Page 20 of Castle's Cards

“Condoms aren’t one hundred percent effective! You’re not stupid so I don’t know why you’re doing this!”

Izzy stands up and stomps over to the door.

“I don’t see why it matters! It’s my life. I can do what I want!”

“You’re seventeen, Izzy. You can’t do what you want! What if you get pregnant? How are we going to support a baby? I can barely take care of us!”

Izzy lets out a huffy breath in exasperation.

“Carter will take care of us!”

I scoff and fold my arms over each other.

“That’s your solution? Carter will take care of everything so it doesn’t matter if you get pregnant? Carter isn’t the bank, you can’t expect him to bankroll your bad life choices. You shouldn’t be having sex at all!”

“You’re having sex! So why can’t I?”

“I’m an adult, Izzy!’

“But you can still get pregnant.”

“I’m on birth control.”

“So put me on birth control!” she shouts, a frown spreading across her face. I look away, willing myself not to strangle her.

“Just… go to bed. We’re going to talk about this some more in the morning.”

“Whatever.”

Izzy slams the door. I walk numbly to my room. This is the first time that Izzy and I have had a fight in a long time.

It’s bad that she thinks Carter will swoop in and save us from everything. Maybe I shouldn’t be letting him help us out so much. It’s clearly giving her unrealistic expectations.

Chapter Seven

Carter

Istrideintotherestaurant, my hands jammed in my pockets. The host nods at me and smiles.

“Mr. Castle. Your brother is waiting for you. This way.” The host leads the way to the corner booth that my brothers and I share each time we come here.

“Carter.” Court gestures for me to sit.

“Cade not coming?” I ask as I slide into the booth across from him. He shakes his head.

“No, something came up. Just you and me tonight. Unfortunately.” Court grins at his bad joke and I can’t help but let out a small laugh. “So how are things going with Addy? Thanks for keeping things on the down low around the club, by the way. I can imagine that it’s difficult, but…”

“I know, I know. It’s better for the club. Trust me, I don’t want any of the other guys thinking that I’m cheating, either. And I’m not.” I throw a glance Court’s way.

“Of course you aren’t.”

We sit quietly. I pretend to study the menu to fill the awkwardness.

“Are you going to answer my question?” Court asks.

“What question?” I look up. Our eyes meet and he raises a brow quizzically.

“How are things with Addy?”

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