Page 52 of Loving Carter

“Carter. You’re watching him the same way this donkey I had growing up looked at apples.” She smiles, but I’m not sure whether this is something I should also smile about.

“I’m confused. Am I the donkey in this story?”

Edna laughs and pats my hand. “Of course, but not in a bad way.”

A million questions crowd into my mind, but before I can ask any of them, she stands and scurries away.

What was that? A drive-by donkey story where I’m the donkey?

“Why are you frowning like that?” asks Janie.

She’s standing next to me, studying my face. “I’m not frowning,” I maintain, knowing full well that I am indeed doing as accused.

“You look like you’re frowning.” She points at my forehead. “You have a giant wrinkle right there.”

Great. Now I’m an apple-loving donkey with a huge forehead wrinkle. I decide to go stand by Carter. We might as well get people used to seeing us together since we’re going to be a couple, at least for a while.

I stand up and head toward Carter, hoping I can avoid any more chats along the way. I’m almost there when Miriam steps directly into my path.

“Hi there, Skylar. Have you heard the news?” she asks in what I’m sure is the same tone the proverbial spider uses with the proverbial fly.

I mentally brace myself. Gossip from Miriam is never good.

The smile I put on my face is forced. “No. What news?”

“Carter’s got a job with a big financial firm in Dallas. Tillie and Edna are heartbroken he’s not staying permanently, but this opportunity is so impressive that he’d be a fool to turn it down.”

As she talks, I feel the happiness I had earlier leaking from me like air from a balloon. “He’s got a new job?”

My voice sounds high and squeaky like a cartoon character, but Miriam either doesn’t notice or doesn’t care.

“Not yet. But he’s going for an interview tomorrow. I told Tillie and Edna they just have to let him go. Ryker is coming home soon, and he and Kellan will run the dude ranch. Carter has done his part. I’m so happy for him. He’s wasting his time here.”

I’m staring at Carter, and I don’t know how to feel. I knew this was coming, sooner or later. I’d kind of assumed...

But we all know what happens when you assume.

“Have you congratulated him yet?” Miriam asks. “I have. I told him that we’ll all miss him, but that this opportunity is wonderful.”

She’s enjoying this too much. Her gleeful expression makes it clear she thinks I feel about Carter the way I actually do feel about him. But I’m not going to give her the satisfaction of showing my feelings. She thinks I’ve failed again, but I haven’t. I knew this was coming so it’s not a failure—even though it feels like one.

At the moment, all I want to do is go hide in a closet, but I won’t. Instead, I hold my apple-loving donkey head up and walk over to stand next to Carter.

“I hope the interview goes well tomorrow.” I’m thrilled my voice sounds normal now. Then I smile. Hopefully, it doesn’t look like a serial killer smile.

He slowly turns to face me, regret obvious on his face. “Skylar, I was going to tell you when this party is over. I think it’s a good opportunity, but I haven’t interviewed yet. It may not work out.” His voice drifts off at the end.

Both of us know it will work out. These things always do.

“It sounds like a wonderful opportunity for you. It’s great that you found something you like.” I’m amazed my voice sounds steady when my heart is breaking.

“I was going to tell you about this when we talk later,” he says again. “Just so you know, I didn’t apply for this job. The man who wants to hire me was someone I met before I came here. I’d forgotten about him, but he stayed at the dude ranch and recognized me. I called him yesterday to find out what he had in mind, and he asked me to come for an interview tomorrow.”

I nod, trying to look like I’m not shattered by this news. “You’d better focus on the dinner, or everything is going to burn.”

Then I walk away, knowing he’s stuck standing by the barbecue, flipping burgers. As much as I want to go buy ice cream, then head home and wallow, I’m not going to do it. Carter and I haven’t made any promises to each other. Heck, we haven’t even established a relationship yet. Sure, we were moving in that direction, but it hadn’t happened yet.

Plus, I can’t act surprised now that the very thing I knew would happen is actually going to happen.

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