Gasping, putting the pieces together, I try to think how delicately to ask. “Did he… get hit?”
She sniffles and brushes tears from her already red cheeks. “I don’t know. We couldn’t find him. We were out looking everywhere for him last night. My dad said maybe he would find his way home, but when we woke up this morning, still nothing. He could be anywhere, and he’s probably so scared and hungry…” The image of him hungry and scared must break her, because she bursts into fresh tears.
“Oh, Grace.” I bend down and hug her. “You should have texted me, I would’ve come over and helped you look. I’ll help today, after school. Don’t worry, we’ll find your puppy.”
“What if he did get hit?” she wails into my shoulder.
“I’m sure he didn’t get hit. Someone would have seen him in the road.”
“I don’t understand how he got out in the first place. Before I left him out there I walked the fence and made sure he hadn’t dug any holes I missed. The gate was shut and there are no loose boards. I was so careful.”
Dread fills me because this is a bad situation either way, but the party at Erika’s house surfaces in my mind. Carter knew he wanted me at the party that night, but no matter how much he asked, I declined. Eventually, he used Grace and my protectiveness of her to get me there, threatening Grace if I didn’t show.
He wouldn’t hurt a dog, right? I don’t think he would, he’s not a monster, but kidnap a dog? He might do that. Keep it—and Grace’s emotional well-being—hostage until I give in and come riding to her rescue.
Dammit, Carter. It’s not fair that he has all these ways of defeating me. He plays so dirty, and he knows I can’t match him. He knows I won’t stoop, so he knows he will win every damn time as long as he does.
Once I’m done comforting Grace and calming her down with assurances that we’ll get Scout back tonight, I give her a minute to get it together and walk by myself up to the entrance of the school.
My blood heats when I see Carter standing against his wall, arms crossed, watching me as I approach. This time it’s anger heating my blood, not arousal. Unluckily for the people in my life, I only really have a few relationships, so if he wants to terrorize me into getting back together with him, he can only target those same people over and over again.
“Good morning, Ellis.”
I glare, ignoring his jock buddies who part like the Red Sea as I storm up to him. “Did you steal Grace’s puppy?”
Pulling a look of exaggerated innocence, Carter points to himself. “Why would I steal a dog?”
“Because you’re fucking crazy,” I snap.
“Whoa, shit,” Cartwright drawls, laughing a little. “Carter’s drivin’ Zoey Ellis to curse, this must be bad.”
“Baby girl, bring that dirty mouth over here,” Shayne says.
“Fuck off, Sutton,” I snap, before looking back at Carter. “The puppy is too far. You give that puppy back to her, or I swear to God, I’ll never speak to you again.”
Carter keeps his tone level, but the warning behind the words is real when he tells me, “Don’t threaten me, princess.”
I know I would get better results if I had waited to confront him until we could be alone, but when I saw him, I was too angry to wait. As much as I want to escalate things and fight him to the death, I know I’m outmatched. He knows, too, so if I want to be smart, I need to heed his warning and rein myself in a bit.
When a few second pass and I haven’t continued to rage, despite the clear fury in my eyes, Carter nods once and says, “Now, go ahead and try again. I’ll give you a do-over.”
I grit my teeth, wanting to hit him for being such a jerk, but I keep my eye on the prize. It doesn’t matter that his friends are snickering. Only he cares what they think, I sure as hell don’t. Swallowing down a lump of anger and meeting his gaze, I ask, “Can we talk privately, please?”
Carter reaches out and caresses the side of my face, an intentionally condescending move. “Since you said please.”
Murder, murder, murder. Stab, stab, stab.
Thinking happy thoughts, I turn on my heel and head for the school entrance.
“I’ll catch up to you fellas later,” Carter tells the guys as he follows after me.
“Have fun,” Cartwright calls.
“He’s goin’ off with Zoey Ellis, you know he will,” Shayne says with a snicker.
“Hey,” Carter barks more sharply. A little more civilly, he reminds Shayne, “Show a little respect unless you want to lose your place again, Sutton.”
Yeah, asshole. At least Carter isn’t being a complete toolbag. Just mostly a toolbag.