“All right. I’ll handle it,” he says, cutting me off. The back of his hand moves along my jawline and I sigh, enjoying the faint tickle, the rush of tenderness. “Let’s not think about either of them anymore tonight.”
“There’s one more thing. There was a girl, the football photographer from the school paper.”
“She overheard as well?”
“Well, yeah, but she didn’t know what they were talkin’ about. That’s not the problem. We were talking when Erika came up and she seemed nice. Actually, she was standing right there when you kissed me, but you didn’t seem to notice her. Anyway, she stood up for me, but Erika got really pissy about it and told her she’d regret it. So, if you’re going to talk to Erika about takin’ her psycho bitchiness down a few levels, tell her to leave Kasey alone, too.”
“Done,” he agrees, gazing down at me. Hardly a moment passes, then he says, “Come home with me.”
“It’s late,” I tell him.
“You can spend the night. It’s the weekend, so you don’t have to go to school tomorrow. I don’t have practice. We could hang out, maybe head into the city. I have to be back in the evening to watch Chloe, but we could spend the better part of the day together.”
“You seem to watch your sister a lot,” I remark.
“Yeah. We don’t do babysitters, so if my parents go out, it’s up to me or my older sister. It’s easier for me, since I live there.”
“Well, I would like to go out with you tomorrow, but I can’t. I have the cook-out and basket fundraiser at the church, remember?”
“Ah, yes. With the pastor who wants to bone you.”
I roll my eyes. “With my married pastor who definitely does not want to bone me.”
Nodding and completely ignoring my objection, he asks, “When does Pastor Boner want you there?”
“Pastor James and his lovely wife asked us to come around ten so we can help set up. Grace went tonight, so I don’t know how much there will be left to do, but I’m gonna go then anyway, just to be safe.”
“That’s plenty of time. It’s settled. You’re coming to my house.”
I shake my head. “I’m not, though.”
He ignores me. “You’re going to climb your pretty little ass in my bed so I can fuck you, then we can fall asleep together like last night, but in a much more comfortable bed. I really like this plan.”
“This is not the plan at all. The plan is for me to go to my house alone, curl up in bed wearin’ flannel pajamas, and sleep all by myself.”
Glancing beyond me, Carter gazes absently into my car. “Now, do I trust you to drive yourself to my house, or do I drag you to my car and bring you back for yours tomorrow?”
I lift my eyebrows. “I am for sure not leaving my car here. I’ll probably come back to the windows busted out and the inside strewn with cheap, blue panties.”
Nodding slowly and talking to himself, as if I’m not even contributing to this conversation, he says, “Then again, if you go to your house, I can always just follow you. Your mom loves me, so I’ll just tell her we came to ask permission for you to spend the night. Bet she’d love that, huh?”
I cock my head. “Do you actually want me to respond, or are you just gonna keep pretendin’ I’m not here?”
“I think I can keep it can going by myself, but thanks for the offer,” he returns lightly.
“I can’t spend the night,” I state.
“Why not?”
“Because I’m not allowed to have sleepovers with boys.”
“Was your mom mad about last night?” he asks.
“Well, no…”
Latching onto it, he says, “See, she doesn’t care. If you think she’ll care, call her now and ask. I’ll take the phone. Promise to be on my best behavior.”
I know he’s right, so I do not pull out my phone. “Lies. Your best behavior is way below the acceptable threshold, anyway.”
Releasing me, Carter takes a step back. “Meet me at my house. If you don’t follow me, I’ll show up at yours—you know I will.”
“Pushy,” I tell him, running a hand down his chest.
Catching my hand, he replies, “You like it.”
“I don’t hate it. Jury’s still out on whether or not I like it,” I tease.
“Well, meet me at my house and we can work on figuring it out.”
Chapter 28
Carter’s house is enormous in broad daylight, but somehow at night, it looks even more intimidating. I think it’s because of the glow. In daylight, it’s like any other big house, but at night, Carter’s home glows. Illuminated by strategically placed lighting, Carter’s house sets itself apart from other homes with their paltry porch lights.
I got stuck by a couple red lights so Carter made it here first. He’s standing outside his car, his face lit by the glow of the cell phone in his hands. His fingers are moving like he’s typing something. A message? A text? Who is he texting this late at night?