Page 56 of Between Now and Forever

I nod. “Totally.”

“Thank you for bringing me back,” I say and he cups the back of my neck.

“Thank you for the song,” he says and then pulls me forward until we’re as close as we can be. I let the kiss say the words I can’t find.

It’s agoodbye, but only for now, kiss.

It’s aI know this is fast, but I want to see where it goes, kiss.

It’s alet’s find a way to do this all the time, kiss.

I’m so consumed in it, I have no idea how long we’re sitting there. The sun rises a few minutes into our kiss. A ray slides over us just as I hear the crunch of tires. My eyes pop open and my heart nearly falls into my stomach at the sight that greets me.

We’re surrounded by three sheriff SUVs that completely block Carter’s car in. I scream and scramble off Carter’s lap.

Their lights are flashing, and I’m queasy with fear that my father is with them. If he is, I’m finished. He’ll lock me up and throw away the key if he sees me with Carter.

“Whoa. What’s going on?” Carter’s voice breaks my ruminating, and I open my eyes and feel the blood drain from my face.

I’m cold with dread, but I scramble out of the car and face the music.

A woman deputy gets out of the first car. I recognize her; she’s part of my dad’s security detail.

“What’s wrong?”

“Your father sent us. You need to come with us,” she says gravely as I approach.

“Sir, get back in your car,now.”A male officer gets out of his car, his weapon drawn, his expression a lethal calm. I turn around to see Carter is poised halfway out of his car and wince at the utter terror on his face.

“Officer LaRoque, please put your weapon away. He’s my friend.”

“Your father thought you’d been kidnapped,” he says coolly, but lowers his weapon.

I breathe a sigh of relief and walk back to Carter.

“It’s okay, they’re my father’s security detail, it’s fine. You should go,” I say shakily, worried out of my mind for what’s to come.

He looks completely unconvinced.

“What’s going on? Should I call your brother for you?”

“Sir, get back in your vehicle and drive away. We work for her father and we have to get her on her way. There has been a family emergency.”

My throat seems to close in on itself as I look to where James’s car should be parked. My chest starts to burn and I grab the car for support.

I whip around to face the officer. “What kind of emergency?”

“I’m sorry. Your brother was in an accident. You need to come quickly. Your parents are at the hospital.”

I look at Carter, and without letting myself think about the consequences, press a kiss to his mouth in front of all of them and say a millisecond of a prayer for one day soon.

Then without another minute to lose, I run inside and get dressed. On my way out of the door I see a cake box with a card stuck on top. My name is scrawled in James’s handwriting. It’s my birthday… and when he comes home later, we’ll cut that cake. Like we always do.

8

GHOSTS

CARTER

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