Page 29 of Beauty Beneath the Sorrow
A few minutes later, we’re walking out of the building and into the cool fall air. I immediately slip in my earbuds and pull up the hood on my sweater.
Carter stops and turns toward me with a confused look.
I take out one of my earbuds, assuming he’ll ask what direction we should take, so I answer before he has the chance to speak, “I’ll follow you.”
“I know that.”
He knows that?Why would he automatically think I don’t know where we are or need him to tell me what direction we need to go?
I open my mouth to snap back, but suddenly, I see his hand come up to my face. His two fingers slip behind my hair and remove the ear’s tiny white earpiece. My breath hitches, and my body freezes in place.
The back of Carter’s fingers lightly grazes the side of my cheek. “You don’t want to talk?”
My eyelashes flutter. “Won’t we be out of breath?”
“Probably.”
Just then, my phone buzzes. I step to the curb and answer it. I barely get through a hello before her giggles seep through the speaker.
“Can I have the rest of your vodka?” Zoe asks.
I hear low talking in the background. She has people over—in my house.
“Are there people over?” I shout through the phone. “And no, you cannot have my vodka. You’re only eighteen, Zoe.”
I glance over at Carter, and he’s staring at the ground with his hands in his pants pockets. He has a playful smile on his face.
“Seriously? There’s not that much left.”
“And if I said yes? It’s not like it’s enough to share with whoever’s over anyway,” I retort, planting a firm hand on my hip.
“It’s only Luke and me. I thought offering him something to drink while he’s writing my Economics paper would be nice.”
Does she have another guy writing her papers? Zoe and I didn’t spend a lot of time together growing up, but she managed to turn into an eighteen-year-old version of me. I wish I could scold her or at least be shocked, but I can’t. She’s me, but more economical.
“What happened to Pete?” I ask.
“Um, well, his job was done,” she speaks slowly as if I should already know this.
“You are a special kind of person, do you know that?”
“Ahh, thank you.” The tone of her voice raises with sarcasm.
“That wasn’t a—” I switch my phone to the other ear. “Whatever, fine, you can have the rest of it.” I give in, trying notto be a hypocrite. “Don’t drive or go anywhere.”
“Awesome!” she shouts. “You’re the best, Lina Bina.”
“I’m hanging up now. I’ll be home tomorrow night.” I punchEndwith my thumb, then slide it into my pocket, along with my earbuds. I glance over at Carter, and his smile turns into a smirk.
“At least she asked you,” he says, trying to make light of the situation.
I stomp over to him, frustrated that I somehow became a parent—or bad influenceon my little sister. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
Carter rests his hand on my shoulder. “And at least she’s at home and not at some party, getting drunk with random college guys.”
“I am sure that will be next.”
He gives me a wide grin.Swoon.“Maybe. Maybe not.”
