Ruth had no idea what to say to that. It felt like Summer was telling her something, but she wasn’t sure if it was good or not. So all she said was, “Yeah. Yeah.”
Then Lincoln called out for them, summoning them to the living room so he and Carter could perform “Mr. Mistoffelees” for them. Carter sang Rum Tum Tugger’s part. Lincoln was Mistoffelees and did a lot of comical dance moves that made Ruth laugh until she almost peed in her pants.
They were all still laughing as they said goodbye, and Ruth couldn’t stop smiling as she rode down in the elevator with Carter.
“It wasn’t that funny,” he said after a minute.
“It was brilliant. You guys were really good.”
“Uh-huh.”
“You were! I never would have believed it. How long have you been singing?”
“It feels like all my life.” He wasn’t meeting her eyes.
“Summer said you did musical theater?”
“Yeah. I did a lot of it.”
“Why did you stop?”
“I grew up.”
She frowned, since he still wasn’t looking at her as they exited the elevator and headed outside, and it felt like he was hiding. “Carter.”
Her tone drew his gaze to hers. Something softened on his face as he stopped just outside the main entrance of a building. “My dad got me to stop in high school.”
“What? Why?”
“He didn’t think it was... I don’t know.” Carter shrugged and glanced down. “It wasn’t manly enough or something. His reasons were all wrong. I knew it even then. But I caved. I was always trying to get that man to love me.”
Her heart ached at the faint hint of pain she heard hidden beneath the dry resignation of his tone. She put a hand on his chest and didn’t say anything.
After a moment, he cleared his throat and gave her a sardonic half smile. “So I gave it up and focused on sports instead. I was pretty good at sports too, but I never really enjoyed them. I didn’t give up my friends in theater though. I wasn’t that kind of person.” He added the last bit hurriedly, as if he were worried she’d think badly of him.
“I know that. Even if I hadn’t gotten to know you, I still would have known that. People in Green Valley don’t just love you because you’re rich and good-looking. They love you because you’re good.”
He darted her a quick, questioning look and mumbled something that sounded embarrassed.
She laughed and asked, “And you never wanted to get back into it? After high school, I mean.”
“No. To tell you the truth, it never even occurred to me. It’s not like I was ever good enough for a career. I just had fun with it.”
“Nothing’s wrong with just having fun. Even now that you’re an adult. Aren’t there community theaters and opportunities like that?”
“I honestly don’t have time, even if I...” He shook his head and started walking toward the car.
She fell in step with him. “Well, maybe you will someday. You shouldn’t have to work all the time. You should do some things just for fun. Just because you enjoy it.”
“Yeah. Well. It was kind of fun tonight. But I don’t expect it to become a habit.” He was flushed and relaxed and a little rumpled. So sexy that Ruth gulped and glanced away.
“I had a really good time. Summer and Lincoln are both really great.”
“Yeah. They are.”
She checked Carter’s face. He looked slightly subdued but not hurt or particularly sad. She took his arm as they neared his car. “Summer thinks you need to let go.”
“What?” The muscles of his arm tensed beneath her hand. “Let go of what?”
“Oh, not like that. She didn’t mean let go of someone. She said she’s always wanted you to go down your own road. Not the road laid out for you. She wants you to find someone that you’ll let yourself go with. That’s what she said.”
“What did she mean by that?”
“I don’t know exactly. But I...” She hesitated before she finished the thought but then just went for it. “I can see why you wanted to do this. Fake the relationship.”
His eyes were sober as he turned toward her. They were standing beside the car now. He’d unlocked it but not opened the door. “You do? You understand?”
“I think so. It was really clear how much Lincoln and Summer both love you. They love you so, so much. But it’s also like... like they...”
“Feel sorry for me,” Carter murmured. Very softly. He’d turned his eyes away from her.
“No. Not exactly that. Maybe a little, but it’s more like they feel... guilty.” She swallowed. “Would they have reason to feel that way?” She held her breath, having no idea if he’d answer her intrusive question.
He didn’t immediately. It was almost a full minute before he said hoarsely, “Yes. I mean, they think they have reason. Lincoln felt like he was taking her away from me. In fact, he wasn’t going to... he was going to give her up for me. He loves her more than anything, and he was going to give her up for me.” His voice was soft, but it ached. Filled the cool air around them.
Ruth reached over to put a hand on his arm, needing to comfort him somehow. “I’m sure you wouldn’t have let him do that. Not when they’re so in love.”
Carter cut his head to the side quickly. “I... I almost did. I told you before. Everything that happened is my fault. I made all the mistakes. So I do think they might feel a little guilty still, but they shouldn’t. I can’t let them. They didn’t do anything wrong. I need them to believe...” He took a weird breath.
“So we’ll do it. We’ll make sure they know they have nothing to feel guilty about. No reason to feel bad for you. But it’s really going to have to be good. If we’re just together for a while and then we break up, it might confirm to them that you’re not over her. You tried but you’re not over her.”
“So what can I do? What do I need to do?”
It was so strange that he was looking at her with that kind of trust in his eyes. She couldn’t remember anyone trusting her like that. Except maybe Kayla. “I don’t know exactly. But if you really want them to believe you’ve fallen in love, we need to do what Summer said. Show that you’re really letting go. Figure out something that... that makes them think you’re unbuttoning a little.”
“Unbuttoning?” He frowned and adjusted the collar of his shirt.
“Just a little. You have to admit you’re pretty well buttoned-up.”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“Nothing.” She smiled up at him, reminding herself that this was a plot and that his warm brown eyes didn’t mean what she might want them to mean. “I like you as you are. I’m just saying. If this whirlwind romance is going to be convincing, you probably want to make it seem like you’re being all of yourself. You’re not holding back. And that you’re remembering how to have fun.”
He was quiet for a minute as he opened the passenger door for her and walked around to the driver’s side. Then he met her eyes and said softly, “I am having fun.”
Her heart did a silly little bounce. “Me too.”