Page 13 of For One Night

“I suppose.” Carter throws his whiskey back. “But we both know she’ll not be using it.”

My head spins. “Excuse me?”

“When we marry, you’ll be at home with our children.” Carter won’t even look at me as I sit gaping.

Mr. Eastman sits back, stoned faced. “You’re kidding me?”

“No, Father.” Carter mimics his father.

Mr. Eastman’s eyes narrow ever so slightly. “Never.”

“Too late.” Carter takes my hand as I sit openmouthed. “She’s already said yes.”

He’s never said a word about this. We don’t even call this our anniversary. It took him forever to even say we were dating, and I’m not sure if we became a couple or if everyone just assumed it. I’ve disliked the way we are for so long, I stopped caring what title it held.

His mother lays her hand on his shoulder. “Carter, no.”

“Where’s her ring?” Mr. Eastman says through gritted teeth.

Carter’s response is cold. “We’re picking it out together.”

“I’ll never allow this.” His father’s words cut through me, just as Carter’s had.

Carter stands, pulling me with him. “I’m marrying her, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

“You’ll regret it for the rest of your life,” his father growls. Suddenly, I’m Team Carter.

Carter leads me from the restaurant as fast as we entered. I’m angry, for myself and him. I’m not completely sure what happened here tonight, but I do know this isn’t how it’s supposed to be.

We’re both quiet until the car comes, and he doesn’t wait to hold my door open; he darts straight for the driver’s seat. I climb in, buckling up as fast as I can. Without a doubt, he’s angry. I am too.

After a few blocks, he finally speaks. “We’ll go tomorrow and buy a ring.”

“Are you joking?” I scoff.

“Lolita, now is not the time.”

“Seriously?” I turn on him. “You will not ‘Lolita’ me, as if I shouldn’t be angry about any of this. You haven’t even asked me!”

“You never thought we’d get married?” He chances a quick look at me. “Please, you’ve planned it a million times.”

“I may have thought about it a few times, but I assure you, I would prefer to be asked,” I snap.

He shakes his head. “Fine, marry me.”

“Asked! Not told, Carter.” I fall back into my seat.

“Will you marry me?”

I shake my head, hoping he won’t notice my body is doing the same. “Probably not.”

“What I’m trying to say, Lola…” he pulls into his lot, parking in the first spot, “…is we both know we’re going to end up together. Why not go ahead and make it clear.”

“You truly believe you love me enough to marry me?”

He faces me, taking my hand. “I know you love me, and that’s all I want.”

“Do you love me?” I search his eyes knowing I’ll never see what I need to.

Carter’s face softens, and he reels me in like he always does. “You know what you mean to me, so say yes.”

Without a doubt, I know this isn’t going to end well. Carter’s never put into this relationship what I have. I keep telling myself that he will one day, but the day has never come.

We’re on again, off again and usually only when he wants. I’ve accepted it this long and keep telling myself it’s how he is, but is it enough? Even with all my doubts, I love him.

Will I ever be enough for him?

My stomach churns, and I know what I should say, but my heart speaks first. “Yes.”