Page 42 of Love to Hate You

The longer Carter remains silent, the more restless I grow wondering if he’ll finally give me the real reason for his behavior.

Looking distinctly uncomfortable by the forced conversation, he shifts on the lounger. His gaze bounces around the yard never once landing on me. “It was never like that.”

I jerk upright and swing my legs around to face him. Our knees bump. This time, the contact does nothing for me.

How can he lie with a straight face?

This conversation is probably the longest one we’ve ever engaged in without sniping at each other. I should count that as a win and move on. Not five minutes ago, Carter called a truce.

I need to let this go. For my own sanity.

But I can’t.

I want an explanation. As much as I hate to admit it, his behavior has always bothered me. It’s like a painful sliver I’ve never been able to dislodge from beneath my skin. One that’s been festering there for years.

How can I possibly ignore it?

I drag in a breath and attempt to settle all the rioting emotion inside me. “It’s always been like that and you know it.”

He mutters something unintelligible under his breath.

I lean toward him so that we’re closer. All I want is for him to look me in the eye and tell me the truth. No matter what it is, I can handle it. Only then can we move forward with a clean slate. “I’m sorry, I missed that. What did you say?”

He glances up, his gray gaze skewering mine. My breath catches as emotion flashes in his eyes. It’s so much more than I’m used to seeing from him.

There are times when it feels as if Carter has built a wall around himself. At least where I’m concerned. Although with other people—girls especially—he’s relaxed and even gregarious. For some reason, he’s always treated me differently.

“I never meant to come across that way.” His voice is painfully uncertain. “Can we just forget about it and move on?”

Even though I want to push for answers, it’s doubtful he’ll be honest with me. Maybe I just need to let it go and bury the hatchet. “Yeah, I guess we can do that.”

He nods, relief transforms his expression. “Good.”

His lips lift. My gaze drops unconsciously to the full sexiness of his mouth. An unwelcome rush of desire floods through my body before pooling at my core.

What am I doing?

It takes effort to shake myself out of the weird mental fog that has fallen over me. I shoot to my feet, needing to put a little distance between us.

At my sudden movement, Carter bolts upward as well. You wouldn’t expect someone so large to move that fluidly, but he does. We’re practically standing toe-to-toe.

There’s a devilish voice inside my head urging me to stroke my palms over the graphic t-shirt clinging to his chest and arms. The material wraps around his thick, sun-kissed biceps.

Is his body this bronzed all over?

My mouth turns cottony at the thought.

I retreat a step in my haste to get away. As I do, my calves hit the back of the lounger and I lose my balance. Carter’s eyes widen as my arms pinwheel. He snaps forward and makes a grab for me, yanking me against his chest.

But it’s too late. I’m falling and now I’m taking him with me. He wraps his arms around me, locking me against his bulk as we crash onto the sunbed. I brace myself for impact. He grunts as we land but I feel nothing. Carter’s body absorbs the brunt of our fall. With labored breaths, we lay entwined. My breasts are crushed against his rock-solid chest.

“Are you okay?” A shiver dances down my spine as his warm breath feathers against my ear. That’s all it takes for my nipples to pebble. I send up a silent prayer hoping that he doesn’t feel them poking through the fabric of my shirt.

“Yeah.” I make a concerted effort to clear the huskiness from my throat. “Sorry about that.”

I know I’m in trouble when I have to fight the urge to burrow against his strength. Instead of doing just that, I push against his upper body, trying to separate myself from him as quickly as possible. Our limbs are tangled together. Goose bumps rise across my flesh as my calf slides against the crinkly hair of his leg.

“I should get back inside.” The words come out sounding thick and hazy. “My mom…”

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