Page 120 of The Right Kind of Wrong

I hugged her back. I needed it.

“Is Carter here already?” I asked, searching the bar. Sure enough, Carter was seated in the back of the establishment, conversing with Poison.

“Good friends, those two,” Tessa smiled. “Go take a seat, I'll bring you a drink. What do you want?”

“Just a lemonade. No more getting drunk for me,” I said with a small smile.

She nodded, squeezing my shoulder before I walked off. The bikers waved at me, some of them greeting me with a 'special' handshake they had designated, others with a simple nod my way. Either way, I felt welcome…at home.

“Thank fuck,” Poison said, standing up and embracing me. “You ever pull that shit again I swear I'll find you and disappear you myself,” she scolded. “You don't get to do that, not when there are so many people that worry about you. Old man Carter was worried sick and the group was out searching for you. Plus, drunk does not look good on you.”

I giggled, tears flooding my eyes. “Well, I think you may have to disappear me now because I'm leaving.”

Both Carter and Poison looked at me with a confused expression. “What are you talking about?” Poison asked, her forehead creasing with worry.

“I'm leaving,” I said. “I just have a couple of things to deal with before I do, but I'm here to say goodbye.”

“Oh, honey,” she said, shaking her head.

“It's time for me to start over,” I explained with a sigh. “I'm going miss you, though. All of you. You've all been very nice to me.”

“What a shame,” Poison said with sincerity. “I was just telling the boys that we needed to give you your own jacket, maybe even a bike.”

“I'd kill myself in one of those,” I laughed. “But thank you,” I said, taking her hand in mine. “Thank you very much for everything.”

She went on with the group of bikers and approached Tessa, all of them talking over by the bar while I sat with Carter.

“So you're sure about this?” Carter asked. He'd tried to talk me out of it but my mind was set. I needed to figure out what to do with myself, figure out what the hell I wanted.

“Yeah. Are you still wanting to go to New York?”

“Sure am,” he smiled. “But I can't help but think that you're making a mistake.”

I looked down, biting my lip nervously. “Am I?”

“What you and Nathan have, it doesn't come around often. Trust me. I know.”

I sighed, resting my face in my hands. “I don't know what to do, Carter. Nana always knew what to say and now she isn't here…I keep thinking this is right and then I think that leaving Nate is a bad idea, that I'll never forgive myself for doing that.”

Carter exhaled. It was as if he was gathering all the wisdom he'd gain over the years. He tapped his fingers on the table before clearing his throat and speaking up.

“The way I see it, you have two choices. You leave to New York with me, forever question what would have happened between you and Nathan. Oryou could leave with me and Nathan, the man that you love and loves you back and get your answers. If it doesn't work out, at least you know you tried, you won't live wondering what would have happened had you just let him be with you.”

“But I'm not the same girl he met, Carter. I don't know who I am. And it's not like love can magically fix me, like it'll automatically answer all my questions.”

Carter nodded in agreement. “It sure won't. But let me tell you this: it'll make it more bearable.”

“I don't know what to do,” I groaned.

“Well, you're going to have to figure it out,” Carter said.

I furrowed my eyebrows. “Why?”

“He's here,” he said, nodding towards the door.

Nathan wasn't alone. He was accompanied by David and his wife, and Jenna, even Professor Lanthorn and his wife. My breath caught in my throat at the sight in front of me. They all held a gift.

They came over to the table where Carter and I sat, all of them with sad smiles on their faces. I stood up, hugging David first. He'd spent the last few hours working and trying to get everything ready for tomorrow; I was grateful to him for his effort, his loyalty.

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