Page 32 of Between Now and Forever

As soon as her feet touch it, she relaxes and gives me a tentative smile.

“I know you were being nice, but it’s weird, you know? I’m in your house and I don’t know you…” She glances around.

“Is your whole family here?”

“Yeah. My parents, my brother and sister.”

“Okay…” her eyes widen and she looks back at the front door like she’s thinking of making a run for it. My stomach dips, and I don’t understand why.

I only met her a few minutes ago.

Her wanting to leave should be no skin off my nose.

In fact, it’s probably better that she leaves.

If it hadn’t started raining, we would have parted ways already.

If it hadn’t started raining, I would have forgotten her name already.

Bringing her here was the kind of thing old, reckless Carter would have done.

I should be glad that she wants to leave. So I say the right thing.

“I can grab an umbrella and take you back if you’d like.” Each word feels wrong as it forms on my tongue. But if she’s uncomfortable, I don’t want to make it worse by letting my disappointment show.

She blinks in surprise.

“You would take me back? Right now?”

“No one’s walking anyone anywhere right now; it’s a mess outside.” My mother’s sharp retort makes us both jump. She’s standing at the top of the stairs watching us, her gaze is guarded and impatient. “Are you going to introduce your friend?”

“We were talking when it started to rain, and she fell while—”

“I’m Liz Wolfe.” She smiles at my mother, and if she was anxious a second ago, it doesn’t show. She walks up, bracing some of her weight on the arm rail and stops on the step below my mother. My mother draws back a little, but loses some of the wariness in her face.

“We were talking when it started raining and the people I came with were nowhere to be found. I hurt my ankle. Thank you so much,Carter.” She shoots a mischievous, triumphant smile over her shoulder at me as she says my name like it’s a prize she won.

My mother raises an eyebrow and looks closer at Liz as if she’s trying to see what she missed before.

“Well, at least you’ve got manners. The half- naked girls Carter usually brings home are either too drunk or too cool to shake my hand.”

I glare at her. “Mom, what the hell?”

Liz laughs. “Well, I’m not cool or drunk, but I’m really cold. I’m sorry to impose on ya’ll. If you don’t mind, I’ll just dry my things and I’ll be on my way.”

My mother blinks, opens her mouth and then closes it like she doesn’t know how to respond.

I chuckle. “Wow, I feel like I should write this down. You’re actually speechless.”

My mother shoots me an unimpressed frown and then smiles back at Liz.

“It’s really coming down out there. You’re not imposing. I just wasn’t expecting anyone. We’ve got a spare room and I’ll get you some clothes so you can change into something while your things dry off.”

“Thank you so much.” Liz says.

“Carter will show you to the room. I’ll get some ice for that ankle and meet you there.”

“Here.” I offer her my arm when we’re alone and she doesn’t hesitate to link hers through it. She lets her weight rest on me as we climb up the stairs.

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