Page 149 of Trusting You

Carter’s hand, the one that I can see, fists on her thigh.

“So, no,” I say. “I don’t regret sleeping with Paige. I don’t regret Ben daring me to and Ash offering up the bills and Paige saying yes. You know why? Because it gave me my life back. It gave me Lily.”

The driver slams on his breaks and honks. Carter jerks against her seat belt and Lily begins to cry.

I unclip my own seat belt to fly between the seats and put the guy in a chokehold, wheelchair or no wheelchair, but Carter chooses that moment to turn around. Her cheeks are shining. Her gold eyes are so bright they sting when they hit mine. They pierce the road rage right out of me.

“I’m sorry,” she says to me. “I’m so sorry I’ve treated you this way, made you think I consider Lily to be a mistake.”

The pressure in my chest eases, and I’m sure it’s more than the blood clot getting smaller. “It’s my issue, one I should’ve been clear with you on. I’m sorry, too, Carter, for not giving you the trust you deserve.”

She reaches her arm between the console, and I hold onto her hand and squeeze. I use the other to shush Lily.

“You brought Lily to me,” I say to Carter. “That’s no mistake.”