Page 69 of Between Now and Always

“I can’t leave the kitchen, we’ll be down a cook as it is, can you take her back to the office?” Gia speaks over my head like I’m not there.

“Of course. I’ll take her.” His response is quick, also over my head and if I hadn’t accidentally burned my hand, I would think they conspired together to make this happen.

They both sound nearly … cheerful.

I shake my head and try to step out of his hold. When he doesn’t let go, I look up at him, my vision clouded by pain, but determined not to set myself on a path that can only end badly for me. “Didn’t you come here to eat? You’re with your band, right?”

I’m breathless and my voice is tight with pain. I close my eyes against a wave of pain that starts to move up my arm.

Carter’s wraps an arm around my shoulder and turns me so I can’t avoid his eyes any longer. They pin me in place and he lowers his head and his breath is warm and sweet against my neck. “I did come in with my band.Theycame to eat.Icame for you.”

I don’t know if it’s relief, pain, surprise, or exhaustion that makes my head swim. When I try to answer him, the words feel so far away. Then, everything goes dark.

What Are You Waiting For?

CARTER

I manage to catch her before she crumples to the ground. I scoop her up into my arms. She moans and I look down at her heart-shaped face to see that her thick feathery lashes are fluttering.

It’s hard to make myself look away from her when I’ve deprived myself of the pleasure for so long. I went to the catering company’s office only to be told they were working this event in Brooklyn. Our show is at the Barclay Center and we’ve been there every day this week for rehearsal. The guys came with me when I said I was running out to eat.

I was glad, I needed the moral support.

Beth was so angry with me after our last conversation and I don’t blame her. I was scared and acted like a child who didn’t know the world didn’t revolve around him.

So before I tell her the truth about us, I want to make sure she knows that even if the results hadn’t been clear, I would still want her in my life.

I look over at her friend. Her dark eyes are as wide as saucers and her face is pale.

“Where’s that office you mentioned?” I snap and she jumps like I startled her.

“Oh my God, I’m such an idiot. Of course, this way. There’s a couch and a first aid kit.” She turns and starts toward the back of the kitchen.

“Carter?” Beth calls my name and I look down to find her fully awake, but her eyes are glazed with pain and confusion.

“You’re okay, baby. I know it hurts.”

“It does,” she murmurs and closes her eyes against it.

I follow her friend through the door she’s holding open and into a dingy little office with a couch that looks like it’s been handed down several times.

“You want me to lay her on that?” I eye the stained, threadbare couch disdainfully.

“It’s clean, just old,” she snaps. She lays the first aid kit and bottle of water down and rushes from the room.

Just like that, we’re alone.

Her beautiful face is contorted in pain, her eyes still closed as she cradles her burned hand against her chest.

I know I need to at least get a bandage on her and tear my eyes off her and scan the room for an alternative to the couch.

There isn’t one.

“Can I put you on your feet for just a second?” I whisper.

She nods but doesn’t open her eyes.

“Lean on me, okay?” I wait for her to nod before I lower her to the ground. I wrap one arm around her waist and shrug out of my jacket sleeve, switch arms and take it off altogether. I lay it on the couch, covering the most offensive stains with it before I prop her up on it.

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