Right now with how busy the house is and with everyone preparing for a party, I thought I could blend in when I slipped downstairs to try and call again.
“Am I not allowed to use the phone?” I ask as he hangs it back up.
“You look pathetic. He’s not answering. He got what he wanted from you, and now he’s done.”
“He didn’t fuck me,” I hiss in Carter’s face, unable to control myself. My emotions are all over the place. I miss Connor so much. The ache inside of me is starting to become unbearable. The worst part of it is that I’m scared Carter is right and that I’m being pathetic.
Carter’s brows rise in surprise. I’m not sure if it’s because of my outburst or the fact that I admitted Connor and I hadn’t gone all the way. When a smile pulls at Carter’s lips, I quickly regret my outburst.
“So he lied,” he says smugly.
“What?” I ask confused.
“You think he didn’t come back bragging? Talking about what the two of you did?”
“He wouldn’t.” I shake my head and fight the feeling of betrayal that rushes over me. Connor isn’t that kind of man. No way. He didn’t want to even talk to his own family about us, and that wasn’t because he was hiding us either. He kissed me right in front of them.
Plus, when I’d been getting all my crap together to leave the lodge, I’d spoken with Natalie. She didn’t want me to go. She all but implied I’d break Connor’s heart. I wanted to believe that so badly, but we barely knew each other. It’s hard for me to believe a man like Connor would fall in love with me so quickly. That he'd believe in things like love at first sight.
“He did. Good for you, Evie. He didn’t get to take that from you.”
“Take? What the hell is wrong with you?”
Carter’s smile falls from his face. “I’ve been good to you. Why can’t you give us a chance?”
“Are you serious right now? You’ve slept with every girl in school!” I point out. Not to mention the horrible things he’d muttered about me on the plane ride back. How has he forgotten so quickly?
“Yeah, but if you were mine, I’d only sleep with you.” I can’t with him.
He reaches out and pulls on the end of my braided ponytail. I want to smack his hand away, but he’s already pulling it back. No reason to further piss him off especially if I still have another few days here.
“Whatever, Carter.” I go to step around him to make my escape back to my room.
“The party starts in an hour,” he reminds me.
“I’m not going.” Hanging at a party with all these rich, entitled people is the last place I want to be.
“You’re a guest, and it would be rude to my parents.”
“Your parents care if I go to their fancy party?” I find that hard to believe.
“They would. My mom got you a dress. It’s why I was looking for you. I dropped it in your room.” I open my mouth to tell him I’m not going, but he cuts me off, knowing what I was about to say. “Don’t forget my parents still have to report back to the Bartons on your behavior. Don’t forget who they are, Evie.”
I want to scream at him, but I try to hold it together. “Can I go now?”
“You can go get ready.” He steps to the side to let me get by, and I rush past him.
He’s such an asshole, but he’s right. His parents do have a lot of control and pull. The reality is, I don’t know what is going to come of Connor and me. I have a few applications to some colleges, but I haven’t heard back from any yet.
I know that should be the next step in my life. It’s really the only one I have. Or it was the only one I thought I had. My whole life, I’ve always made steps in whatever direction was provided for me. It was never out of desire for what I truly wanted. It was about keeping a roof over my head and food coming. Nothing more.
Where else would I go? College gives me some stability and a place to figure out what I want to do with my life. I need to be able to get a job to make a living of some kind. Madison Prep will have a ton of pull when it comes to where I might get accepted along with any scholarships I might get.
For all I know, Connor and I are over. Who knows what he thinks with how I rushed off? I keep hoping that the storm closing in is the only reason we’ve been out of contact with each other. Clearly the lines are down at the resort, and even though he might not want to talk to me, I’d think the resort would still be taking calls for reservations if they could be.