Page 16 of Beauty Beneath the Sorrow
“Maybe he has a thing for you.”
I shoot her a side-eye. “He’s a lot older than me.”
“Wait, so he’s your dad’s age?” Zoe asks. “I know your dad is young—”
“He’s in his late thirties,” I interrupt her.
Her hand drops to her knee, and she cocks her head to the side. “Brian is not in his thirties!”
“Not my dad.” I roll my eyes. “Carter is in his thirties.”
“Was this the first time you guys have had anoddinteraction like that?”
I take a moment to think about my sister’s question, then answer to myself before verbalizing it. Carter is sexy as fuck. I mean, every woman with two eyes can see that. He’s significantly taller than I am—and I’m not a petite little thing. His hair is jet black, with amber eyes that melt me each time I gaze into them. A push and pull of powerful energy is constantly passing between us.
Last summer, Carter and I were on the same flight crew, and we’d all gotten in late that night. I mentioned in a brief conversation that I was hungry as we all took off in separate directions down the hall toward our individual rooms, but there wasn’t anything open.
About an hour later, I was surprised to hear a soft knock on my door. Due to the late hour, I apprehensively peered out ofthe peephole first. A quiet hallway left no trace of the person who knocked. I reluctantly opened the door to find a take-out bag on the floor. I darted my eyes down each end of the hall but still didn’t see anyone, so I swiped the bag and quickly closed the door behind me. The food smelled so good that I tore into it immediately. The bag contained a chef’s salad and a bowl of fruit.
I knew exactly who had left it.Carter.
His sweet gesture warmed me, but I couldn’t bring myself to acknowledge it the next time we saw each other. And he didn’t either.
“No, it happens often.” I think, but I end up saying it out loud. “I haven’t been laid in a while, and I’m sure it’s that.”
“Maybe. Or maybe you want to get fucked by your dad’s best friend.”
I cross my arms at my chest. “Isn’t it time for you to go to bed?”
“Ha ha.” She puffs. “And yes, it is, actually. I have a seven-thirty math class in the morning.”
I raise my lip at her as she heads into her bedroom. “Yuck.”
She stomps up the stairs. “I hate math.”
“Good luck!” I call out as her door closes.
I head into the kitchen, thinking about the conversation with my sister and the bothered look on Carter’s face when he saw me on my date tonight. He gave me an uncomfortable greeting that’s still replaying in my head. All our interactions have an additional layer of awkwardness. There’s sexual chemistry there, without a doubt, but that could also be his energy toward all women.
I’m attracted to him. I know that much.
I pop the cork from a bottle of wine, pour myself a small glass, then turn off the lights and lock up for the night. After I change and get ready for bed, I pull out my laptop to check my emails.
Of course, there are some from my mother regarding which one of her dry social events I’ll be attending. I checked all of them and gratifyingly hit the delete button.
My phone dings on the nightstand behind me.
I open our group message to see Avery asking if we got the email for the charity partner run for the children’s hospital.
Avery: Have you guys seen who your partners are yet?
Bailey: I selected a solo run so I could unofficially partner with Mason.
Me: I haven’t checked yet. Who’d you get, Avery?
Avery: I got Liz Steel.
If flight attendants were required to wear pieces of flare to show their love for the skies, Liz would have an entire uniform covered. She is a walking billboard for our profession.
