Page 39 of 40 and (So Over) Fixing It
But JD barged right in. “He and Erin haven’t exactly hit it off this visit.”
“He and Erin?” Linc repeated the words as if they were incomprehensible. “Sweet little Erin?”
“Sweet?” Carter scoffed. Erin was a lot of things—good things—but sweet wasn’t one he’d put at the top of the list. Of course, it appeared that was what he liked about her.
Go figure.
Linc narrowed his eyes on Carter. “Of course Erin is sweet. So what did you do to her?”
A smug smile crept across JD’s face. “How did he guess that, huh?”
“Because I know him well?” Linc offered.
Carter chewed a piece of omelet—which was perfect, damn it—and frowned at them both.
“Okay, okay.” JD held up his hands. “It was just a little misunderstanding.”
Linc grunted against his coffee cup. “If I recall correctly, someone at this table told me in no uncertain terms not to mess with Lily’s friends. Was that you?” he asked JD. “Did you give this guy”—he jerked his head toward Carter—“the same speech you gave me?”
“No, because he hadn’t ruined Erin’s career.”
“That was a long time ago,” Linc mumbled.
“Fory’all’sinformation,” Carter said, forking up another bite, “Erin and I get along just fine now.”
“Yeah. She was even wearing his shirt last night.”
Carter squeezed his eyes shut. JD was supposed to forget that little tidbit. He glared his friend’s way.
“Well, she was,” JD said.
Linc frowned. “Whatever is going on, spill it.”
“It’s nothing.”
“Of course it was nothing,” JD said, though something about his tone now seemed uncertain.
“Not buying it,” Linc added.
From the corner of Carter’s eye, he saw JD lower his cup slowly to the table, his light blue eyes narrowing. When an incredulous look replaced it, Carter knew his time was up.
“Carter? What exactly have you been doing with Erin?” JD asked.
“I’m not doing anything with Erin.” Not anything he wanted to tell these two about.
JD sighed. “You might as well spill, bro. You know we’ll find out eventually.”
On the table, Carter’s cell phone vibrated. A quick glance told him it was a text from Erin. Anticipation sent his belly into a flip.
Erin: I could use a ride. Pick me up at the farm?
Not exactly forthcoming, but she hadn’t said no. Carter pushed back his chair, abandoning his food and coffee. “JD, can you keep an eye out for Thad? I’ll be back soon.”
“Where are you going?”
“Out.”
He snagged his running shoes and keys in the foyer and was through the door before anyone could get out another question.
