Chapter 12
This game may be getting out of hand.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
My eyes flew open, and I glanced around the darkened room. My legs were strewn across Carter's legs. His head flopped over the arm of the chair, and he softly snored. We'd fallen asleep after I beat him in Uno three times. Then we started watching and analyzingMenace II to Societyto current times, and how nothing has changed. Spending time with him, without the pressure of sex, felt no different than hanging with Grey. I was totally myself with him. We made each other laugh, and we learned more about each other.
He'd sworn off liquor after getting so drunk his freshman year that he threw up for two days straight. As a child, Carter wanted to be a veterinarian. He still planned to pursue that degree if football didn't work out. He only majored in education because the coursework allowed him to perform well academically while he trained and worked hard on the football team. He was introverted, which surprised me, though it explained how often he seemed alone on campus. Carter hung out with classmates and teammates but didn't have friends, preferring to focus on his football and school. He'd only had two girlfriends, one in high school and one in college. Women had been too much drama, so he avoided commitment and entanglements as much as possible. Now, someone wasknocking on his door in the wee hours of the morning. I wasn't up for another round with Selena or whoever else believed she could pop by unannounced.
"Carter." I nudged his thigh with my knee, careful not to touch his semi-erect dick that clearly rested on his thigh. He'd been a gentleman all night, and I didn't want to tempt him any more than I already had.
He mumbled and turned over in his sleep with my knee pressed against him.
"Carter," I hit his leg and called his name louder. I eased from our entangled legs and tiptoed to the door when he still didn't respond.
A worried Chelsea stood at the door, and I quickly opened it and stepped outside.
She grabbed me into a hug before pushing me from her and then hissed loudly, "Don't you ever fucking scare me again like that. I had no idea where you were, and I didn't want to worry Grey, so I didn't call him."
"Grey is still out? What time is it?"
"Two in the morning. You left your damn phone and had me worried."
"I'm sorry. I got caught up."
She stepped back and checked out Carter's hoodie that covered the yellow dress I borrowed from her. Throughout the night, the dress had risen. I looked like I had nothing on except for Carter's hoodie. Chelsea's eyes widened, and she clapped her hands.
"Shh!" I grabbed her hands. "Nothing happened. Well, shit did happen. He's willing to wait and wants us to get to know each other. There's a lot more, but I need to tell you once I come home."
"Is he asleep?"
"Yes, we fell asleep on the sofa. Carter sleeps hard, apparently."
Chelsea suddenly grinned. "Come home now."
"I need to at least say goodbye and get my sandals."
"No, you don't. He will only want you more if he wakes up and you're not there. Trust me."
I shook my head. "I'm playing enough games with him. That's just wrong when he's been nice to me, and he's going through shit."
"Is it wrong?" She pulled me away from his door, still whispering. "You're supposed to have a live-in boyfriend. You can't spend the night with another man. And definitely not one who lives next door."
I sighed. "Why did I lie? I really want to wake up with him."
"You've gotten this far because of your lie. Play your cards right, and you'll wake up with Carter anytime you want." She opened our door and waited for me to walk through it. "Besides, you still have to return his hoodie and need to get your shoes. A perfect way to get back inside his place or at least to talk to him."
I finally looked at her face in the bright light of our living area. Her eyes were puffy, and dried tears stained her face. "Chelsea, I'm sorry. I swear I was trying to give you space, and then I saw Carter on the beach. Everything else happened fast. But enough about me. Please let me be here for you and stop acting like you're not devastated. You were going to marry Carmello."
"I’m fine, Darren.” She waved her hand dismissively when I tried to hug her, and I dropped my arms. “That’s what I get for bragging about something that hadn’t and won’t happen. Trying to look good for social media bites you in the ass every time.”
Now wasn’t the time to remind her I’d warned her about putting all her business on social media. “You sure you’re not mad I left you here alone earlier?”
Chelsea rolled her eyes. “I stayed in the bathroom so long the water got cold, and when I came out, I crashed into the bed. Determined not to waste any more time on Carmello. Like Lisa Lisa, I’m all cried out. Moving on. Don’t ask me shit else about him.”
I held both hands up placatingly. “I won’t, but I also don’t mind hearing about him if you need to vent more. You don’t have to be strong for me.”
“You know this is how I handle shit. Like I said...moving on. And I’m not mad because I didn’t realize you left until I woke up about one, and when I couldn’t find you, panic set in. Grey had his car, and mine was still in the parking lot, so you couldn’t have gone far. Then it hit me that you might be next door. I was about to leave when you opened the door.” She yawned. “I’m tired as fuck. Tell me tomorrow how you spent the night and didn’t have sex with him.”
