Page 82 of I Think He Knows
“Not surprised. If anything, I’m shocked that there weren’t any more puking casualties with all the games of chubby bunnies.”
I laugh at the thought of Carter and Allegra, smiling and happy, with their mouths full of marshmallows. “I’m going to miss Legs so much when we go to LA next week.”
“I told you, she’s welcome to come. Although I’d want to get some extra security if she does. Can’t be too careful.”
His concern warms my heart. “Better she doesn’t miss school. Plus, she’s super excited to stay at Annie and Liam’s.”
I don’t add that, as much as I’ll miss my daughter, I’m also excited to have some time alone with Carter. The premiere is only one evening, so we’ll have a couple days to explore LA. I’ve never been to California. Carter’s offered a bunch of times to pay for Allegra and me to fly out, but I’ve never been able to accept that offer. I always figured that he’d actually be paying for us to get in his way—I know how busy he is when he’s working.
But this time, I can’t wait to experience a taste of his life out there with him. See whatmyCarter looks like inhiscity.
“It’s only a few days,” Carter says in this low, husky whisper that probably isn’t meant to be sexy but totally is. “We’ll be home before she knows it.”
Home.
His use of the word is so casual, it could’ve been accidental. But it makes my heart soar with hope. Could he really see Atlanta being home again for him? One day in the future, maybe?
“That’s true. And she made me promise to bring back some In-N-Out Burger. She saw a documentary about it and is quite convinced that it’ll top Chick-fil-A.”
“It’s a grave possibility. That shiz is delicious.” Carter laughs softly, and then, quick as a cat, reaches out and grabs my hand, pulling me out of my awkward crouch and onto the air mattress next to him.
“What’re you doing?” I whisper-squeal.
“Saying hi.” He says, his face close to mine. “Hi, by the way.”
“Hi, you weirdo. We’ve been talking for, like, the last five minutes.” I speak as casually as I can, but my heart is thumping a million miles a minute. His warm body is so close, his heady scent surrounding me.
“Yup. But what’re you doing now?” Carter, meanwhile, is cool and calm, like we’re standing in line at the bank and not sitting together on a too-small air mattress, inches from each other in the dark.
“Going home, I guess.” I shift my butt on the mattress gingerly. “I'm all done with my chores for the evening.”
“Why don’t you stay a while?” he murmurs softly, running his hand down my arm and wrapping it around my wrist. “I mean, I’m awake now, and holding you accountable.”
“Don’t you mean holding me hostage?”
“Semantics.”
“Hardly,” I reply with a snort. He’s still holding my wrist, and he gives it a tug so that I tumble down beside him. The air mattress is, indeed, very small. Much too small for both of us. But Carter slings an arm around me and pulls me into his chest, and I’m immediately comfortable. “That’s better,” he says with a smile in his voice.
“I guess I could lie down for just a minute.”
“Good girl.”
“Do you say that to all your hostages?” I blink up at him innocently, and his chest rumbles with laughter.
“Only the cute ones,” he replies, and I jolt, remembering his same words to me the night we met, ten years ago. A coincidence, or does he recall that night as well as I do? The way his eyes danced as he flirted with me, our fiery, funny back-and-forth before my night descended into total chaos…
In all the time I’ve known him, he hasn’t flirted with me again. Until this week.
“Gee, glad I made the cut.” I repeat my own line from that night, and his arm tightens around me, a silent communication that hedoesremember. I shiver in his grip.
“Hey, Llama?” he says sleepily, burying his face in my hair.
“Yeah?” I look at the shadows dancing on the roof of the tent.
“You should stay tonight.”
“I…”