Page 69 of The Jackpot Screwer
“Ellie,” Carter ground out. “Hunter let go of you at last.”
Ellie coyly lifted a shoulder and rubbed her cheek against it, a move I’d never seen her do before. It was cute but a little cringey all at the same time.
God, why was I being so hateful?
“Yeah, he’s talking to Jacob Crowne. Hey,” she said moving closer, “did you know Lydia had an affair?”
“No way,” I gasped. “I just thought they’d grown apart.”
Carter got to his feet and placed a hand on my shoulder. “You want me to get you some food or not?”
I huffed out a sigh. “I don’t know Carter, do I?”
“I have no clue, Bronte,” he said, throwing his hands into the air. “Because everything I’ve done tonight, except fuck you into unconsciousness has been wrong. So, you tell me.”
“Carter,” Ellie admonished. “She’s pregnant.”
“You don’t need to tell me, Ellie,” he retorted, putting his hands to his hips. “I’ve been suffering for it all damn evening.”
His words felt like a slap to the face and without warning the tears started to fall. Silently at first, but once I saw Carter close his eyes and pinch the bridge of his nose, the sobbing and donkey noises started.
“It’s not fair,” I brayed. “You have no idea what it’s like. Do you have to carry a beach ball under your clothes every day? No, you don’t. Do you have gas coming out of both ends no matter what you eat? No, you… okay yes you do, but that’s different.” I sniffed loudly and let out a snort. “I can’t even paint my toenails, or drink wine and I’ve eaten so many canned peaches I hate them now and they used to be my favorite.”
“If it helps, I still love your watermelon sugar,” he replied, wiggling his brows. “So, at least one of us getting our portion of daily fruit.”
As I let out another loud wail, Ellie rushed to my side, shoving Carter out of the way.
“Lollipop,” he sighed.
“It’s your fault,” Ellie snapped. “You couldn’t keep that thing of yours to yourself could you. Hey, Bronte, ignore him he’s just a stupid ginger idiot.”
“But I love his hair,” I howled.
“Ellie move, let me talk to her,” Carter growled.
“No,” I cried. “I want Ellie.”
Carter shook his head and throwing his hands into the air stormed away, which only went to ramp up my weeping and wailing to a higher level.
* * *
Twenty minutes later and I had finally stopped crying. Mom and Ellie had taken me to the bathroom, where I’d insisted on being left alone. Having touched up my makeup and blown my nose, I wasn’t quite ready to go back into the party. There was too much happiness in there. Ellie looked too gorgeous in her tight, cream-colored dress with cute little capped sleeves and sexy rose-gold sandals on her feet.
“Oh God, I’m such a bitch,” I groaned, and the tears threatened to start again.
As I was sitting on the toilet seat, I grabbed a handful of toilet tissue and wiped my nose before dropping my head into my hands. Lost in my misery, I didn’t hear the bathroom door open, or hear the footsteps on the black and white tiles.
“Hey, Lollipop.”
I looked up to see Carter’s gorgeous smile and my heart stuttered.
“I’m sorry,” I squeaked out.
He reached out and ran a finger down my cheek. “Don’t worry about it. It’s not a problem.” He crouched down beside me and took a hold of my hand and squeezed it.
“I thought you hated me.”
He laughed quietly. “Never gonna happen.”
