Page 30 of Fate

Carson sits on the bed, grabs his socks, and holds the phone to his ear with his shoulder. Not easy to do with an iPhone. He could just put it on speaker. I secretly wish he would. Then the fear and anxiety pumping off him and coating me would be relieved.

“Yes, thirty minutes. Where am I? That’s none of your concern.” He peeks at me from the corner of his eyes before rubbing at his face. “I said I’ll be there, and Iwill.”

Without even a goodbye, he hangs up on whomever he was talkingto.

Moving slowly, I crawl over to his side of the bed and lay a hand on his shoulder.

His entire body jerks and then settles when he realizes it’sme.

“What’s the matter?”

Carson licks his lips and glances away, his head falling down to view his shoes. “Uh, nothing. I gottago.”

He finishes tying his shoes and then stands.

“Who was that on the phone?” My voice rises along with the dread filling my heart.

“No one,” he deadpans.

I tilt my head and cross my arms. “Didn’t sound like no one. Carson…” I’m about to tell him what we had last night can’t go forward if he can’t be honest with me. Instead, I follow my heart. “Talk to me,” Iurge.

He swallows and his chest rises and falls. “I can’t. Not yet. I…I have some things I need to figure out,” he says cryptically.

I crawl across the bed and stand in front of him. I lift my hand to his cheek, and he leans into it briefly before closing hiseyes.

“What things? Let me help you. I can see that you’re angry or confused. Just talk tome.”

He cups my wrist and brings my palm to his lips, where he lays a warm kiss. “Kat, last night was everything. More than I could have ever hoped for, but I gotta go. Can we please talk later?” Something in his eyes reveals his genuine need. He’s struggling with whatever it is he’s not saying.

“Later?” I swallow down the instant emotion bubbling up my throat.

“Yeah, uh, maybe tonight or tomorrow?” I hear equal parts hope and distraction.

Without waiting for a reply, he moves out of my hold and locates his wallet and keys. He shoves his wallet into his back pocket and frowns. His hand shifts behind his back and then he brings it around with lace dangling from his fingertips.

The frown marring his beautiful face dissipates, and he lights up with a giant smile, clears his throat, and coughs. “Yeah, I’m so keeping these.” He waggles his brows and it almost dissolves the icepick digging into my heart.

I try to grab for the undies, but he jumps back just in time. “Give them to me. They’re ruined!”

“Don’t care. Still want them. They’ll be my good-luck charm for the day,” he declares while backing up through my hallway and toward my frontdoor.

I giggle and follow him. “Um, last night…” I try, but he cuts me off with a hand to my neck and a quick, hard press of hislips.

“I already told you. Last night was everything. I just have a situation I have to deal with. Can you understand?”

“Why won’t you tell me what it is? I’m sure I can help. I want to help you with anything.” My voice is laced with worry and regret. Too much time has already passed between us, and now he’s running off to handle something that has obviously made him very agitated, and he’s pushing meaway.

“This is not something you can help with. I’m sorry. I really have to go. A, uh, friend”—he settles on the word “friend” as if it’s foreign and sticky on his lips before continuing—“of mine needsme.”

The fumble with the word friend sends a fire alarm clanging in myhead.

“You know, we never did talk about whether you were seeing anyone before we hit the…you know.” I gesture to the bedroom.

“She. Is. Not. My. Girlfriend.” His response is instant and adamant.

“Okay, but you are going to help a woman. Someone who asked where you were. That sounds more than casual.”

He closes his eyes and his nostrils flare. He doesn’t move for a few heartbeats. “I can’t talk about this right now, Kathleen. I just can’t. I have to go. I’ll callyou.”

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