Page 56 of Forever After All

"They needed to know, Alice," he says in a voice that’s quieter than I know he’s capable of. Well,Iam creating enough volume for the both of us, so never mind.

"That wasnotyour choice to make. How do you think it makes me feel that you were the first person I ever talked to about this? I thought I could trust you." The rage continues.

"You can trust me, princess." He reaches out to try taking my hand and I snatch it away before he is able to make contact with my skin.

"Then you told my parents because you couldn't keep your temper in check." I’m feeling exacerbated now.

"That's pretty funny coming from the person screaming at me right now," Carter retorts.

Oh, he's feeling brave.

"Excuse me?" I ask angrily as my hands shake. "I was protecting myself, I was protecting my parents. I—"

"No, you weren't," he interrupts my mid-venom spitting. "All you were doing was protecting the man who hurt you."

I open my mouth to say something, but close it again almost instantly. I try again and the same thing happens, because genuinely, in this entire ten plus years, I have never looked at it like that.

"He deserves for people to know how much of a cunt he was—even in death. Alice, I love you, but I was never going to stay silent as your parents were led to believe that Danny was some kind of saint."

"It wasn't your choice, it wasmychoice—and you took that from me," I try to argue back, but my voice lowers a few decibels.

"I am sorry for that, I really am. But honestly, Alice, I would do it again. I would tell them in every single scenario, if it meant showing the world how he treated women."

He makes very valid points, which really pisses me off further.

I sit on the bed next to him and my shoulders slump a little.

"You're even more beautiful when you're angry, you know?" he asks, trying to diffuse my fury.

"Stop trying to be smooth, Carter. Bad fucking timing," I respond in a dejected voice. My hands fall at my sides and Carter successfully entwines his fingers with mine this time. I have long fingers like a pianist and my hands are not dainty, but his completely encase mine. It's nice to feel small sometimes.

"Fuck, Alice. Don't break up with me when you just told me that you love me." He sounds defeated and my chest twists a little at his fractured voice.

"Carter, I’m angry, I amsofucking angry, but that thought didn't even enter my head as an option," I reply and wiggle my fingers a little in his palm.

He sighs and lets out a long, deep breath, squeezing my hand tighter in response.

"You took my choice away from me and that stings so much. I understand the reason why you told them, I really do, but I need some time. I need time to be angry and hurt. And I need you to know that as much as I love you, when we get home, I need to be left alone for a few days. I thought that you, out of everyone, wouldn't make me feel like that." I'm trying my hardest to communicate the hurt I’m feeling in a way that makes him understand.

"Space I can deal with, but a breakup is out of the question, Alice. Even if you decide you want to, it isn't happening."

I can't help but laugh a little and it instantly breaks the heavy tension in the room.

"Honestly, I wouldn't let you off that easy." I smile at him, and he returns a little grin. "You'd get off lightly with a break-up. How am I supposed to be angry at you and argue with you and bring this up every time we fight for the next decade, if I break up with you now?" I nudge him with my shoulder, and he wraps his arm around my back and kisses the side of my head, his warm breath blasts against my face.

"Sooo, I guess this isn't a good time to suggest angry sex?" he asks, a little too hopefully for my liking.

"Oh, big guy, that's cute—you aresofucking cut off," I say with a little chuckle, even though I’m quite serious.Mostly anyway.

Chapter 28

Carter

"Do you want me to come up?" I ask, pulling up outside of Alice's apartment building.

"I'm still angry at you, remember?" she replies as she hops down from her seat and her ass jiggles when her feet hit the floor. She slams the door behind her with more force than necessary before walking to the trunk to grab her suitcase. I would have grabbed it for her, of course, but right now I don't know if she wants to push me into oncoming traffic.

"I love you, Alice," I say as she slams the trunk, also with more force than necessary. Alice pulls her case to the front of the car and taps on the window with her knuckle.

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