Page 152 of Debts and Desires
“I love it here,” I admitted, smiling around the rim of my glass as I watched the crowd. “I love this bar, this town, these people.” My eyes shot to Carter’s. “And I love you.” Carter gave me a lopsided grin.
“I love you, too, Buttercup.”
59. THE OTHER SHOE
December 19
Day One-Hundred-and-Fourteen
The first of the applications had rolled in—quite a few, actually—and Carter had me print and read them off to him while he worked. There were a few names he immediately said no to and a few that went into the “if I don’t hire anyone better first” pile. We only had a handful more to go through.
“How many do you want to hire?”
“Two, ideally, but I have room for three if need be,” he answered. My eyes widened a little. I knew Carter did a lot, but I didn’t think he didthatmuch. He gave a frustrated grunt, muttering to whatever he was working on, “Damn it, just fuckin’ loosen up, you slutty bitch!” It was hard not to laugh every time he said something like that. He glanced at me. “What’re you smirkin’ about?”
“Nothing,” I said innocently. I returned my attention to the papers, searching for someone who might fit well with him.
As the day progressed, the piles were sorted. I made a few calls for Carter, setting up some interviews for after the new year.
We had sat in silence for a little, me reading over the songwhile he worked under Mr. Smith’s old Buick. There was a faint rustling, as if he were picking through his tools. He let out a long sigh.
“Damn it,” he muttered.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, looking up from my writing.
“I don’t have the right size for this fuckin’ bolt. And I really don’t want to move.”
“Can I help?”
“Yeah, actually. Can you get the thirteen millimeter off the rig?” he asked. I gave a nod, closing my notebook and hopping down off the tires.
“Yup. Where’s it at?”
“Passenger side, the two doors. It’s in the one on the left. Can’t miss it.”
“Okay.” I walked outside through the open bay door, heading for the passenger side of Carter’s tow truck.
When I got there, I opened the right door first, then the drawer. Then remembered he had said it was on theleft.I went to close the door when something caught my eye. It was a balled up jumpsuit of his. I shook my head, smiling as I reached for it, knowing he probably forgot about it. I was going to bring it in to wash it for him. When I picked it up, something fell out and into the drawer.
Something familiar…
“What…” I whispered, my eyes blurring immediately. My throat constricted as I blinked away the tears as best as I could. I heard Carter cuss from inside the bay and I quickly jumped back. When I realized he wasn’t paying attention to me, I took a deep breath and moved back to the open section of the rig.
I picked up my purse.
My brain tried to rationalize it, tried to come up with any excuse as to why he had it that wasn’t malicious. But I had nothing. There was no reason for him to have had it. None. At the thought of confrontation, my breath quickened, and my heart pounded in my chest like a drumroll of dread.
Move!I told myself, but my body refused to obey. More tearswelled up in my eyes, and I bit my lip to stifle a sob. The trauma of that day had me in its grip once again. Worsened by the new information that it was Carter.
It wasCarter.
Carter who had protected me, who stood up for me, who had fought for me.
Carter, who I had hopelessly fallen in love with, who I saw a future with.
A future that now crumbled.
Carter who robbed me, who lied, who broke my heart.
