Chapter 15

“Are you sure you don’t want to join us, John?” Carter and Kate’s dad asks, like he does every year. And like every year, my dad shakes his head resolutely. “No, but thank you for offering, William. And thank you for taking Emilia with you.”

He nods at William and smiles at me. “Have fun, sweetie,” he says. Things have been awkward between Dad and me lately. He hasn’t apologized for the way he snapped at me a few months ago, but he’s been coming home earlier and he’s been having dinner with me when he can. If he can’t make it home, he’ll call me to have a chat instead. I guess that’s better than an apology, but I would’ve liked to have both. I smile back at him and make my way to the car. As I approach, Carter and Kate both shout, “shotgun not middle seat!”

I groan and squeeze in between them. The journey to their summer cabin is a couple of hours and I’m going to be so uncomfortable between Kate and Carter. Besides, I’ve done my best to ignore Carter since he pulled that stunt on my first date. I haven’t forgiven him yet, and I don’t plan on being nice to him any time soon.

Carter’s thigh is pushed against mine and much to my surprise, he shifts away from me, edging closer to the door. I frown and lean back in my seat. I cross my arms over my chest, intent on giving him the silent treatment.

“I’m so excited!” Kate squeals. “I can’t wait to go swimming and kayaking at the lake. I wanna tan as well,” she tells me. Usually I’d be just as excited as her. Towards the end of the school year we usually go to the cabin one weekend a month, and if William can get some time off, we usually go for a week during summer break too. Our weekends at the cabin are normally the highlight of our summer, but this time I’m too annoyed with Carter to enjoy it.

I can’t believe he ruined my date like that. He might pretend like he’s never seeing anyone, but I know he’s lying. The other day I heard Gemma gossiping about how he took her to our local coffee shop to hang out. He’s such a hypocrite. I hate that he goes on dates all the time while I can’t even go on one. Just the idea of Carter with other girls pisses me off. If he gets to do it, then I do too. If Carter gets things his way, I’ll die a virgin. I don’t want that. I want to date just like other girls my age, the way Carter seems to.

“Aren’t you excited?” Kate asks. She pushes against my arms, inadvertently pushing me closer to Carter.

“Yeah, yeah. I’m excited,” I say eventually, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

Kate frowns at me, her smile dropping. She leans forward and glares at Carter and me. “You two better not ruin this for me. I don’t know what the deal is with you this time, but you’re both being weird. You don’t usually fight for this long.”

Carter crosses his arms over his chest and looks out the window, ignoring her. Helen turns around to look at us with raised brows.

“Kate is right. You usually get over your little arguments quite quickly, but you’ve barely spoken in two weeks now. What is going on with you two?”

I stare down at my hands, hoping she’ll just let it go, but she won’t.

“Emilia?” she says, her tone sharp. I glare at Carter and then look back at Helen.

“He ruined my first date,” I say. “Tony asked me out, and we went to the movies. Carter followed us there. He even sat right next to me and told Tony he’d lose his hands if he touched me. Tony didn’t even dare hold my hand,” I tell her, distraught all over again. I didn’t even want to go on a date with Tony, but it was the first time I’d ever been asked out. I still wanted it to be a nice experience.

Helen stares at Carter with wide eyes. “You didn’t!” she says, outraged. She stares Carter down and he looks away. He purses his lips in annoyance and I’m glad I got him into at least a little bit of trouble. Helen looks back at me and raises her brows. “And you. You went out with Tony? Little snotty Tony from down the block? The one that would always cry if anyone so much as touched him?”

I feel myself blush. “He’s not little anymore,” I say. Carter snickers and turns his head towards me.

“Yeah he is. Puny little fucker.”

Helen shoots him a warning look and Carter grits his teeth. “You were totally out of line there, Carter. If I hear of you behaving that way towards Emilia again, I won’t hesitate to ground you. Pulling pranks on her is one thing, but ruining her date is something else entirely.”

She then turns to me, a stern look adorning her face. “And you, Emilia, I thought we had an agreement that there would be no dating until you and Kate turn sixteen. There are still a few months left until then, isn’t that right?”

I sigh and nod. Carter chuckles and I elbow him.

“I’d better not hear any more of this dating nonsense until you’re sixteen,” she tells me. I pout and eventually nod.

Carter grins and I pinch his thigh, making him yelp. He grabs my hand and brings it to his lips, biting down on my finger. He doesn’t bite hard, but it’s still annoying as hell. I gasp and lean in, biting down on the arm he’s holding me with.

Helen turns back around, looking exasperated. “You two aren’t kids anymore, for god’s sake. Behave, or we’re turning this car around and you can both stay home!”

I glare at him and let go, and he glares at me just as fiercely. I don’t remember the last time I’ve been this mad at him. Kate looks worried and pats my leg. “Don’t piss mom off,” she warns me. “You know how crazy she gets when she’s mad.”

I nod. It’s true. Helen has the patience of a saint, but when she snaps, all hell breaks loose. I stay quiet for the remainder of the journey, and so does Carter. I don’t think the trip to the cabin has ever been so peaceful. Even William looks surprised with our behavior.

As soon as we’re out of the car, Carter and I both storm into the cabin, ignoring each other. He’s the one that’s in the wrong, so I don’t know why he’s acting so aggrieved. He should be apologizing to me, but instead he’s just making me even more angry.