her.
Screw.
You.
Then I notice Carter, watching me.
He taps the bottom of his chin with the back of his hand and it takes me a minute to realize he’s telling me to close my mouth. I do. Then he continues his conversation with Candice.
“You don’t really need a professional at the carnival,” he says, confirming he’s referring to our money situation. “Now, would I like the extra cash? Sure, who wouldn’t? But I don’t think I could sleep too good if I knew I was taking money away from kids who can’t afford their own playground.”
I can’t believe I’m hearing what I think I’m hearing coming out of his mouth.
“I’m withdrawing my bid,” he says, then steps past the few people standing next to him and out into the lobby area. I watch him the whole way out.
“I’ll take the bid,” a man next to him shouts out. But now that Carter’s put that out there, there’s no way Candice will go forward with her plan for extra, extremely un-needed, help this year.
She calls the room to order but I can’t sit here anymore. I have to know why he did that. Why he would pass up on money when he’s all about the money. I make my way to the back of the room while Candice requests a vote on this year’s Halloween committee. Once I’m in the lobby, I see him pushing his way out the doors.
“Carter, wait.”
He stops, but his hand is still on the door.
“I don’t understand,” I say. “Why did you just give up the easiest five hundred dollars for three hours’ worth of work that you’ll probably ever make?”
He lets the door go and when his eyes look down at me, he’s not just looking at me. He’s looking into me. He shrugs and that boyish grin is back. “You were right.”
This man is unbelievable. Three simple words. Not even close to what you’d think would take someone’s breath away but that’s exactly what he does. I smile and mentally note this as the best what the fuck moment. Ever.
Carter’s brow dips a tad. “What?”
“Nothing.” My face flushes but I try desperately to hide it by shaking my head.
He crosses his arms and studies me for a moment. “Why do I get the impression you don’t hear that very often?”
Right into me.
“Lately?” I have no idea why I feel the need to confess my frustrations with him. “Let’s just say you’re my first in quite some time.”
Tears make their attempt to be seen. I try to swallow them down but I can’t seem to hold them back. I can blink them away though. He could say something completely insensitive right now. Tell me how silly I’m being. Maybe a sarcastic, “you’re welcome” but he doesn’t. Carter just smirks and lifts one perfectly shaped eyebrow.
“Your first huh? That’s some privilege.”
A giggle escapes me unexpectedly and I let it out. It’s like a release of some sort.
“Wow.”
His eyebrows lift and his smirk blossoms into a full on smile.
“What?” I’m only a tiny bit embarrassed.
“I dare say, that’s the best laugh I’ve heard in a long time.” Carter’s easy explanation and sincere tone makes me feel like everything that’s gone wrong today was leading up to this one, single right.
“Thanks.” I push some hair behind my ear to keep my hands busy and the focus off of the heat in my cheeks.
He nods. “You’re welcome, Iris.”
What feels like a millennium passes. I swing my arms from front to back and clap my hands in between the action.
“Well.”
Swing, clap. Swing clap.
“I guess I’ll . . . let you go,” I say in an awkward attempt to keep this moment from turning ugly.
Swing. Clap.
But when I go to head back inside and get my things, he stops me by wrapping his hand around my wrist, gently. I look down at our hands then up at him and I hold my breath. Why am I holding my breath?
“Can I walk you to your car?” he asks.
“Um.”
There, I can breathe again.
“It’s only four away from yours,” he insists.
I know this isn’t a date. This is the
Screw.
You.
Then I notice Carter, watching me.
He taps the bottom of his chin with the back of his hand and it takes me a minute to realize he’s telling me to close my mouth. I do. Then he continues his conversation with Candice.
“You don’t really need a professional at the carnival,” he says, confirming he’s referring to our money situation. “Now, would I like the extra cash? Sure, who wouldn’t? But I don’t think I could sleep too good if I knew I was taking money away from kids who can’t afford their own playground.”
I can’t believe I’m hearing what I think I’m hearing coming out of his mouth.
“I’m withdrawing my bid,” he says, then steps past the few people standing next to him and out into the lobby area. I watch him the whole way out.
“I’ll take the bid,” a man next to him shouts out. But now that Carter’s put that out there, there’s no way Candice will go forward with her plan for extra, extremely un-needed, help this year.
She calls the room to order but I can’t sit here anymore. I have to know why he did that. Why he would pass up on money when he’s all about the money. I make my way to the back of the room while Candice requests a vote on this year’s Halloween committee. Once I’m in the lobby, I see him pushing his way out the doors.
“Carter, wait.”
He stops, but his hand is still on the door.
“I don’t understand,” I say. “Why did you just give up the easiest five hundred dollars for three hours’ worth of work that you’ll probably ever make?”
He lets the door go and when his eyes look down at me, he’s not just looking at me. He’s looking into me. He shrugs and that boyish grin is back. “You were right.”
This man is unbelievable. Three simple words. Not even close to what you’d think would take someone’s breath away but that’s exactly what he does. I smile and mentally note this as the best what the fuck moment. Ever.
Carter’s brow dips a tad. “What?”
“Nothing.” My face flushes but I try desperately to hide it by shaking my head.
He crosses his arms and studies me for a moment. “Why do I get the impression you don’t hear that very often?”
Right into me.
“Lately?” I have no idea why I feel the need to confess my frustrations with him. “Let’s just say you’re my first in quite some time.”
Tears make their attempt to be seen. I try to swallow them down but I can’t seem to hold them back. I can blink them away though. He could say something completely insensitive right now. Tell me how silly I’m being. Maybe a sarcastic, “you’re welcome” but he doesn’t. Carter just smirks and lifts one perfectly shaped eyebrow.
“Your first huh? That’s some privilege.”
A giggle escapes me unexpectedly and I let it out. It’s like a release of some sort.
“Wow.”
His eyebrows lift and his smirk blossoms into a full on smile.
“What?” I’m only a tiny bit embarrassed.
“I dare say, that’s the best laugh I’ve heard in a long time.” Carter’s easy explanation and sincere tone makes me feel like everything that’s gone wrong today was leading up to this one, single right.
“Thanks.” I push some hair behind my ear to keep my hands busy and the focus off of the heat in my cheeks.
He nods. “You’re welcome, Iris.”
What feels like a millennium passes. I swing my arms from front to back and clap my hands in between the action.
“Well.”
Swing, clap. Swing clap.
“I guess I’ll . . . let you go,” I say in an awkward attempt to keep this moment from turning ugly.
Swing. Clap.
But when I go to head back inside and get my things, he stops me by wrapping his hand around my wrist, gently. I look down at our hands then up at him and I hold my breath. Why am I holding my breath?
“Can I walk you to your car?” he asks.
“Um.”
There, I can breathe again.
“It’s only four away from yours,” he insists.
I know this isn’t a date. This is the
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