Page 35 of The Nice Guy
“If I can help, let me know.”
“What would really help is changin’ the subject from my unhappy wife to Brynlee. What happened after we left?”
Shaking my head, I lean back in the chair and groan. “Man, leavin’ her house after we agreed, for some stupid reason, that I shouldn’t go inside was the most painful drive home of my life. Damn me bein’ a nice guy. But I’d rather not rush into anythin’ in case she regrets movin’ too fast.”
“She a good kisser?”
I groan and look at the ceiling. “Amazin’. And she has the softest skin I’ve ever touched. Not to mention how great she smells.”
“Nothin’ happened?”
“Oh, lots of things happened, but not what I know we both wanted. Carter, she’s got me wrapped around her little finger.When she told me she thinks I’m sexy, I damn near bowed at her feet. You know the last time a woman said anythin’ about me was sexy?”
Carter laughs but shakes his head. “No, when?”
“Never!”
“You’re fallin’ in love with her, aren’t you?”
“Shut up.”
His eyes widen, and he bounces in his seat like a damned four-year-old about to be given his birthday cake. “You are! You didn’t talk about Honor this way even after six months of datin’ her. You’ve known Brynlee for barely two weeks, and you’re fallin’ in love. This is fate, man.”
“What the hell are you talkin’ about?” I ask and laugh. He’s obviously lost his damn mind.
“She slides into a ditch, and you happen to be the one drivin’ by to help her.”
“I had a job three miles away that I just finished.”
He glares. “Don’t you see? All the stars aligned for you. She lives in the house you’ve always wanted to live in. You’re her knight in shinin’ armor. You’re already fallin’ in love with her, and soon, you’ll marry her, move into the house you love so much, and knock her up with as many babies as she’ll give you. You’re basically livin’ a fairy tale.”
“Until she finds someone better.”
“Who the hell in this town—no, this state—is better than you?”
“Every guy each girl I’ve ever cared about left me for?”
Rolling his eyes, he takes a drink of his beer. As indignant as he wants to seem, he knows as well as I do that I’m the poster kid for disappointment. “You’ve had shit taste in women until now. I mean… Honor? Really?”
“First, you need to make that comment to your brother, too. Second, you know as well as I do that everyone in that bar Fridaynight wondered how the hell a girl like her was with a guy like me.”
“Who cares?” he shouts. “Seriously, a relationship is between two people, not two people and the entire goddamn town. You’re goin’ to get in the way of yourself like you always do. You’re creatin’ a self-fulfillin’ prophecy, and you’re goin’ to be sittin’ here after losin’ the best thing that ever happened to you because you can’t get out of your own damn way.”
The only way he could have shocked me any more than this outburst was if he’d kicked me in the nuts under the table. “It’s not like I try to get dumped.”
“You’re the greatest guy I know. Better than me by a long shot, and you deserve someone who makes you happy. Brynlee makes you happy, so stop tryin’ to ruin it. You’re pissin’ me off! You always do this. When it gets good, you end up sabotagin’ yourself, but I really think this is meant to be. So, knock this shit off before I kick your ass!”
The worst part is that I know he’s right. Even though I know that, it doesn’t make it easier. “We’re goin’ out again tonight,” I say, trying to change gears. “I’m taking her to—”
“Carter!” Darla calls and storms into the house, her body shaking. “I almost needed bail money. I still might need it if I decide to go back to the store.”
“Baby, I thought you were gettin’ groceries,” Carter says.
Whipping around, she glares at him like he’s grown a second head. “Yeah, I was there. And I about beat a few of the bitches we have in this stupid town.”
The way her head bobs reminds me of high school when she’d get amped up before knocking heads around. Darla fighting actually scares me because it’s like watching the nature channel. Vicious and feral.
“What happened?” he asks, his voice almost soothing.
