“Immature idiots with chicken soup for brains will always stir up consequences,” I said. “But if this is heading where I think it is, you don’t have to bring in more people to watch us on my account. I don’t agree with much around here, but I am with you that it’s harder to make an adult decision when everyone is treating you like a child. We don’t need more babysitters.”
Rosalie tipped her head, fixing me with a level gaze. “I’m not so much concerned with what the others need as I am with you. I’ve spoken with your mother. She and I agree more security is a good idea.”
I cut eyes to Carter. He was still fussing with my food, but it certainly didn’t take that long to clear a tray and go.
“I won’t say no to more security,” I replied, dropping my voice. “But not at my breakfast table or following me around. We’ve had issues with bribes and guards betraying me in the past. I’m just as likely to look at them suspiciously as I do shadowed figures darting around corners.”
“It turns my stomach that anyone would do such a thing.” Her curled lips backed her up. “Yes, your mother explained this to me as well. No one will be assigned to you. I’m hiring more people to circle the perimeter. Keep an eye on those going on and off the property. I’ve also hired a lifeguard. The degrees of desire to be here vary, but your sense of safety should not.”
“Thank you.”
Rosalie Desai championed the community and their control over our marriages, while I would be happy to harpoon this ninety-five-year tradition and dance as it sinks into the sea. Regardless, she cared about us in her way. She wouldn’t let anyone hurt me for the collective wealth of the community. I don’t take trust like that lightly.
She patted my knee. “I must go. Call if you need anything. My number is in your packet.”
“I will.”
Rosalie got to her feet. “Carter, dear. I’m sure it’s fine.”
“I need to talk to Belle. I’ll be down in a minute.”
She swept out, leaving us alone. It didn’t occur to her that Carter might be another one I need protection from.
Do I? I thought as I met him on the balcony. What do we have left to fight about?
“Carter, I—”
He touched my forehead—fingers light as he skimmed the edge of my bandage. My sentence died in my throat. I hadn’t seen that look on his face, brows crinkled and eyes searching, for a long time.
“Are you okay?”
I rested my hand over his. “I’m fine. A few days in bed and I’ll be good as new.”
“If you’re fine, what were you and Rosalie whispering about?”
“She’s rethinking her decision to let us have so much free rein.”
“What does that mean?” Carter’s thumb was still stroking my cheek. It was doing dangerous things to my body temperature. “Chaperones and curfews?”
“It means more security patrolling and a lifeguard in case someone else decides to drown me.”
He chuckled. “Hate to say it, but it’s not a bad idea. You don’t want to be the one calling up members of the community to say their kid’s been put in the hospital.”
“Pretty sure Hendrix is taking a few days in bed to recover too.”
“Yeah, he is. The dame doesn’t play. I’ve got a thousand bucks on her meeting Finn at the hangar and handling him. He’ll never be seen again.”
We cracked up.
“She is fierce, isn’t she?”
Amusement danced in his eyes. “Remember when I dumped those chemicals on you in science class and ruined your new dress? You tackled me over the desk and we both landed in detention. Your mom showed up, pulled me aside, and said if I didn’t learn to behave as a gentleman, she’d wring the ears off my head and wear them as an example to every boy who dares to mess with you. I’m still crapping my pants.”
My mouth fell open. “She did not say that.”
“Oh, she did. What is it with Adler women and delivering threats with a smile on their face?”
“It’s our gift.”
“Sit,” he said, dropping his hand. “Eat. It’s getting cold.”
I sat. I hadn’t eaten anything since the morning before. I was too queasy to try the hospital food. I drizzled honey in my tea as Carter claimed the seat across from me.
“I wasn’t expecting that a cracked head would be the catalyst for Nathan and me finally talking,” I began. “But I’d have believed that better than it getting you to laugh and joke with me again.”
Gazing over the sea, a faint smile cracked his face. “Laughing and joking about our history of being at each other’s throats.”
“We weren’t always. You were my best friend. I used to whine to the dame about her not letting me sleep over your house like everyone else got to do with their best friends.”
“To be fair, it’s probably because she picked up on the massive crush I had on you.”
My tea went down the wrong pipe. Coughing and hacking, I wheezed under Carter pounding my back. “Y-you did not.”
“I did,” he said, matter of fact. “Huge. She saw my heart-shaped, moon eyes and naturally didn’t think it was a good idea for us to get snuggly under the covers watching movies and eating marshmallows.”
I gaped at him. “But you always went on about Brinley Dylan. You two started going out after we stopped being friends.”
“I went on about Brinley to stop myself going on about you,” he said. “Every time I brought her up, I was saying her name out loud but replacing it with yours in my head. You didn’t see me that way, did you?”
Lowering my eyes, I forked egg into my mouth to delay my response. I truly didn’t know then that Carter felt more than friendship toward me, and after that day in the woods, he didn’t feel even that much.
Me, on the other hand, crushed on him so hard, I wanted to put Brinley Dylan’s head through a wall whenever he said her name. I told him I did what I did that day because I loved him. I wished he understood how true that was.
Not that it makes up for what I did. Nothing ever will.
“I wouldn’t say that,” I whispered.
Surprise slackened his jaw. “What? Really?”
“I’ll give it to her. Mom was right to say no to those sleepovers.” I laughed. “But we were twelve. We wouldn’t have gotten up to much.”
“I’d have thought of something to get up to. Trust me.”
Heat licked at my cheeks. What did I say to that?
“I guess it all worked out, then,” Carter continued. “We’ll pick up where we left off as husband and wife.”
My smile dimmed. “Carter, please, don’t. We’re having a good moment for the first time in seven years. You’re not obligated to ruin it.”
His smile changed too, morphing into a sight cruel around the edges, and my heart sank.
“I am obligated because it wouldn’t be right to lead you on. Let you think we can go back to how we were. Because we can’t.” Carter bore into me, leaning forward as I moved back. “Not until you admit what you did.”
I pressed my lips together, holding his gaze though shame tried to tug my eyes down.