Page 19 of Fall to Me
Steam billows around me as I swipe a hand across the mirror and stare back at the woman in the reflection. Jesus Christ . . . not only do I have racoon eyes, but my hair looks like I just stepped out of a 1980s MTV music video. I let out a sigh and instantly regret it.
I spot an unopened, wrapped toothbrush on the counter. How many times did he call me his future wife? Well, he wanted a wife. Now he’s got one . . . and all the things that come with it; stolen toothbrush included. He can call downstairs and ask for a new one.
After unwrapping the package, I work the bad taste out of my mouth, then stride over to the steaming shower—stripping out of my clothes along the way—and step inside. With my hands braced against the shower wall, I stand under the scalding water,wishing it would wash away this nightmare. How am I supposed to live with him? Dread coils in my stomach. I don’t think I can do that. The thought alone makes it hard to breathe.
Water pours over my head as I try to piece together everything that happened last night. As I lather up my hair, things start to come to me in flashes and bits and pieces begin clicking together like a puzzle, but I can’t remember the part where we got married.
The last thing I really remember was doing a shot on the bar where . . . oh, God. I kissed him. Holy shit! We dry humped on the bar. Wait! One thrust isn’t really considered dry humping, right? I close my eyes as the night slams into me.
Holy shit.
Iproposed tohim. I speed through rinsing my hair and washing my body so I can talk to him. I don’t want him to feel guilty when this was technically my fault. While drying off, I feel a sting as the towel grazes my ass.
Squinting, I twist around awkwardly.
I inch closer to the steamed-up mirror, then take the corner of my towel and wipe the fog away.
What. The. Actual. Fuck?
My eyes widen in horror. “CARTER!”
A few seconds later, the door burst open—nearly flying off its hinges—and bangs against the wall as Carter barges into the bathroom, looking concerned.
Startled, I clutch the towel to my chest. “What the fuck, Carter?”
He’s quick to avert his eyes, then throws a hand over them. “I swear I won’t peek. Are you okay? What happened?”
“Do you make a habit of barging in on people?” I ask, securing the towel tight around me.
“Do you make a habit of leaving your bathroom door unlocked? Because if so, we need to have a talk.”
“What? No. Of course not. You can uncover your eyes now.”
Carter’s hand falls, and I turn to the side, lifting the side of the towel just high enough to flash him a clear view of my inked ass cheek. His gaze drops and he silently stares at my tattoo, then his eyes flick back up to mine.
Letting the side of the towel drop back in place, I throw one hand out and say, “I mean, this entire fiasco is the kind of shit Aiden would pull . . . not us! We don’t do dumb shit like this, Carter!”
We stare at each other for a few seconds before laughter explodes between us. He leans against the doorframe clutching his side while I double over.
“I really shouldn’t be laughing.” I wipe a tear from the corner of my eye. “This is a disaster. I have your name tattooed on my ass, Carter!”
“Well, wifey, on the plus side, my name has never looked so good.” He winks, shoving his hands into his pockets.
The movement causes his jeans to rest low on his hips and my attention shifts to the sexy vee disappearing into the waistband. As my eyes trail up his torso, his pecs flex, and the laughter dies on my lips.
He raises a brow. “Too soon?”
“Too soon. Way too soon,” I choke out, though it’s not in response to anything he said.
He chuckles and turns to leave. “Alright. Well, I’ll leave you to it. I’ll bring you one of my clean shirts to wear.”
The door clicks behind him, and I stand there, wondering how the fuck I’m going to survive the next twelve months. Especially with a body like that.
Eight
Carter
River shifts toward me in the backseat, biting down on her bottom lip. Her hair is still damp from the shower, and she has no makeup on at all, yet she’s never looked more gorgeous. She sets her purse in her lap, then plucks out her phone.
