Page 31 of Forever After All

"Okay, okay." Autumn pulls herself up off the floor. "I can'twaitto speak to Sawyer about this."

"Sounds like you already did from the message Carter got before I came out here," I tease.

"Well, I called him immediately, obviously. I couldn't wait totell him I was right. He thought it would take at least six months before you slept together. Take your few days, then you call me. I want to hear everything. Well, maybe not everything. He's my brother now. You can keep some bits to yourself." She pokes her tongue out to fake vomit. Can't say I blame her. I wouldn't want to hear about my family's sex lives either.

"Okay, I'll call you. Trust me, Autumn, this means nothing. He's just a lay, and we're both very clear on that. It won't be happening again any time soon." When I say those words out loud, it’s like I'm trying to convince myself of them as much as I'm trying to convince her. Yes, it was just sex, but it felt good, and yes, I want it to happen again—hopefully in about five minutes.

The elevator doors glide closed as Autumn disappears out of view. I stay on the floor for a little longer before pulling myself to stand and re-enter my apartment. The door making its usual satisfying click as I close it behind me.

"The coffee is done. I've poured you a mug. Sorry, I have to go. Something’s come up." Carter's words are a little cold and he brushes past me to collect his wallet and keys from the rug that must have fallen out of his pockets during last night's window session. It's a new morning, but the evidence from last night is everywhere.

"Oh, okay. Is everything okay? You look upset."

"I'm fine, Alice." He nods at me once, but his entire demeanour is different now. "Have a good day." He opens the apartment door and closes it behind him with a little more force than necessary.

What the fuck did I do?

Chapter 16

Carter

Ilook down at my phone to a message from my brother.

Sawyer: You could have kept it in your pants a bit longer. I owe my girl $50 now. Dumbass.

"Jesus, news really does fucking travel fast with you two," I mumble, still half asleep. That didn't take long. In fact, it took about twenty seconds from the time Autumn left the apartment to me getting that text. I didn't picture my sister-in-law as a gossip, yet here we are. Alice scoots past me, shoots me a look that could kill even the strongest man, and disappears out of her apartment door.

Me: Should have known better than to bet money when it involves me.

Sawyer: Don't hurt her, moron.

Me: Oh yeah, because that's what I live for. Leaving a trail of broken women in my wake.

Sawyer: Well, if the reputation fits.

Me: Fuck you.

Sawyer: That's how you got into this mess.

Me: *Middle finger emoji*

I slide my phone back into the pocket of Alice's sweats that I'm wearing and head towards the coffee. The aroma of it is what woke me in the first place. I pour myself a mug and walk towards the couch, but instead of sitting on it, I walk straight past it and head for the apartment door as I hear laughing from the other side of it.

What are you doing? Leave them alone.

I can't help myself and I press my ear to the door, hoping to listen to the conversation. The voices are very muffled through the thick wood, so I press my ear into it harder hoping it will make a difference.

"I was horny, he was there. We're friends. He's fun, it's safe…"

I'm able to hear the girls talking on the other side of the door and even though I know I shouldn't be listening, I do it anyway.

"There is nothing going on outside the physical."

Speak for yourself, Alice.

I pull away from the door and take a few long sips of my black coffee. Steam swirls off the top of the mug.

Their voices get lower and I can't make anything out. Maybe it's my cue to walk away and stop trying to listen to a private conversation. I can't help eavesdropping. I know I shouldn't, but at this point I also don't care.

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