Page 43 of Snowed in with the Grump

“How long has this been going on?”

When I open my mouth, the words stick in my throat.

“It's new,” Carter says evenly. “But it's real, Sarah. I'm in love with Ava.”

Sarah inhales sharply. A battle unfolds behind her eyes—protectiveness of Carter versus concern for me.

I never meant to go behind her back. I wish I could explain everything–how I've secretly harbored feelings for her brother for years.

All those times we giggled over boy talk at sleepovers, and I never breathed a word about the flutter in my heart whenever Carter was around.

I buried my feelings out of loyalty to my best friend, only letting my mind wander in private. I valued our friendship and sisterhood above everything, but I never believed my dreams about Carter would come true. Or that they’d cost me everything I hold dear.

“Save it! I won't let you take advantage of Carter when you can't manage your money or life responsibly.”

Her words burrow deep, cracking my heart open as lifelong friendship unravels. Despair wells up inside, but I stay silent, mourning the loss of my oldest, dearest friend.

Carter removes his arm. Distraught, I turn to him, fearing he'll pull away emotionally, but instead, he takes my hand.

“You’ve gone too far, Sarah,” Carter snaps at his sister.

Matt steps between them, interrupting the argument. “Come on. Let's all calm down.”

Carter's eyes flash with anger. He storms out, the door slamming behind him. An awkward silence replaces the lighthearted mood from earlier until the others fall into small talk. Each word is like sandpaper on my frayed nerves.

My heart twists. I’m worried about Carter. I should give him space, but I can’t help myself.

I offer the others a tight smile and excuse myself, hurrying to check his bedroom but finding it empty.

A loud thud echoes down the hall, followed by a muffled groan. I rush toward the sound and find Carter in the spare room, slumped on the edge of the bed with his head in his hands.

“Carter?” I ask tentatively.

He looks up, and I see something vulnerable in his eyes for a moment before a familiar, steely resolve quickly replaces it.

“I'm sorry,” he says heavily, his voice rough with emotion. “It’s not you, It's Sarah. I lost it. The way she treats you, the things she says—you deserve so much better than her cruelty. Better than me.”

Seeing the anguish on his face, I realize Sarah's rejection has reopened an old wound inside him, making him question if he truly deserves love.

“It doesn't matter what Sarah thinks,” I say gently. “All that matters is how we feel about each other.”

Carter sighs heavily, his face etched with pain. “Every time I look at myself, it's like—”

Carter's unspoken words hang in the air, and my heart aches for the pain he carries within him.

He glances away, shielding me from the demons he's battling.

I step closer and take his hand. “You are worthy, Carter,” I tell him fiercely.

“I started renovating this place to try and leave the past behind,” he says roughly. “But then Sarah had to stick her nose in, and all my old anger came rushing back.”

I squeeze his hand gently, offering silent support. “We can’t change the past, but we can create a better future.”

Carter nods slowly, and some of the defeat leaves his eyes. He reaches out and caresses my cheek tenderly.

“I lost my temper, but I won't lose you. The only way to move forward is to stop running and accept who I am before becoming who I want to be.”

CHAPTER15

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