Page 99 of Wants and Needs
I don’t think it does, but I don’t want the same thing to happen again with Carter. Not that I think Carter would betray me, or that he’s using me, but that I might miss signs that something isn’t right.
I go up to my place with a newfound determination to not let that happen again, then I unpack my weekend bag, grab a quick shower, and go say hello to my parents.
My siblings are all in school at the moment, and though Logan’s college schedule is more unpredictable than that of Larson and London’s prep school, I have it memorized and know he does have an early class on Wednesdays.
I spend a few hours with my parents, first only with Mom where she asks a lot of questions about my weekend and the days away with Carter, and when Dad is done recording an episode for his podcast, the interrogation about ESoothe begins.
I leave before lunch so I can talk to Tristan, William, and Parker, and after the depressing news that not much has changed since Friday, we set a meeting time for next Monday sinceTristan will have the proposal we’ll send the streaming services done by then.
I get a text from Carter just after noon.
Carter
Everyone’s in for dinner. Seven at the brownstone. You want me to pick you up?
Liam
It’s not on the way, and I’d like a walk, so don’t worry about me.
I debatewhether to send a kissing emoji or not, and in the end decide I’ve waited too long so I’ll just do it next time, then I get to work on putting my apartment back to its former glory.
I standin front of the brownstone’s front door with my finger ready in front of the doorbell as I stare down at my phone, waiting for it to be seven on the dot.
When it finally shows seven, I press the button once then wait.
On the walk over, it occurred to me that this is the first time I’ll see Carter’s friends now we’re in a relationship, and it didn’t bring any good thoughts.
The nerves ramped up considerably the closer I got to the park, and so now I’m almost sure I’m sweating through my shirt.
It’s a good thing I brought a jacket in case there’s a sudden storm, because I’m going to need to wear it the whole night.
Thank God for air conditioning.
“Good evening, Liam,” Milton opens the door and I’m relieved to see him smiling at me.
“Carter is in his room, but you can go right up or wait here.”
“Oh.” I have no idea what to do here. “What is he doing?” I ask quietly, looking right at his slightly wrinkled forehead.
“I believe he’s taking a shower to—” He raises his hands to make quotation marks. “Get rid of the stench this fresh hell has left on me.”
I can only stare wide-eyed. I have no clue what that means.
“He doesn’t do well with the heat,” Milton explains.
Ah. “I understand.” I nod once then decide. “I’ll go up and see if he’s finished.”And maybe ask if I can borrow a shirt.
“On the second floor to the left,” Milton says. His British accent is slightly different from Carter’s but I have no way to identify which region of the UK it’s from.
“Thank you,” I murmur.
I climb up the stairs slowly, hoping to calm my racing heart, but I don’t know if there’s anything in this world that would stop me from being so nervous about tonight.
As soon as I’m on the second floor I can hear the water running from a shower, so I follow the sound and I’m honestly surprised when I see Carter’s bedroom.
I don’t know what I expected, now that I think about it, but it wasn’t a room with so many paintings and frames on the walls.
His bed frame is made of some kind of honey-colored wood,and his bed is made up with a white comforter and more pillows than I think I’ve ever seen on one bed.
