Page 88 of Obligation
“Doesn’t matter if it is or isn’t.” Cory shrugged. “I already warned her if she goes, I’m telling Dad, and that isn’t going to work out well for her or Danny.”
Carissa rolled her eyes.
“Is that true?” Bradley asked, his attention still on her.
Shrugging, she averted her eyes to the floor. “I haven’t made up my mind yet,” she mumbled.
“Oh, for Christ’s sake!” Tiffany threw her hands in the air in frustration. “Then why the hell did you bother to call us here, Carissa? If you weren’t planning to take our advice, why ask for it?” Anger dripped from Tiffany’s words.
If Carissa didn’t act soon, she worried Tiffany would end up saying too much about things Carissa didn’t want Bradley to know about.
“Look, I’ve listened to what you all had to say, and I promise to consider it, but can you please give me and Bradley a few minutes alone?” She struggled to keep her tone even and not lose her temper when her friends were only trying to help.
“We’ll be in the lounge at the end of the hall.” Tiffany yanked open the door, and Bradley jumped out of the way so she wouldn’t hit him with how hard she yanked on the door handle.
Garrett gave her a sad smile, then followed Tiffany out of the room without a word.
Cory rested his hand on Carissa’s shoulder. “Don’t be stupid.” Then he walked out of the room, too.
Carissa was now alone with Bradley, exactly as she’d requested. Only, she had no idea what to say to him.
“I just need to know if Danny’s telling the truth,” Bradley said after several tense moments of silence. “Are you going home with him this weekend?”
“I don’t know,” she admitted, thankful her friends weren’t around to hear her say that. “Danny’s very close to his father, and I’m really worried how he’s going to handle it if his dad doesn’t make it.”
Bradley nodded as she spoke, his expression morphing from neutral to disappointed to upset. “Then I guess I’ll see you when we both get back.” He turned and reached for the doorknob.
Carissa blinked with confusion. That was it? He was just going to leave? She shook her head to clear her thoughts. “Is that why you came here? To ask about Danny?”
His back to her, Bradley hesitated in the doorway. “Yes,” he said without turning around. “I said something to Danny about how he treats you. He accused me of wanting you, told me I was jealous, then said you were still his and you were going home with him this weekend.”
She swallowed the lump in her throat, but bile rose up, and she forced in a deep breath. She’d never given Danny a definite answer, but she should’ve known he would assume she’d say yes.
“I’m not his,” she said to Bradley’s back.
“Yeah, well, I don’t think Danny got the memo.” Bradley glanced over his shoulder at her, and his eyes were full of pain and longing. “Look, Carissa.” He finally turned to face her, though he kept his grip on the door. “I thought I could do this, but I can’t.” He shook his head. “I want you, but I need to know you want me, too. I won’t keep coming in second to a guy like Danny.”
She nodded, mostly so she could get her tear ducts under control. Her throat was dry, and she licked her lips. “I do want you, Bradley.”
He raised a brow. “But?”
“But…” She sighed. “I don’t know,” she admitted with a half-sob, half-laugh. “I want to be the kind of person who will be there for a friend in need, and right now, Danny is facing the possible death of his father. He needs someone to be there for him.”
“That person doesn’t have to be you, Carissa.”
“I know.”
Her thoughts flashed back to Garrett’s offer to go with Danny. She still couldn’t wrap her mind around Garrett doing that, though, especially without Danny knowing. Then again, Garrett was an adult. He could do as he pleased.
“Well, my invitation stands,” Bradley said. “I told you that you always have a choice, and I meant it. So, if you don’t show up, then I’ll take that to mean you chose Danny over me.”
Bradley spun on his heel and strode out of the room before she could utter another word. An involuntary gasp escaped, and she cupped her hand over her mouth. Deciding who she would go with was about a lot more than just a weekend getaway—she was choosing which guy she wanted to be with.
If Danny got his shit together and changed—really changed—then she could see things working out between them. But if he didn’t… She shivered and hugged herself, unable to consider what might happen if his temper went unchecked.
But if she just went to Texas with Bradley, they could spend some real time together, get to know each other better. The potential for a long and mutually respectful relationship was right there waiting for her. Bradley was the whole package—smart, sexy, funny, considerate, polite, rich, and her parents already approved of him.
Bradley was hands down the best choice, but Danny still held a large piece of her heart, and right now, he needed her a lot more than Bradley did.
