Chapter 36

“Are you sure he’ll let us stay?” I ask, oddly nervous. Kate puts on another coat of lipstick and drags my already far too revealing dress down a little more, showcasing even more of my boobs.

“Carter is holding his graduation party at our house and begged Mom and Dad to go away for the weekend. Since Mom isn’t here, he’s stupid if he thinks he can keep us away,” she says.

I shake my head as she sticks her hand into my bra to adjust my boobs for maximum cleavage. I look in the mirror and smile to myself. She’s actually done a great job. We both look good. Kate looks stunning with her long brown hair and miniskirt. She’s managed to make me look so much hotter too, with the makeup and the push-up bra. I feel like a totally new person — I can’t even remember the last time I felt this confident. I wonder what Carter will think when he sees me. Things between us have been a little weird. He’s been ignoring me, and I’ve been trying my best to pretend that my heart isn’t breaking. There have been no pranks, no texts, no conversations, and definitely no kisses or longing looks. It’s like he got over me the moment he realized I didn’t want to be in a relationship with him. It hurts, but I can’t even fault him for it.

The party is already in full swing by the time we walk down the stairs. Kate’s eyes light up when she sees Asher, and he looks just as excited to see her. These two are going to get caught soon if they don’t hide their obvious attraction better. I’m worried about them and at the same time I want what they have. Kate told me about their first kiss a few weeks ago and how guilty she felt about it, but just like Carter and I, she and Asher can’t seem to stay away from each other. She tells me it’s just a fling and that they’ll break things off as soon as Asher leaves for college, but I know it’s more than that for her. I’m worried Carter will find out about them and kill them both. For a while I was sure he knew about them, but now I’m not so sure. Part of me also hates that Kate is doing the one thing she said she’d never tolerate. Why is it okay for her to get with Asher, even just for a few weeks, but I can’t do the same with Carter without risking my friendship with her and my relationship with Helen? It’s unfair and I hate it.

Kate looks up at me pleadingly and I sigh, trying my best to put my bitterness aside. Even if I can’t have what I want, I shouldn’t begrudge Kate her happiness. I smile at her and nod, earning me a grateful grin in return. It only takes her a couple of minutes to disappear and she’s being far from subtle. I’m worried she and Carter will both get hurt over this. Mostly Carter… I’m scared he’ll feel betrayed when he finds out about Asher. Part of me is also concerned that he’ll blame me for knowing and not telling him.

I inhale deeply and walk into the kitchen to pour myself a vodka with cranberry juice. I’ve only taken three sips when Carter comes storming into the kitchen. He looks hot as hell. He’s wearing a shirt that’s tight enough to showcase his muscles, and he’s got the sleeves rolled up to show off his forearms. I want to unbutton his shirt and reveal what he’s hiding underneath. Weeks have gone by since we slept together, and even though he’s been acting like I don’t exist, I still crave him with the same desperation.

Carter looks at me, his eyes glued to my chest. I guess my cleavage at least got him to look twice. He blinks a few times and then drags his eyes back up to mine.

“Oh, no you don’t,” he says, grabbing the cup from me. I glare at him and he glares back at me just as fiercely. “What the hell are you doing here, Minx? And what the actual fuck are you wearing? A t-shirt? Where are the rest of your goddamn clothes?”

I look down at my dress and then back at him. “It’s a dress, dad.”

I grab my drink back and take another sip. Carter looks at me through narrowed eyes and takes it from me.

“You’d better go now before I throw you out.”

I grin and fish my phone out from between my breasts. Carter looks at my chest with wide eyes, his cheeks suspiciously pink.

“Oh, hmm… it’s quite noisy here. I think I could hear the music from my bedroom. I wonder what Officer Oliver will think if I call it in?”

He grabs my wrist and glares at me. “Don’t you fucking dare, Minx,” he snaps. I smile at him triumphantly and take another sip of my drink. “No more,” he says. “This is the only drink you get. You can stay, but you’d better not cause any trouble.”

I nod happily, and he sighs as he walks back out. My eyes linger on his disappearing form. His ass looks great in those jeans. Ever since we slept together, Carter and I have been further apart than ever when we should’ve gotten closer instead. He seems hurt, and he’s been avoiding me more and more recently. It kills me, but I know I had it coming. I knew what would happen when I told him I didn’t want to date him, so I need to suck it up and deal with the consequences.

The girls from the cheering squad are all here, and they instantly surround Carter. Thank God Gabby isn’t here, at least. Though I have no doubt she’ll be showing up later. He’s always kept an appropriate amount of distance from her, but will he still? If she throws herself at him tonight, will he just go for it the way he did with Jennifer?

If the mere thought of that makes me jealous, then how the hell would I be able to have a relationship with him when he’s all the way at USC? I’d just be wondering where he is and if he’s even thinking of me. I don’t want to do that. The risk is too high. It’s not just me that would get hurt if things didn’t end up working out. It’s Helen and Kate too.

I finish my drink and join a couple of rounds of beer pong, which I’m surprisingly bad at. Jace, one of Carter’s teammates, laughs at me and wraps his arm around my shoulder.

“This game isn’t for you, sweetheart. Looks like you’re already well on your way to being drunk, and we’re only a couple of hours into the party.”

He leads me towards another group of people and sits me down.

“Spin the bottle?” I ask, feeling myself blush. Carter is the only guy I’ve ever kissed. My mind flashes back to Jennifer. He might be my only kiss, but I’m certainly not his.

“Sort of. It’s kind of a combination of spin the bottle and seven minutes in heaven. Whoever the bottle lands on is the person you get locked up with in the bathroom for a couple of minutes. You don’t have to do anything and you can decline if you want to, but might be good fun.”

I hesitate, but then I sit down. What the hell, it’s just a game. Carter seems quite happy to be chatting with the girls that keep surrounding him. Other than when I first walked in, he hasn’t spoken a word to me. Why shouldn’t I have some fun too?

As I sit down, my eyes meet Carter’s from across the room. His eyes flash when he realizes what game we’re playing, and he stalks towards me. He sits down right next to me and throws his arm around my neck. He pulls me closer until his lips brush over my ear and a delicious little shiver runs down my spine.

“What the fuck are you doing playing this game, Emilia? I thought I told you to stay out of trouble.”

Someone spins the bottle and it points towards me. The guy looks at me excitedly, but Carter shakes his head.

“You’d better fucking spin again, buddy,” he says, a far too relaxed smile on his face. The guy nods, much to my annoyance. I don’t even know him and would’ve just made small talk if I ended up in the bathroom with him, but that isn’t the point.

I grab the bottle and spin it, my teeth clenched. My heart skips a beat when it points to Carter. He chuckles and pulls me up by my wrist. I follow him into the bathroom nervously. He keeps the lights off and locks the door before turning towards me. Carter cages me in with his arms, and even with my heels on I’m nowhere near as tall as him.

“So, what exactly did you think would happen if you played this game, Minx?”

He takes a step closer until his body is pushed against mine. I put my hands on his chest, unsure whether I want to push him away or pull him closer.

“Were you really going to kiss some other guy? Someone I know? At my own damn party?”

He leans in until his lips are hovering over mine. “Answer me, Minx.”

I shake my head. I was being petty because Carter has barely looked at me all night. Because he’s been ignoring me for weeks. Because it seems like he’s already over me when my heart is still filled with him.

I look into his eyes and his lips brush against mine.

“No. Just you, Carter,” I whisper.

His lips come crashing down on mine roughly, and I rise onto my tiptoes in a silent bid for more. When his tongue presses against my lips, I open up for him eagerly. Carter’s hands find their way to my ass and he lifts me into his arms. He presses me against the wall and I wrap my legs around his hips.

“This dress is way too fucking short, Minx.”

His fingers slip into my underwear, and I moan against his lips.

I fumble with his jeans and sigh in delight when I finally have my hand wrapped around him. Carter groans and kisses me harder.

“I want you, Emilia,” he whispers. I’m panting and nod. He grins and rests his forehead against mine.

The sound of someone knocking on the door startles us both and we freeze.

“Time’s up, guys,” someone shouts. Carter blinks and looks around, as though he’s only now realizing that we’re in the downstairs bathroom. He pulls away from me and lowers me to the floor carefully before fixing his own clothes.

“Sorry, baby. I got carried away,” he says, panting. I shake my head and rise to my tiptoes to press a quick kiss to his lips.

“I wish it’d gone further,” I whisper, right before I walk out.