Page 115 of Beauty Beneath the Sorrow
“Lina,” he painfully says my name.
Carter’s forcing me to admit to something I’m fearful of. I’m not ready to leave our bubble yet. I refuse to do it. “I can’t. Carter. Please?”
He looks defeated. “Fine. We don’t have to talk about it tonight.”
“Thank you.”
He lies back and pulls me down on top of him. Resting my head on his chest, feeling his heartbeat is the only reality I want right now. It’s all I can handle. I’d love nothing more than for time to stop.
“I’ve never met a woman like you,” he says.
I sniff as a few tears fall from my eyes. “I hope that’s a good thing.”
“It is.” His lungs rise and fall with a heavy breath. “But also, extremely frustrating.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Carter
With a towel around my waist and a hot cup of coffee in my hands, I scroll through the daily news on my phone. Lina and I got hungry around two in the morning and decided to come back to my place after grabbing some late-night fast food. She said she likes sleeping in my bed because it smells like me. I responded by telling her the same thing, except when she’s over, she makes my sheets smell like her. I never want themnotto have her sweet scent all over them.
Even though we didn’t get much sleep, I woke up feeling relaxed and at ease. We’ve slowly fallen into a routine—one where we act like a couple in love, but nobodyactuallyknows it. I guess that’s the way things are going to continue to be. Living my double life, I keep my distance from her while we’re around other people, but when it’s just us—the world stops, and all that matters is being with her at that singular moment.
The water from the shower is running in the background while she’s finishing up. What is it about the sound of her taking a shower in my bathroom that makes me feel so possessive?Who am I kidding?Everything about Lina stokes possessive and protective feelings inside me. It’s become my reality.
A hard knock on my door startles me. My eyebrows snap together. Who could it be this early in the morning? Abby and Ashley both don’t knock that hard, but they might be out for a morning walk with Snickers and want to stop by to say hello.
I tuck my towel into the side of my waist, securing it in place, then quickly slip on a white undershirt. With a coffee cup still in one hand, I swing the door open with the other.
I feel my eyes bulge as they land on my best friend standing in front of me with an emphatic look on his face. “Hey, dude. I was in the area and thought you might want to go golfing.”
Fuck.Lina is showering only a few feet from us. The morning air breezes through my wet hair, causing a chill. I stiffen.Brian needs to learn how to use a fucking phone.
“Oh, hey.” My voice came out alarmed, although I tried to hide it.
“I tried calling, but you didn’t answer, so I figured I’d come by,” he tells me, glancing into my apartment.Of course he tried to call.His eyes widen. Mine are quick to follow his line of sight. A pair of pink silk panties are lying haphazardly across the armrest of my leather couch.
A sly smile crawls across my friend’s face, and his arms fly into the air in front of us. “Say no more.”
“Oh, yeah.” I nod, sweat pooling along my hairline. “It’s not a good time, but I appreciate you coming by, though.”
“Good for you, Jag. I know it’s a hard time right now, but getting your dick wet will surely help,” he encourages, shoving my shoulder.
I’ve got to get him out of here before his daughter walks out of my bathroom. “Sure, yes—”
“I’m starving,” I hear Lina’s upbeat voice behind me. My back locks into place. Almost in slow motion, I watch as pure shock transforms Brian’s expression from excitement to disbelief.
I whip my head around to see Lina standing in my hallway, her towel tucked under her armpits and her hair long and wet.
“Lina!” His nostrils flare.
“Dad,” she greets weakly.
“What are you doing here?” Brian shouts. “And in a fucking towel?”
Oh my fucking god. I can’t believe this is happening right now.My mind spins, trying to come up with something to say. Before I have the chance to speak, Lina does.
“Uh, my water was turned off. There’s maintenance going on at my house, so Carter, let me shower here.” She attempts to rush out a lie but fails miserably.
