Thanks for
the offer, but you really don’t need to involve yourself. Like I
said, I have a lawyer. I’ve done everything that can be done.” The
rest was up to me. Now if they’d just leave me go on my merry
little way, I could make the calls I needed to make and start
searching for a new residence. The sooner the better.
“ You can’t
run your whole life, honey.”
“ I’ll do
whatever I have to do to keep my son away from his
father.”
“ What about
Tate?” Carter inquired , as if the brief
fling Tate and I had might somehow factor him into my life. Despite
Tate’s umbrage over my situation, it wasn’t any of his
concern.
“ What about
Tate?” I countered. “You’re on tour. You’ll all be gone in a few
weeks. He’ll move onto the next strawberry girl.”
Slowly , a dubious smile spread
across Carter’s face. “You know what I think?”
“I’m sure you’re going to tell me
anyway.”
Leaning
forward, Carter placed his elbows on the table. “I think you
brought our boy Tate home for a road gig,
and then you shared your little story to scare him off when you
realized he was serious about you.”
“ You’re
right,” I said, rising from my chair . “I
did. I took him home for a night of mutual sex, and then I cut him
loose because I didn’t want to burden him with my problems.”
Turning to Richard, I proffered my hand. “His name’s Grant Hayes.
I’m sure you’ll have no problem finding his name once you obtain
the records, which I know you’ll do despite my protests. You’ll
find the restraining order along with a number of accounts where
he’s defied it. The last time I heard from him was ten months ago,
which was the last time I moved. He sent me several texts
containing images of my apartment, pointing out all the ways he
could break inside if he wanted. Trust me, they were subtle
compared to some of the gifts he left on my doorstep. Share them
with Carter if you like. I’m sure he’ll find them
entertaining.”
That said, I
walked. I thanked Jess stiffly for her hospitality, plucked Levy
from t he pony and headed for my car.
Carter followed, closing the distance between us as I reached the
door.
“ Cooper .”
Ignoring
him, I tucked Levy in his seat and began
buckling his harness.
“ Hey, what I
said, I didn’t mean it that way. I wasn’t finished. You took it out
of context.”
“ You sure
you don’t have bipolar disorder?” Though he was doing a poor job of
it, he sounded like he was trying to apologize again. Jess was
right. The guy was an emotional enigma. “I really can’t keep up
with your mood changes.”
“ Can you
give me a minute to explain? Jesus. Tate’s gonna kick my ass if I
let you ru—” Doing the wrong thing, Carter grabbed my arm. His
fingertips dimpled my skin and something in me snapped. Something
instinctual and defensive that lay dormant inside me, two years of
aggrandized fear that emerged at the wrong moment. His breath left
in a whoosh as my knee connected with his groin. It was a knee-jerk
reaction, no pun intended.
Bending at
the waist, Carter fell against the
neighboring car, cupping his balls. I stared in shock for a split
second, surprised with my response.
“ I’m sorry,”
I said, and y anking the door open, I
dropped into the driver’s seat. I barely took the time to adjust
the seat before I threw the car into drive and pulled away. A small
pang of guilt settled over my chest as I coasted down the driveway
and spotted Tate in the rearview mirror staring back at me, but I
quickly bottled it away. He’d recover faster than I
would.
Chapter
6
“ M y God, look at you,” said Em,
watching the video, eyes glittering with admiration. “I think my
eyes are actually tearing up.”
“ I think
you’re missing the point, Em.” She wasn’t
listening to me, or rather she was, but just in total disagreement.
“This is bad. Really bad.”
“ What’re
yo u talking about? This is great . A
lot of people sound like trash
the offer, but you really don’t need to involve yourself. Like I
said, I have a lawyer. I’ve done everything that can be done.” The
rest was up to me. Now if they’d just leave me go on my merry
little way, I could make the calls I needed to make and start
searching for a new residence. The sooner the better.
“ You can’t
run your whole life, honey.”
“ I’ll do
whatever I have to do to keep my son away from his
father.”
“ What about
Tate?” Carter inquired , as if the brief
fling Tate and I had might somehow factor him into my life. Despite
Tate’s umbrage over my situation, it wasn’t any of his
concern.
“ What about
Tate?” I countered. “You’re on tour. You’ll all be gone in a few
weeks. He’ll move onto the next strawberry girl.”
Slowly , a dubious smile spread
across Carter’s face. “You know what I think?”
“I’m sure you’re going to tell me
anyway.”
Leaning
forward, Carter placed his elbows on the table. “I think you
brought our boy Tate home for a road gig,
and then you shared your little story to scare him off when you
realized he was serious about you.”
“ You’re
right,” I said, rising from my chair . “I
did. I took him home for a night of mutual sex, and then I cut him
loose because I didn’t want to burden him with my problems.”
Turning to Richard, I proffered my hand. “His name’s Grant Hayes.
I’m sure you’ll have no problem finding his name once you obtain
the records, which I know you’ll do despite my protests. You’ll
find the restraining order along with a number of accounts where
he’s defied it. The last time I heard from him was ten months ago,
which was the last time I moved. He sent me several texts
containing images of my apartment, pointing out all the ways he
could break inside if he wanted. Trust me, they were subtle
compared to some of the gifts he left on my doorstep. Share them
with Carter if you like. I’m sure he’ll find them
entertaining.”
That said, I
walked. I thanked Jess stiffly for her hospitality, plucked Levy
from t he pony and headed for my car.
Carter followed, closing the distance between us as I reached the
door.
“ Cooper .”
Ignoring
him, I tucked Levy in his seat and began
buckling his harness.
“ Hey, what I
said, I didn’t mean it that way. I wasn’t finished. You took it out
of context.”
“ You sure
you don’t have bipolar disorder?” Though he was doing a poor job of
it, he sounded like he was trying to apologize again. Jess was
right. The guy was an emotional enigma. “I really can’t keep up
with your mood changes.”
“ Can you
give me a minute to explain? Jesus. Tate’s gonna kick my ass if I
let you ru—” Doing the wrong thing, Carter grabbed my arm. His
fingertips dimpled my skin and something in me snapped. Something
instinctual and defensive that lay dormant inside me, two years of
aggrandized fear that emerged at the wrong moment. His breath left
in a whoosh as my knee connected with his groin. It was a knee-jerk
reaction, no pun intended.
Bending at
the waist, Carter fell against the
neighboring car, cupping his balls. I stared in shock for a split
second, surprised with my response.
“ I’m sorry,”
I said, and y anking the door open, I
dropped into the driver’s seat. I barely took the time to adjust
the seat before I threw the car into drive and pulled away. A small
pang of guilt settled over my chest as I coasted down the driveway
and spotted Tate in the rearview mirror staring back at me, but I
quickly bottled it away. He’d recover faster than I
would.
Chapter
6
“ M y God, look at you,” said Em,
watching the video, eyes glittering with admiration. “I think my
eyes are actually tearing up.”
“ I think
you’re missing the point, Em.” She wasn’t
listening to me, or rather she was, but just in total disagreement.
“This is bad. Really bad.”
“ What’re
yo u talking about? This is great . A
lot of people sound like trash
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