Page 72 of Debts and Desires
“Carter, you’re amazing.”
“Ain’t nowhere near your talent, Em.” I rolled my eyes.
“Hush,” I said. And then in a last minute thought I asked, “Singwithme?”
“You sure?”
“Absolutely. Please, Carter.”
“Fine,” he said with a sigh. He must’ve known that I was going to pester him until he agreed.
“Good. Let me go get your guitar. I have a few songs I wanna try.” Before he could answer, I ran upstairs, grabbing his guitar and coming back. He hadn’t moved. He was still blushing, but he looked happier, more relaxed.
I flipped through to the back of my notebook to where my music sheets for covers were. I handed him one with a smile. He took it, looking over it before setting it on the table.
We stayed out on the porch well into the night, harmonizing with both our voices and our hearts.
28. TOTALLY LIKE A DATE
October 7
Day Forty-One
105 Hours to Go
The next few days were back on schedule, though things were different between us. I now openly referring to Mac as my baby dog, not caring what it implied between Carter and me. And he seemed to do the same.
I adored Mac. Whether we sat together on the porch while I strummed my guitar, or lounged in the basement with a show on the TV, Mac was there. Even during Jed’s second visit the day before, Mac didn’t leave my side until I made him.
This time, Jed seemed less intrusive and more embarrassed about missing Carter again, muttering apologies as he shifted nervously on his feet. He was such a strange person, that preacher man, and gave off weird vibes that I couldn’t quite figure out. I convinced myself Jed was harmless because he was a man of God, after all. I still hadn’t mentioned it to Carter, figuring it wasn’t worth bringing up.
That evening, Carter and I found ourselves at Pete’s again. The bar had become a second home for me in no time, a placewhere I felt accepted. We ordered drinks and ate, chatting amicably with Tyler and a few of the other patrons.
“You want another?” I asked, noticing Carter’s empty bottle.
“Absolutely.”
Before Carter could, I tilted my chin up to Ty, receiving a nod in return. I watched Tyler in his element, a smile playing on my lips as he interacted with a customer before coming over to us.
“Can we get two more beers?” I asked when he approached.
“‘Course,” Ty answered. I moved quickly, grabbing my new wallet that Carter had gotten me just as Carter moved for his.
“I can pay for this round,” I offered, feeling a desire to contribute.
“Not a chance,” Carter said with a grin, pushing my hands down and handing Ty his card. “Open a tab and do not let Miss Thing here pay for any of it.”
I don’t know why, but I couldn’t stop my mouth from asking, “Is this like a date, then? Since you’re paying for everything. Again.” I was teasing him.
“No, this isn’t like a date,” Carter huffed.
“Totally like a date,” Tyler chimed in with a mischievous grin. Carter rolled his eyes at his friend.
“Don’t you have somethin’ to do?” he asked, trying to hide his own smile.
“Yeah. Annoyin’ you. And I’m doin’ it,” Tyler responded with a laugh as he moved away to assist another patron.
Carter turned back to me, and I knew that look in his eyes. It was a hungry look, one that made my stomach flutter in anticipation. But he never acted on it.
