Page 81 of Hard Knot

I must have been staring at her for a while because the shrill sound of my alarm jolts me out of my thoughts. The screen glows with the snooze setting I’ve been abusing all morning — 15 minutes, like clockwork.

Carter groans from somewhere across the room, his voice muffled as he buries his face into his crossed arms, having turned onto his stomach on the floor.

“Again?” he mumbles, his tone heavy with irritation.

I glance over and see him sprawled out, but he’s trying to stretch out once more. He forces himself into a sitting position, raking a hand through his messy hair.

“Do we have someone to kill or something?”

He has to be disorientated, though I’m sure he’ll recall everything that happened in a few short minutes.

I smirk despite myself.

“We have school,” I remind him, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “Like preteens.”

Carter groans louder, tilting his head back dramatically before cracking open one eye to glance around the garage.

“Where’s Abbie?”

“Who’s Abbie?” I ask, confused.

He scoffs, waving a hand in the air.

“Elizabeth. It’s her nickname.”

I follow his gaze now that he’s located her, still curled up in the pile of clothes, completely oblivious to the conversation. Her peaceful state contrasts starkly with the chaos of last night, and it’s oddly grounding.

“When did she get all those clothes?” I mutter, more to myself than anyone else. I guess I’m hoping Carter will have an answer.

Carter shrugs.

“God, I don’t know,” he says, standing up and stretching. His joints crack audibly, and he lets out a satisfied sigh before adding, “Barely remember shit from last night.”

“Same…”

I decide to feign forgetfulness.

Last night was hot as fuck, and the last thing I need is to revisit every detail again right now. Unless I want to sport a very obvious hard on in our grey uniform set.

Carter groans again, rolling his shoulders as he looks over at Elizabeth.

“Well, I’m not letting her sleep on the damn garage floor,” he declares.

Ilift an eyebrow.

“What are you doing?”

Carter strides over to Elizabeth, crouching down beside her.

“Taking her to my room,” he says simply. “No way is my half-sober ass leaving her here like this. I didn’t do it last night because Holmes would’ve dragged us out of the house if we destroyed his beauty sleep but it’s practically morning now. Fuck him and his jealousy.”

I blink, surprised by the casual possessiveness in his tone.

“You remember the time Holmes did that?”

Carter grins, his voice light with amusement.

“Oh yeah. Pissy mood and everything.”

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