Page 25 of Whatever Happens

But we can’t. My father is already pissed enough at Carter about the sex tape. If he knew about my involvement? That would be the end of both of us.

“I don’t even know who you are.”

“You didn’t know my last name. That’s it. Everything else was the truth. It was all real.” I reach for him, but he pulls away. Tears well in my eyes. “I’m so sorry, Carter.”

“What exactly are you sorry for? Hmm? For lying to me? For making me care about you? Which part are you sorry about?”

“All of it.”

“Bullshit. You used me. I’m just not sure why. How does sleeping with me get you your dream job? Is it blackmail? You going to hold it over my head to get me to do whatever you want? Tell Daddy what he wants to hear?”

“You have every right to be angry.”

“You’re damn right I do!”

“I never meant to hurt you. I care about you more than I thought possible.”

“Hurt me? You think you can hurt me?” His laughter doesn’t match the pain I see in his eyes. “You don’t mean anything to me. Nothing more than one more mistake in a long list.”

“We are not a mistake. I know it’s complicated, and...”

“Actually, it’s really simple. I fucked you, and you fucked me over. End of story.”

“That’s not true.”

“The way I see it, you are nothing more than my therapist. Anything before today? Never happened, and it sure as hell didn’t matter.”

I shake my head, refuting his words, knowing he’s only saying them because he’s hurting.

“I tried to tell you. I tried, but you…”

“So, this is my fault?”

“No. I just… I should have tried harder. I’m sorry, but this doesn’t have to end like this.”

“I wish it could end. No. Now, I’m fucking stuck with your lying ass for God knows how long.”

“I didn’t lie, and you didn’t ask.”

“How many different ways are you going to rationalize this? Why can’t you people just accept responsibility when you fuck up instead of making the rest of us take the fall for you?”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“Whatever. It doesn’t matter.” Carter moves to get into his truck.

“So that’s it?”

“I have nothing else to say to you.”

“Really? Because I still have a lot to say to you.”

“To me? What the fuck did I do?”

I pull out my phone and stick it in front of his face. The video of us is displayed on the screen.

“I don’t know how that happened.”

“You sure? You sure it wasn’t to have blackmail to hold over the Coach’s daughter’s head? So, she’ll tell her father what you want him to hear?” I shove the phone back in my pocket. “Two can play at that game, Carter, but we both know it’s bullshit. What happened between us was real. And it was good. Damn good.”

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