Page 23 of Shy Girls write it Better
Carter just couldn’t wrap his mind around the concept.All he knew was that he was in over his head.Wayover his head.
“Carter, did you fall asleep?”
“No.I’m just observing a minute of silence to mourn for your poor neglected pussy.”
Her laugh made him smile, but he was still half in shock.He didn’t think he’d ever gone even a month without sex since his teenage years.
The next words coming out of his mouth did so without an ounce of volition in his part.
“Cassie?”
“Yes?”
“I don’t think I’ve ever wanted anything as much as I want your pussy right now.”
Her reply was a sharp intake of breath.
“But if you haven’t had sex yet, it’s because you want it to matter.You want to be special for someone.Hell, you deserve it.I can’t give you that.”
Carter
The response was immediate.
“Why?”Right away, she added hurriedly, as though she instantly regretted the word.“I’m not begging you to reconsider, believe me.I’m just… curious, I guess.I mean…”
“You’re rambling again,” he said, amused.
“Never mind me.Let’s change the subject.”
That was probably the safest course of action, but before they did, he had something to say.
“Don’t, for even one second, think that this is about you; I’m the problem here.I don’t have time for a relationship.I tried, and believe me, it never ends well.I’ll be at the office until ridiculous hours around a launch, and I’ll forget to send anniversary cards, and given enough time, you’d hate me.”
He couldn’t believe he’d talked about that, submitting himself to the wave of anger and pain that usually followed.
It had been five years ago; Harris Toys had made him his first billion, he’d been on top of the world, and she had been by his side.Elena.Beautiful, intelligent, perfect.He’d proposed after seven months of bliss.Their wedding had been planned near Christmas, but a few weeks before D-Day, she’d informed him that she was taking off with some actor.She felt unloved, she’d said.Unwanted.He didn’t pay any attention to her.She deserved more.
Those words had haunted him for so long; now more than ever, they ate at his mind, leaving him bruised.
Before Cassie could ask any more intrusive questions, he said, “So, what are you up to this weekend?”
There was a pause before she replied, “I’ll be writing tomorrow, and on Sundays, I usually spend some time with my family.My parents, my sister, and I have brunch.”
“I see my mother for brunch on Saturdays,” he replied, ignoring the voice that wanted to point out that their schedule fit.
That everything about them seemed to fit.
Cassie
On Monday morning, Cassie went to work with her Big Girl Panties on.She’d spent the entire weekend replaying her midnight conversation with Carter, and she’d decided that the responsible, mature, sophisticated thing to do was respect his wishes and keep their friendship as platonic and casual as he wanted it to be.
After all, there was a very good chance that he’d said all those things just to spare her feelings; it sounded better thanI’m not particularly interested in mousy little girls who can’t walk a straight line without falling on their asses.If that was the case, she should be grateful.
The issue was that if itwasn’tthe case, if he’d actually meant what he said… well, that was just stupid.Did he realize how much timeshespent notpaying attention to the people around her?All her friends and family members had threatened to dismember her at one point or another for being late, absent, or otherwise disappointing them; she didn’t mean to do it, but writing professionally on top of a day job took up a lot of her time – and in all honesty, when she was at it, the world around her disappeared.She was the last person in the world who’d ever begrudge anyone their passion for their work.
No matter.She wouldn’t push it.He’d just come up with another excuse, and she’d understand that, actually, the problem was her.As things stood now, she could dream that he was into her.It made her feel more confident than she had ever been.
“You look great today, Cassie.Good weekend?”
