Page 44 of Pulled Away

“What are you doing here?”

“Taking you to breakfast,” Carter says, brushing past me and walking into the room. I gape at him as he pauses, taking in the room with a slight frown. “Not very cheery, is it?”

“How did you know I was here?”

“No wonder they’re struggling,” he mutters as he tips his head back, taking in the stained ceiling. “A few upgrades and this place will be as good as new.”

“Carter,” I say louder, snapping my fingers to get his attention. “How did you know I was here? Did Piper tell you?”

“Piper? No. I haven’t talked to Piper.”

“Then how did you know I was here?”

“I was driving by. Saw your car in the lot and decided I’d rather not eat breakfast alone.” He shrugs, throwing another look around the room before striding back to the door and holding it open. “And I was curious about what this place looks like inside. I’ve never been here, not even on prom night,” he muses, shaking his head. “Are you ready to go? You look ready to go.”

“That’s nice of you, but I’m not hungry.” Or in the mood for conversation, I silently add.

“Come on, breakfast is the meal of champions.”

“If I eat anything now, the only medal I’ll be getting is for barfing,” I mutter, my stomach feeling queasy at the thought. “And it will be a gold one. You willing to hold back my hair for me?” I ask, batting my mascara-coated eyelashes at him.

He grimaces. “Fine. You can watch me eat.”

“Carter, I appreciate the thought. Truly. But I’m not the best company right now.”

“I know,” he says, and I feel my cheeks heat. I haven’t been able to think past my pain, but I guess all our friends know and the last thing I want or need is glances filled with pity being thrown my way. “But you need a friend right now.”

I hate pity, so my voice is more snappish than what is called for when I say, “I have friends.”

“But are any of them as good-looking as me?” he says with a grin, completely ignoring my outburst.

My shoulders deflate. This is not me. I’m not usually bitchy, especially if it’s uncalled for. Giving up the fight, I grab my bag and the keys I threw on the sad-looking nightstand with spindly legs.

“I’m heading over to Piper’s later, so we can’t be too long,” I mutter, my elbow “accidentally” jabbing him in the stomach as I brush past him out the door.

“Have you seen me eat?” he asks, closing the door, hooking his arm around my shoulders, and steering me towards his car.

Twenty minutes later, I’m watching in fascination as he’s shoveling food into his mouth.

“Where do you put all that food?” I ask while nibbling on a piece of toast.

“Here, try some,” he mumbles around a mouthful, holding out his fork that’s piled with runny egg, hash-brown, and bacon.

“I can’t even tempt you a little bit?” he asks, waving his fork around.

Leaning back in the booth, I shake my head.

“Suit yourself.”

In no time, he’s cleared his plate and slumps back with a satisfied sigh. Scrunching up his napkin, he throws it on his plate and stares at me for a beat. “He’s being a dick.”

I don’t need to ask who he’s talking about. I shrug, because what can I say? He is being a dick, but Carter and Ryan have been friends since school and I’m not comfortable talking about it with him. I’m not comfortable talking about it, period.

“I told him what he’s doing is not cool.” He takes a sip of his coffee, his eyes not leaving me. I look away from him and stare out the window our booth is against. It’s turning out to be the perfect day for hiking. Not too hot, with a slight breeze blowing. Even the thought of hiking creates a dull ache in my chest. There’s not a trail here that we haven’t hiked.

“If it helps any, he’s not in love with Hadley.”

“It doesn’t,” I say, looking back at him, not fully believing him. One does not implode a relationship if you didn’t feel something for the other person.

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