Page 29 of Two Sticky Nuts

When I wake the next morning, Carter’s belongings are gone, and there are a dozen red roses on my kitchen counter with a note.

Mila,

Sorry this weekend was a bona fide mess. Thank you for welcoming me into your home and life. It was a delightful glimpse of your domestic refuge. I’ll be in touch soon to arrange a do-over.

Will be thinking of you on the road.

Carter

Do-over? At this point, I’m really on the fence about this man. On the surface, he’s hotter than hot. He’s every girl’s wet dream. But I just don’t see him and me working out. Mostly, I’m unsure I can handle the entire package that is Carter Strike.Keyword being package.Yes, him and his sticky balls.

Strange, with all his traveling, when does he find time to do his online show? Does he do it in the airport bathroom? Hotel? Did he film right here in my house while I was asleep? I didn’t pay for the full subscription, but it seemed like he had a lot of content that gets livestreamed several times a week. He has to be doing it somewhere.

Suddenly, I realize that it doesn’t matter because my stomach is telling me Carter was an experiment gone wrong. I won’t be seeing him again.

I go to my front door to check that my car is actually here. It is. I release a sigh of relief, but something catches my eye.

I walk outside for a closer look. The bumper and hood are crushed in one corner.

“What the fuck?” He just left and didn’t say anything?Dude!It’s not like I have the money to pay the thousand-dollar deductible. Not to mention, my insurance will go up after I submit the claim.

I storm back inside to grab my phone. When I pick it up, I notice there’s an alert from my bank. “Overdrawn?”

I open up my bank app and check my account.

I see charges for the Health Barn, Target, some sporting goods store, and a florist. “An airline ticket!” I yell. “Two thousand dollars?”

I’m going to murder this guy. Murder him!He bought me flowers with my own money. He bought those groceries and that blender with my money.And he fucked up my car!

I’m about to call my bank to file fraud charges because there has to be something they can do, right? The guy literally took my card and used it without my permission.

My doorbell rings, and I look toward my front door, which is still open. Standing there is Carter in a navy-blue suit and blue striped tie.

“Oh, you sonofabitch! Did you buy that suit with my money, too?” I yell, stomping toward him.

Carter steps back as I approach.

“Whatthe fuck, Carter?”

“I’m not Carter,” he says quickly. “I’m his brother, Logan. I’m actually looking for him.”

I feel like the floor falls out from under me. Carter has a twin? An identical twin?

Oh, great. There are two of them.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

“Carter has a history of doing selfish stuff like this,” Logan explains, sitting on my sofa. “Great coffee, by the way.” He raises the neon floral mug I bought at a thrift store.

Selfish?Selfish is taking the last slice of cake at a birthday party. And it’s not your birthday. Selfish is denying your assistant a vacation so you can go on ten vacations. Selfish is having sex and hopping from bed right after your big moment while the other person is still working on it.

“Selfish isn’t the word I’d use for stealing money from someone,” I’d say.

“I promise I’ll cover the damage—auto and otherwise.”

“That’s really nice of you, Logan, but don’t you think Carter should be held accountable?”

“Won’t do any good. Carter has never been one to conform to societal norms, including his definition of responsibility. He’s always marched to his own beat.”

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