by E. L. Todd
Carson walked in a moment later, in little shorts and a t-shirt. Her long legs were incredible, like always. Her hair was slicked back in that sexy ponytail that bobbed up and down when she ran across the court. With those beautiful green eyes and full lips, she was stunning, like always.
Fuck.
I walked over to greet her, wearing a smile I didn’t feel in my soul. “What took you so long?”
“I work for a living, asshole.” She gave me a gentle shove in my chest. “And if you’re important, people will wait.”
“You’re definitely important.”
“Because I’m the best player on my team.” She placed her hands on her hips as she came closer. “Who’s the new guy?”
“That’s my sister’s boyfriend.”
“Ooh…” She looked him up and down. “Good-looking, decent shot, tall…”
“Important qualities?”
“Yeah. If this guy might be the father of your nieces and nephews, you want him to be all those things.”
Never crossed my mind, but I was amused by her observations. “Including the decent shot?”
“Yeah. You don’t want those kids to be picked last in gym, right?” She caught the ball Charlie passed to her while barely looking at him. She dribbled the ball and backed up a bit before she lined herself up and made a shot from the half-court line.
William turned to her, an eyebrow raised. “Damn…”
She smiled and extended her hand. “Carson. I’m friends with Dax.”
He nodded. “Nice to meet you. I’d like to be on your team.”
I held up my arms. “What the hell, man?”
He turned to Dax. “I told you I wasn’t going to let you win.” He caught the ball then dribbled to the hoop.
Carson came back to me, her hands on her hips. She was short in her running shoes, so she always had to tilt her head back to look up at me. “I like this guy.”
I smiled as I looked into her face, loving her attitude, her playfulness. She was like one of the guys, but one of the sexiest chicks in the world. It was impossible not to fall under her spell…over and over.
After the game was over, we wiped the sweat off at the bleachers and prepared to get something to eat. The group decided on pizza and wings again, so we left the gym and walked up the street.
Carson walked up ahead with Charlie and Matt, while William and I stayed back a little bit, giving me a great view of her perky ass en route.
“You’re a pretty good ballplayer.” William uncapped his bottle and took a drink. “Play in college or anything?”
“No.” I shook my head. “Just high school and recreationally. But Carson played in college. She’s a Harvard alumnus.”
“Really?” he asked in surprise. “People who go to Harvard or Stanford usually make it obvious they went to Harvard or Stanford,” he said with a chuckle. “So, she seems pretty cool.”
“She is.” Despite her intelligence and her success, she never bragged, not once. She seemed to hide it rather than flaunt it, just the way I did. “She’s an investigative journalist for the New York Press.”
“No way, man. That’s sick.”
“Yeah. She’s writing an editorial piece about me, actually.”
“Oh, is that how you met?”
“No…we were friends already.” I didn’t want to share my personal bullshit with him. Seemed pointless since Carson and I were never getting back together. “So, were you at the office today?”
“I’m there Monday through Friday,” he said. “And most Saturdays.”
“Your practice is open on the weekend?” I asked in surprise.
“No. I just have to do a bunch of paperwork, you know, the business side of things.”
“So, you own this practice?”
“Yep.”
I liked that he didn’t brag about himself either. Information came out naturally in conversation, but he didn’t throw his accomplishments in your face. “So, you have to handle two things at once, a medical practice and a business?”
“Yeah…totally sucks.”
I chuckled. “You know, you could hire a bookkeeper to help you with that. Maybe an assistant or something.”
“I don’t know… I believe if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself. I just have a hard time trusting other people, especially when it comes to stuff so personal, like my finances. Besides, I don’t want to have a close relationship with an inferior in that regard, especially considering Renee.”
I cocked an eyebrow. “Why?”
He grinned, like he was remembering something humorous. “My baby gets soooo jealous.”
“She does?” I asked in surprise. “I can’t see her being that way.”
“Like I said, she’s crazy about me.” He grinned, like he was the luckiest guy in the world. “She’d be livid if she knew I told you this story, but fuck it, I’m gonna say it anyway. So, I was out with my brother’s wife because we were planning his surprise party. She was at the same restaurant and spotted us together. Caused a huge scene, slapped me a couple times, stormed out…and then my sister-in-law explained the whole thing.”
“Geez, that doesn’t soud like her at all.”
He rubbed his cheek like he still remembered how the slap felt. “Yeah, but it was kind of hot. She kept saying she wanted to take it slow, even though I was totally hung up on her, and then she did that…so she showed her true colors.”
“Then meeting your parents must have been awkward.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, she was pretty nervous. But my family is cool. They thought it was funny.”
“I’m learning about a whole new side of my sister through you.”
“Yeah, she’s a little crazy, but I like her that way.”
I’d tease her about this later.
“So…” He nodded up ahead. “What’s the story with you two?”
“Who are you talking about?”
“The woman whose ass you keep staring at.”
Was I making it that obvious?
He grinned. “Come on, I’m a doctor. I’m kinda smart.”
“There’s nothing there.”
“Really? Because you talk about her a lot, and you have a lot of chemistry on the court.”
We had a lot of chemistry in every way imaginable.
“You’re a good-looking, down-to-earth guy. Why wouldn’t she want you? Go for it.”
I stopped pretending I didn’t feel that way. “We used to be together, but I fucked it up.”
“Oh…sorry, man. I didn’t know.”
“It’s okay. I said we could just be friends.”
“You mind if I ask what happened?”
It was crazy that the two of us hit it off so quickly. I got along with pretty much anyone, but William felt like an old friend who’d just come back to town. “The short version—”
“No, no, no.” He waved his finger. “I want the longer version.”
“Alright. Well, we kinda had a fling for a while, but I wanted more. She wasn’t ready because she was still pretty hurt from her divorce, so she wanted to keep it casual. I was still fucked up from my divorce, but that didn’t stop me from wanting more of her. I kept pushing, but I was also lying to her every single day.”
“About?”
“I didn’t tell her who I really was, that I’m a billionaire and CEO of my family’s company. I even had a fake apartment so she would think I was just like everyone else. When the newspaper wanted to do a story on me, I specifically asked for someone else on the staff, but they sent Carson instead. Before I got the chance to come clean, she found out…in the worst way imaginable.”
“Yikes…that’s quite a story. But I never would have suspected something bad happened between you two since you get along so well.”
“We talked it out and moved on.”
“If you’re still into her, why don’t you try to make it work?”
I shook my head. “She said it’s not going to happen. Her husband cheated on
her, and she can’t tolerate a man lying to her… I get it.”
He nodded and released a sigh. “Not really the same thing, but I understand. Relationships meant to last should be built on trust and honesty. I’ve been really transparent with Renee because I never want to lose her. So, I’ve told her everything about me, even stuff I’m not proud of.”
“Like?”
“Well…”
“You don’t have to tell me, man. I shouldn’t have asked.”
“No, I’ve got nothing to hide. My buddies and I went to Vegas for a bachelor party, and I slept with a hooker. Not my finest hour. But we were all going crazy and threw caution to the wind.”
It was a little embarrassing but not totally egregious. “Were you seeing someone at the time?”
“No. But you know, it’s still kinda gross. Women are really turned off by that.”
“How did Renee feel about it?”
“She was disappointed, but like I said, she’s obsessed with me, so she brushed it off pretty quickly. And I outright told her about it and put it on the table, so I think she appreciated my honesty.”
“Yeah.” Why hadn’t I done that?
“So, you’re just friends? Like forever?”
“That’s the plan.”
“What a shame. Because you wear your heart on your sleeve, man.”
I sighed and kept my eyes forward, watching her hair move in the wind. “Yeah. Haven’t felt this way about anyone except my ex-wife, but that was all a lie and manipulation, so this is real…and it’s different.”
He turned to me, eyeing me sympathetically. “Maybe you should try again? People get back together all the time.”
“But Carson isn’t like other people…”
“Maybe. But when enough time passes, it could be different. She obviously doesn’t seem angry with you, so I would try again…at some point. That’s my best advice.”
“Thanks.”
We entered the pizza parlor and sat at the same table as last time. Beers were ordered, and since Matt would die if he didn’t eat, we ordered right away. I took the seat beside Carson, with William across from me.
He drank his beer and behaved like a long conversation about my unresolved feelings for her never happened.
“Did you grill him?” Carson asked me, still stunning even when her makeup was gone and her hair was a little greasy.
“Why would I grill him?”
“You know, because he’s trying to be a member of your family.” She deepened her voice and tried to speak like a character from the Godfather. “He wants to be part of this family…he needs to earn it.”
Charlie rolled his eyes. “Oh my god, I hate it when she does the Godfather voice.”
William smiled, like he thought it was amusing.
Everything she did was amusing. She wasn’t afraid to be goofy or different. Other girls cared about being beautiful all the time, quiet and polite, well-liked. Carson didn’t care what anyone thought of her.
“I’m not trying to be a member of the family,” William said. “At least, not right this second. Someday, yes. But she moves at the pace of an iceberg…”
“I think she’ll be different after our talk,” I said.
“She’s definitely been in a better mood,” William said.
“What did you think of his basketball skills?” Carson asked.
“You’re really going to ask me that right in front of him?” I asked incredulously.
“It’s good for him to know where you stand,” she said. “Keep him in line.”
“Damn, she’s tough.” William drank from his beer. “I’m glad she’s not my girlfriend’s brother.”
“She’s an even worse roommate,” Charlie said.
She swatted him playfully. “Am not. You would die if I moved out.”
“No, I think I’d be okay,” he said sarcastically.
“Oh, come on,” she said. “You would be totally heartbroken. There’d be no groceries in the house, no beer… What would you do without beer?”
“Well, I wouldn’t have dirty dishes in the sink and pieces of popcorn stuck between the cushions in the couch,” he fired back.
I noticed they fought like siblings, so that cured the jealousy I’d had long ago. They didn’t tease each other in a flirtatious way. Charlie genuinely hated and loved her the way I hated and loved my sister.
“Oh, whatever.” She rolled her eyes and drank from her beer.
William glanced back and forth between them. “Are you guys brother and sister?”
“Psh,” Carson snapped. “He wishes.”
Charlie shook his hand. “Being roommates is the extent of our relation.”
The fries and wings came out first, and Carson ate like one of the guys, getting her elbows on the table, but she also kept her mouth clean with a napkin, eating like a lady with an appetite that rivaled ours.
The two of us got along together so well that sometimes I wondered how she could keep this distance from me. It just felt right, like we belonged together. Once we became completely honest with each other, it was even better than it used to be. Was I the only one who felt that? Was I stuck in my head, in a different reality?
When I looked at William, he was staring at me while he ate a few fries. He didn’t say anything because the intention behind his gaze was clear. He saw the way I stared at Carson.
I just wondered if she noticed the way I stared at her too.
Eight
Carson
Charlie and I sat at the dining table together, both working on our laptops, drinking beer. We’d had dinner hours ago, and now it was late into the night, the brightness from the screen making my eyes tired.
My phone lit up with a text message.
Boy Toy #1: Still seeing that guy?
After I read the message, I went back to my article.
Charlie must have read it because he said, “The apartment has been quiet.”
“You want to get a dog?” I asked excitedly.
He gave me a cold stare before he rolled his eyes. “I meant you haven’t brought any dates back to the apartment.”
I shrugged then turned back to my computer.
“And you haven’t been seeing anyone, as far as I can tell.”
“What’s your point, Charlie?” I spun my earring in my lobe while I read over the last few sentences I’d written.
“That’s a long dry spell for you, is all. What? Four, five weeks?”
I shifted my gaze back to him. “I appreciate you checking in on my coochie, but she’s fine.”
He propped his chin on his closed knuckles and stared at me. “It just makes me wonder if you should forgive Dax—”
“I’ve already forgiven him.”
“Alright, then take him back.”
“Are we seriously doing this?” I closed my laptop slightly, so it was easier to look at him.
“You obviously have no idea what you’re doing, so I’ve got to step in.”
“I’m perfectly fine, Charlie.” I opened my laptop again.
“He’s not going to be available forever, you know.”
“Good for him.”
“Carson.” He raised his voice slightly, his tone turning hostile.
I turned back to him, frustrated. “He put you up to this?”
“No.” His irritated eyes burned into mine. “He doesn’t ask about you. Doesn’t talk about you. I’m saying this based on my own feelings about the situation. You obviously still have a thing for him—”
“I’m attracted to him. I’m not gay, so it’s impossible not to be.”
He shook his head. “Bullshit, it’s more than that. He’s not like Evan, so you’re denying yourself a great guy because of a mistake he made.”
“It wasn’t a mistake. It was intentional.”
“Whatever. That was five weeks ago. You guys are both connecting on a deeper level. It’s so obvious.”
“Because we’re friends. Friends connect.”
He sighed l
oudly. “Carson, why haven’t you been sleeping around?”
“Because I’m busy—”
“Try again.”
“What? I am,” I snapped. “I’ve got four articles, basketball, now I want to get a dog—”
“Stop it.” He dropped his hand on the table. “It’s because of Dax. If you were really over him, you’d be texting this guy back. You’d be picking up some stud at the bar. You’re coming home alone every night, and I know you aren’t sleeping elsewhere. Do whatever you want, Carson. It’s your life. But another Dax isn’t going to come around, and you’re going to lose a great guy because you’re being too stubborn. Just my two cents.”
I didn’t want to hear his words, didn’t want the truth to hit me so hard in the face.
He stared at me, as if he expected me to say something.
I wanted to change the subject, and since I had to talk to him about this anyway, I used it to my advantage. “There’s something I need to tell you. I’ve thought about it for a while now, and there’s really no good way to go about it. And since you’re my best friend, you’re the person I come to.”
His posture immediately changed, his eyes narrowing. “What is it?”
“Denise and I got a drink the other night…and told me she kinda had a thing for you.”
His reaction wasn’t subtle. His eyes widened in shock, like he couldn’t believe those words just came out of my mouth. His fingers dug into his hair, and he turned away, inhaling a deep breath like the news was so good he didn’t know what to do with it. “When did this happen?”
“Like a week or so ago.”
“And she…” He narrowed his eyes on my face. “I’m not stupid, Carson. I know what you’re really doing.”
“I’m not lying about Denise. That really happened.”
“But you can’t just shrug off what I said about Dax.”
I dropped my gaze and felt touched that he still cared more about me than the thing he’d been obsessing over for months. His loyalty was unshakable, and he cared about me more than himself. He was a good friend, more like family.
