad, of course I don’t.” Carter chewed on his lip. “Really?”
Carter was adorable and I wanted him to have all the happiness in the world.Hedeserved it, too.
“Why is this such a surprise to you? You’ve got the same eyes and the same smile and I thinkyou’rehot, why wouldn’t I think the same about your dad?”
“You think I’m hot?” Carter asked, voice softer this time.
Oops.
I hadn’t actually answered the question about having a crush on him last night, had I? I’d avoided it.
I’d just also thought it was obvious that I was too embarrassed to say yes, that I’d never gotten over it, and that Carter only had to say the word if he wanted great orgasm after great orgasm for the rest of this trip.
“Yes?” I said, higher-pitched than I meant to.
Carter stared at me, mouth hanging open. “Really?” he repeated, more incredulous this time than before.
“Watch the road,” I said, gesturing vaguely in front of us, trying to pretend I wasn’t blushing to the tips of my ears.
“Why do you sound so surprised?” I asked after a moment, once Carter seemed to be over the shock. “This isn’t me having weirdly specific tastes. You turn heads anywhere you go. You’re tall and you’ve got the soft hair and the pretty eyes and you smile like you give really good oral.”
“Iwhat?” Carter asked.
“Like youknowyou do, I mean. Like,hi there, come home with me and I’ll eat you out for hours.”
“Hours?” Carter asked, voice pitching up like he was starting to panic over the idea that he was attractive.
I laughed at how easy he was to tease, how muchfunit was to pay him a compliment.
“Doesn’t have to be non-stop,” I said. “I’m just saying. People look at you and think about sex. Trust me.”
Carter opened his mouth, drew a breath, and then obviously thought better of whatever he’d been about to say in response.
Probablydo you look at me and think about sex?
