Page 50 of A Whole New Play

Carter takes a step toward the bed. My attention snaps back to him. He reaches out a hand as if to touch me. I suck in a breath in anticipation.

His hand falls away, and his throat bobs as he swallows. “How are you feeling?”

“Fine.” Seeing his disbelieving expression, I insist, “I’m fine, Carter. Really. I got lucky. The deer didn’t come through the windshield after he broke it.”

“You shouldn’t have been driving.” He runs his hands through his hair, tugging on the ends.

“Where are the twins?” I change the subject.

“Still sleeping. I called my parents. They’re watching them.”

The question I’d planned to ask fades from my lips. I snap my mouth closed, not sure what else to say.

With another sigh, Carter sits on the edge of the bed. His head hangs in defeat. The urge to console him is strong.

Ever since he first brought up that I should sleep over rather than drive home at a late hour, I suspected Carter was one of those people who felt the need to look out for others—who carried the weight of ensuring everyone else’s wellbeing and happiness. Sometimes, to the detriment of his own welfare.

Now, seeing how much he’s beating himself up over my accident, guilt makes my heart ache.

Or maybe he’s upset about something else…

I chew on the inside of my cheek but quickly stop when it tugs on my stitches.

Does Carter regret what happened in the kitchen? What almost happened in his bedroom?

Is that adding to his miserable demeanor?

I debate not asking. I should keep quiet. But curiosity and a selfish need to know where we stand compels me to speak, “Look, Carter. I promise that I’m okay.” His head lifts at the words. I swallow past the lump in my throat and continue, “And if this is about our kiss, I promise it’s not a big deal.”

Aside from the fact it was the best kiss of my life. The only one that comes close is the first one we shared at the resort.

Carter’s face twists with a mix of frustration and lingering concern. “Forget about the kiss, Val. That doesn’t matter.”

The words stab me in the heart.

I’m sure pain flickers over my face before I can hide the reaction, but Carter doesn’t notice. He’s too busy staring down at his hands, flexing his fingers and curling them into fists.

“I can’t change my work schedule,” he states in a rough voice, “but I can try and see if Mom or Dad can come to relieve you earlier in the evenings so you can make it home before it gets too late.”

I frown. “You know that won’t work. At least, not all the time. Your parents are busy.” I’ve taken the twins around Rose Hill enough to know that Mr. and Mrs. Jones are highly involved members of their small community. Carter’s mom volunteers at the local clinic, nursing home, and library, and Mr. Jones serves as a substitute umpire and referee for the town’s little and youth baseball and football leagues whenever he’s not working.

That’s not to say neither one of them would hesitate to rearrange their schedules to help their son, but it wouldn’t be easy. Which is why I have the work schedule I have in the first place.

Carter knows I’m right, but he shakes his head in refusal. “We’ll figure it out. I won’t let what happened tonight happen again.”

I shove down the tender feelings trying to take root in my chest. Gently, I say, “What happened tonight was an accident. There’s no point in getting worked up over it.”

His head snaps up, and I rear back in surprise when I see the anger blazing in his eyes. “No point in getting worked up?” He hisses. “Valerie… you could have died.”

My pulse spikes. “Don’t be dramatic, Carter. I’m fine.”

His gaze narrows. “That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take measures to make sure this sort of thing doesn’t happen again.”

“Again,” I try to sound calm, but his reaction is testing my patience. “It was an accident.”

He scoffs and shakes his head. “I can’t believe you are acting so indifferent.”

“I’m not indifferent. I just don’t see the point in worrying about something I have no control over.” People get in accidents, but I shouldn’t live the rest of my life afraid it will happen again. That wouldn’t be healthy. Normally, I’m sure Carter would agree. But for some reason, he’s unable to think logically in this situation. His emotions are dictating his thoughts and actions, and it’s starting to bother me.

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