Page 41 of A Forever Love
“But you mentioned Kings Security owns two vacant places there.” Brandon takes a bite of his sandwich, while mine sits untouched on the table.
“Yes, but one of my dad’s colleagues recently moved in for work.”
“My bad luck, then. But you’re still going to help me find a place, right?”
“Absolutely.”
“Merida. Brandon.”
I turn in my seat to greet Kristy, but my smile fades when I see her company. Oscar and Carter follow her into the café. They pause at our table, and the bread I just ate slowly turns sour in my stomach.
“Would you like to join us?” Kristy asks us.
“No, thank you. We have a lot of catching up to do, if you don’t mind.” A knot forms in my stomach.
“Of course, no problem.” Kristy introduces Brandon to Oscar and Carter as a new intern.
“It’s been a long time,” Carter says, extending his hand to Brandon. His aviators conceal his eyes, making it hard to read his expression. However, the tension in his jaw and the roughness in his voice surprises me.
Brandon, on the other hand, seems to match Carter’s intensity perfectly.
“Over four years, Carter,” Brandon replies.
Kristy coughs lightly. “Alright then, I’ll catch you both at the office.”
As I begin to make my way out, Carter halts me. “When should I pick you up?”
“You don’t need to do that.” My gaze flickers from Carter to Brandon, who seems to be holding his breath. “I’ll take the bus.”
“I’m coming to pick you up, mittens. Text me the time.”
As soon they’re out of earshot, Brandon grumbles, “Are you fucking kidding me?”
“Not now.” I give him a tense stare.
We’ve just left the café and have crossed the street, me trying to speed walk back to the office, when Brandon stops me.
“You can’t dodge this talk, Merida. What the heck is Carter King doing here?” A moment passes before realization dawns on him. “He’s the one who moved into the second apartment.” Brandon paces for a few moments, looking at the ground before his gaze meets mine. “You’re moving in with me. I won’t let him dictate your life again.”
“I’m doing no such thing, and stop making Carter out to be some sort of devil. He’s a good man.”
“But he’s not good for you,” he grinds out. “You missed everything for four years—your family, your home, your town—all because of him. And now he’s back in your life like nothing happened?” By the time he’s done, Brandon is shaking with fury.
“Everything was my decision. He doesn’t even remember.” The words struggle to escape my lips.
“That doesn’t make it right, dammit. I’m not going to let you spiral back into that hole of depression again, Mere. It broke me to see you like that.”
“I was only seventeen back then, and I don’t want to ever be in that place again. I have to learn how to co-exist with Carter without his presence consuming my life.” Emotion clogs my throat as memories of the past resurface, moments when I prayed for my life to revolve around Carter.
“The problem is, you don’t see your life without him.” Brandon locks his gaze with mine, the weight of it hitting me like a punch to the gut, stealing away my breath.
“That’s not the case anymore.” My voice quivers as I muster all the strength to utter those words with conviction.
“I hope so too, Merida, because that man in there is your fatal flaw.”
I follow Brandon’s gaze to the inside of the café, where Carter is fixedly observing us from his table, the one we just vacated by the window.
12