“Red, it’s okay.”
“No, it’s not,” I say, pulling back. I study his face, grateful to see a bit of relief in the lines around his eyes. “I didn’t like the look on your face when you left. Carter Forkerro being sad mademefeel sad. I physically never want to see that from you again.”
“I’m not sad. I get it,” he says, huffing a laugh. “Fake or not, you’re spending a lot of time with me. I think Noah had ill intentions with that gameplay, but I don’t blame you. Hell, I’m happy you’re someone who would look into a guy’s history. That’s important.”
I frown. “Ill intentions?”
“Yeah,” he says, stepping back and burying his hands in his pockets. “Noah is purposely inserting himself into your love life. It was clear that night atIceboxand it’s clear based on those papers that he doesn’t want you with me. I don’t think he wants you withanyone,to be quite frank.”
I stare up at him. He doesn’t know Noah, so he doesn’t get it. It’s not like that. Never has been.
“If you’re into him, that might sound charming, but I’d be careful,” he says, his smile slowly dwindling. “I might punch stupid people who do stupid things, but that kind of shit is controlling and borderline stalking, Red.That’sthe actual threat.”
“I’m not into Noah,” I tell him. Not at all.
“Alright,” he says with a nod. “But Noah is into you. Just…keep that in mind.”
He does the same thing with Whitney and Autumn. I don’t think he’s into me, I just think he’s…protective, in a different way than Carter is.
“Are we fighting?” I ask quietly.
Carter’s face cracks with that beaming grin I missed seeing on his face for the ten minutes that it was gone. “What?”
“Is this our first fight as a faux couple?” I ask again, crossing my arms in front of my chest. “Because I don’t like this feeling.”
“We’re not fighting.”
“Okay.” I dip my chin and let out a little breath. “That’s good.”
“Did you call me back here to make sure we weren’t fighting?”
“No, I called you back here to apologize.”
He arches a brow. “Funny. I don’t think I heard the words ‘I’m sorry.’”
I glare up at him, but he’s smiling again and it’s contagious. He reaches forward, tucks a strand of red hair behind my ear, and lowers his head until we’re eye level. He scoops my face in his hands and holds it gently between his palms.
“I accept your apology, Mrs. Faux Forkerro.”
I grimace. “Well, I’m thinking about taking it back now.”
He barks out a laugh. “Too late. No givesies backsies.”
“Yeah, I’m definitely taking it back. Apology revoked,” I decide, nodding between his hands.
“Not the way it works,” he chides, shaking his head.
“I’m not sorry anymore.”
“Yeah, you are.” He smiles, dropping his hands from my face. He takes a few backward steps toward his vehicle, his smile bright and back to normal.
“I’ll see you in a few days?” I ask, and there’s a hopeful twinge in my voice that I loathe. After three night shifts and one away game.
He flashes me a wink, nods, and pulls his sunglasses onto his face. “Counting down the seconds, girlfriend!”
november
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
