Page 33 of Bad Boy Done Wrong
“Oh. Me either.”
“Let’s just see how it goes.”
“See how it goes,” she echoed. “I don’t know what that means.”
He faltered because she sounded wary. Normally he’d back off right away, but his old way had never worked out. He went for it. “You know, see how it goes. Like no artificial cutoff. Just see how things pan out.”Idiot. Get to the point.“I really like you.”
“Oh.” She smiled tightly. “I like you too.”
This was not going how he’d hoped. They walked to her car in silence. It was already a hot and humid August day, though it was still morning. Reminded him of Indonesia. He missed it even though he’d just been there last month. He was sure Carrie would love it there too, but it was too soon to speak of taking her for a visit, so he remained quiet.
She unlocked the car. “Zach, I’m not ready for a relationship. I think it would be better if we kept to our two-week one-day agreement. After my parents’ anniversary celebration, we’ll say goodbye. Of course, we’ll still see each other around. As friends.”
He couldn’t breathe for a moment like she’d just sucker punched him in the heart. How could he have interpreted her intentions so inaccurately? Was Carrie testing him? Putting up a smokescreen to protect herself? Hoping he would stand up and declare himself before she declared herself as invested in what they had?
“Zach?”
“What?”
“Do you understand?”
“What’s not to understand?” he countered. Playing it cool was his only resort. He couldn’t believe he’d misjudged the situation so badly.
“Maybe I shouldn’t leave stuff at your place.”
“You can leave it. Take it with you when you’re done.”
“Are you mad?”
“No.”Yeah.He was pissed, but mostly at himself for being arrogant enough to think he could figure relationship stuff out using his intellectual prowess. Years of failed relationships had rightly taught him he wasn’t good at this stuff. For some stupid reason, he’d hoped he could power through using his brain this time. Screw it. He was missing whatever it was that made relationships work. He probably only felt so much for Carrie because deep down he knew she wouldn’t want a relationship. Not because of him, because she just wasn’t ready.
It wasn’t personal.
He hoped.
He wouldn’t ask. That way lay madness.
He got in and they made the short drive in silence.
When they got to her door, he waited while she pulled out the key. It took her forever because her purse was so stuffed. “It always seems to be on the bottom,” she said.
Farther down the hallway, a door popped open. An elderly man in a red silk robe, looking like a Hugh Hefner wannabe, stepped out and gave Carrie a lecherous smile. She didn’t notice, still rummaging through her purse.
Zach straightened to his full height and squared his shoulders.
“And who are you?” the man inquired, looking at Zach suspiciously.
Carrie jumped, her cheeks flushing pink. “Oh, hi, Larry. Didn’t see you there. How’re you?”
“Fine,” Larry said. “Is this your boyfriend?”
Zach dropped his voice to the level ofback off, old man. “I’m hermanfriend.” Boyfriend sounded too juvenile. Partner didn’t go far enough to keep lecherous old men from getting ideas.
Larry narrowed his eyes. “Carrie is—”
Zach cut him off. “I know exactly who she is and what she needs.”
“Zach!” Carrie exclaimed.
