I barked out a laugh, then covered my mouth. When I couldn’t stop, he stepped closer and plastered his hand over mine. His bare chest pressed against mine lit up every synapse and nerve in my body.
“Shut up before you wake my parents.”
Carson was battling a smile, as his beautiful hazel eyes sparkled with more green tonight. That just made me smile.
“You’re such a weirdo. What the hell is wrong with you? Have you had too much to drink? Are you drunk?”
My only response was to shake my head. I just wish it were his mouth doing the covering. I could stay in his arms like this forever, if it were possible.
Dropping my phone to the floor, I wrapped my free hand around his wrist. Momentarily soaking in the feel of the soft hair on his arm under my fingers, I pulled it away.
Carson stared into my eyes, searching for something before he stepped away. He picked up my phone and scowled at the screen, now confused.
“You had to look up a word?”
He shoved it back to me, then crossed his arms over his chest.
“I needed to confirm what I was seeing on your face was what I thought it was. And I was right. You’re a jealous motherfucker, St. James.”
He gave me his signature eye roll and went to step back. But I caught his arm and pulled him back.
Carson came willingly, but didn’t deny my accusation.
“What are you jealous about, Carson?”
He turned away, but I reached for his face to pull his eyes back to mine.
“I’m just playing by your rules. The ones you set from the beginning.”
He released a deep breath. “I know. But I… “
“But what? Tell me what you’re thinking.”
It was hard to determine what he was struggling with, so I waited, hoping he’d finally tell me.
“I like you. But I don’t know you. And I want to.”
Has anyone ever wanted to get to know me other than Owen?
“What do you want to know the most?”
He locked his eyes on me. “Did you sleep…?”
“Did I sleep in Arizona? Barely with you watching me like a hawk.”
“That’s not… how did you … fucking hell. Did you sleep with Lucas?”
My eyebrows shot up. “In Arizona? No. I told ya, I had a guard dog watching over me.”
Aggravating him was so much fun. I knew what he wanted to know from the beginning, but I couldn’t help myself. I couldn’t even concentrate on a conversation with the cutie, much less sleep with him. All I could think about was the look on Carson’s face.
“Not in Arizona. I know that. I mean tonight. Did you sleep with him tonight?”
This could go one of two ways. I could tell him the truth, or I could leave him to figure it out for himself. I chose the latter.
“What would it matter to you, Carson? We’re just friends, remember? We agreed to one night, and it was spectacular. We both felt things we didn’t expect. But ya won’t allow yourself to have more because you’re camped out alone on your moral high ground above everyone else. You gotta decide what you want out of life, but I don’t have to wait for that to happen. If I’m still here when ya figure it out, ya let me know.”
Stepping back, I picked up my cat and walked toward the door.
