Page 49 of Debts and Desires
I stared at the ceiling, so lost in the moment that I didn’t notice Carter until he was standing over me. He looked down at me, a brow raised. I felt his boot between my thighs, rocking me back and forth a few centimeters. Then, ever so slowly, a devious grin spread across his face.
“Carter, don’t,” I giggled, but it didn’t stop him. I was sailing across the shop, laughing like a maniac. When I came to a stop, he was over me again. “I don’t know how you get any work done,” I commented. “I’d be doing this all day.” I scooted a few times, making him shake his head and laugh. He looked at me for a moment before offering his hand to help me up.
“C’mon,” he said. I shook my head.
“One more time?” I asked.
“Really, Emmy? How old are you?”
“Old enough to still have fun, fun sucker.” I paused, pouting as best as I could. “Please?”
“Fine.” He rolled his eyes and got behind me, moving the creeper so that my head was opposite of where it was. Before I could say anything, I was whipping backward again. We were both laughing when I barely stopped myself from running into the stack of tires. He stood over me again. “You’re a wild little thing, you know that?” I beamed up at him.
“You like it,” I teased.
“I like everythin’ about you, Em.” I wasn’t expecting him to say that. I wasn’t expecting him to answer at all. Hell, judging byhow his face looked, I don’t think he was expecting it either. I was stunned. Carterlikedme? My face was red, my heart was pounding.
Stop. It’s only been a few weeks.
He cleared his throat.
“C’mon,” he repeated, holding out his hand. “If we don’t get home soon, Mac’ll eat a pillow.”
“He wouldn’t.”
“He would. And has.” This time, he paused. “You don’t wanna knowwhathe does to the pillow first.”
“NotmyMac!”
“Yes,yourMac. Now c’mon,” he chuckled, moving his hand once for emphasis. I don’t know what it was, but I felt the shift as I reached up and grabbed his hand. He helped me to my feet, pulling me close to him. My hands landed on his chest. I don’t know if it was intentional or not, but it felt intimate. I looked up at his rugged face, wanting suddenly to kiss him. The thought had me spiraling, forcing me to step back. His jaw clenched then he swallowed before also stepping back. Without a word, I grabbed my things.
We headed home. This ride was as silent as the others, but there was a tension. It wasn’t necessarily good or bad, but it was there.
“You still taking the weekend off?” I asked.
“You want me to?” A small silence passed. “Look, I knowwhyI was taking it off, but we don’t have to do that, Buttercup. Not since we did it a little while ago. I mean, I liked it… a whole fuckin’ lot. But, I mean…” Was Carter flustered? I looked at him. His cheeks were red, and he was white-knuckling the steering wheel. It was strange seeing him talk so much or be so expressive.
“Truthfully, I ain’t had a whole weekend off in so long. I have no idea what to do.” He swallowed. “We could relax or somethin’,” he said, looking at me for a moment before turning back to the road. “I guess what I’m tryin’ and failin’ to say is we cando whatever you want. You’ll still get some hours off, though.Some.” I let out a laugh.
“I’m fine with anything, Carter,” I said with a smile.
“How ‘bout a movie tonight?”
“I’d like that.”
“Cool.” He smirked. The rest of the ride was silent.
When we got home, I washed up and started on dinner while Carter showered. He came down not long after and insisted on helping me. We did a lot in silence still, but eventually he caved and asked how I liked work. I told him I enjoyed it, even though it was daunting. He asked if I’d be okay going in only a few times a week.
“And ‘fore you get upset with me, I’m thinkin’ ‘bout it for Mac.”
“I’d be okay with that,” I said.
While I was waiting for the chicken to bake, I put my five tallies on the subtract section of the day on the chart.
“Add an hour for callin’ me a creeper,” Carter said, leaning back on the counter, his arms outstretched on either side of him. I knew he wasn’t serious from the look on his face, but since he wanted to play, I’d play.
“I will. But that means I get to take a bunch away since you didn’t make me come that last time.” He lifted a brow.
