Page 153 of Hidden Echoes

"I never should’ve said those things to you," Carter admits, and for once, I believe him. "I just wanted you to hurt the way I was hurting."

I exhale, my shoulders relaxing slightly. "And it did."

He shrinks back a little, guilt flickering across his face.

But then I add, "But Zane fought back. And in the end, it was the first time I truly saw how much he cared about me. So… thanks for that, I guess?" I smile, just enough to lighten the weight of the past.

Carter lets out a dry laugh, shaking his head. "You're insufferable."

"I know."

Silence settles between us, but it's different now.

I realize that Carter was never really my enemy. He was just a boy in love, a boy who had his heart broken.

And maybe, finally, we can leave it at that.

I study him for a moment, noticing how tired he looks—not just from this conversation, but in a deeper way, like someone who's carrying more than they can handle.

I frown. "Why are you telling me all this now?"

Carter sighs, rubbing a hand over his face before looking at me again. "Because things are bad, Mia."

A chill runs down my spine. "What do you mean?"

He hesitates, like he's searching for the right words. "I got involved with the wrong people. I made choices that… I don’t know how to fix." His eyes meet mine, and there's something there that unsettles me—fear. Not the kind of fear I’m used to seeing in Carter. Something deeper. "And I didn’t want to just disappear before I could tell you that I regret it. For everything I did to you. For everything I said."

I stay quiet for a moment, letting his words sink in. A part of me wants to press him, to demand the truth, but another part understands—this isn’t why he came. He came to say what needed to be said.

"I don’t hold grudges, Carter." My voice is softer than I expected, free of anger or resentment. "And if you really want to get out of this, I hope you can."

He gives a small smile—not happy, just relieved.

"I’m glad you and Lara are friends," he says after a beat. "She’s always been kind of lonely since our parents died. She tries to hide it, but… she needed someone like you."

I smile. "I like her. I really do."

"I know." He looks at me with something I can't quite name.

For a moment, we just look at each other.

Then, as if he knows he's said all he needed to say, Carter stands. I don't stop him.

"Take care, Mia."

I nod. "You too."

I stand there for a few seconds after he leaves, something inside me stirring in a strange, uncomfortable way. A bad feeling settles in my chest, thick and lingering, like a premonition I can't shake.

It’s not your problem, Mia.

I close my eyes, take a deep breath. He made his choices. He didn’t even want to tell me exactly what was going on—he just showed up to apologize and move on.

So why can’t I let this go?

Maybe because, despite everything, I never wanted things between us to end this way. Or maybe because something in his eyes unsettled me—something hollow. Something final.

I cross my arms, irritated with myself. I could just sit back down, pretend this never happened. I could text Lara and tell her Carter stopped by—she’d know how to handle this better than I could.

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