Page 69 of Further To Fall

Carter glared daggers at me, but I didn’t give in. “Oh, all right,” she said after a lengthy stare down.

Gripping the back of her neck, I brought her lips to mine. “See, compromise?”

“More like coercion.”

I grinned. “Whatever works.”

“You can clean up your own poop shoes,” she said with a huff, pushing off my chest and turning to leave.

After a hurried breakfast and a quick call to my head of security, John, we were on our way to Carter’s school. I wasn’t happy about it, but I knew John would be at the top of his game. Brushing my thumb across Carter’s knuckles, I asked, “Are you sure about this?”

Carter had been quiet since we’d gotten into the car, and I was wondering if she was having second thoughts. “I can’t let this person control my life. That would be letting him win.”

“You’re brave, you know that?” She sent me a small grin. “Just don’t be too brave, okay? If anything feels the slightest bit off, you get John and call me.”

She squeezed my hand. “I promise.”

John met us in the parking lot, and after brief introductions, we headed inside. Carter kept a firm hold on my hand as we walked down the familiar hallway. “I need to get John a visitor’s pass and explain why he’ll be lurking in the hallway for the time being.”

“Lead the way, Firecracker.” After a few minutes explaining the circumstances to the principal, he reluctantly agreed to let John stay. It might have been my death glare that convinced him.

As we filed out of the office, I spotted that douchebag, Kyle. Carter stiffened at my side when she saw him headed our way. Slinging an arm over her shoulders, I pulled her flush against my side. She melted into me. “Good morning, Kyle,” Carter said, the picture of polite professionalism.

“Carter,” Kyle greeted stiffly. “What’s with the entourage?” he asked without glancing at John or me. What a piece of work.

Carter fidgeted next me, so I spoke up. “Carter’s having a little trouble with a creep who can’t seem to get the message, so John here is her new security detail.”

Kyle’s eyes darted from Carter to me and back again. “You can’t be serious?” he spluttered. “If you’re having trouble, it’s probably one of the riff-raffheassociates with regularly. That’s what happens when you surround yourself with the bottom of the barrel of society, Carter. You need to get away from him. Surely, you can see that.”

I was going to pound this prick into the pavement. John must have sensed my aim because he grabbed hold of my arm, growling low into my ear, “That’s exactly what he wants.” He was right, of course. This guy was probably hoping I’d take a swing at him and get banned from campus.

There was something about Kyle that had never sat right with me, something slimy about his good-guy persona. I always thought it was just that he wanted in Carter’s pants, but maybe her stalker was standing right in front of us. I didn’t know much about his and Carter’s relationship, but Liam had assured me it was never serious. Maybe them never being serious stuck in Kyle’s craw, or maybe he had deluded himself into believing their relationship was. I definitely needed to get Massey to look into this guy.

Carter stepped in between the two of us. “Kyle, enough! Don’t talk about Austin like that. If you don’t stop with these ridiculous insults, I’ll file a report with Principal Hughes.”

Kyle’s face was getting redder by the second. He looked moments away from stroking out. “Lie down with dogs, and you’ll wake up with fleas. I’ll see you around, Carter.” He stepped around Carter and stomped down the hall.

Carter’s shoulders slumped. I reached out to bring her to me, but when she felt my hand, she spun around, her eyes blazing. “You baited him! You basically accused him of being my stalker!”

I purposely kept my voice low. “He could be your stalker. That guy is a total creep.”

“My stalker could be anyone. Literally,anyone. You making things more awkward and uncomfortable with someone I work with and have to see almost every day is not helping anything.”

I deflated a little at that. “I’m sorry, baby. You’re right. I’ve just never liked that guy.”

She let out a long breath. “I know. I don’t like him much anymore either. He certainly showed his true colors. I can’t believe I dated him.”

“You dated that tool?” John piped in.

“What can I say, your boss broke my heart. I was willing to try anything to get over him.” She said it with a small smile on her lips.

I grabbed her around the waist. “Such a smartass,” I said, kissing her hard on the mouth.

36

Carter

Iwalked into the living room, Blue trotting behind me, and found Austin sitting on the couch, knees spread wide in that quintessentialguystance, scrolling through something on his phone. The fading late-afternoon light hit his face just right, warming the apples of his cheeks and highlighting his cut jaw. He was beautiful. I knew a guy would never want to be calledbeautiful,but that’s what he was. My heart clenched. God, I loved him.

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