Page 60 of False Promises

He studied me for a minute as if to assess whether I was trying to coerce him into agreeing to something he wouldn’t enjoy.

“It’s both our worlds coming together. I heard great reviews. They’re displaying pieces that are usually secured in museums. Even”—I snapped my fingers, trying to remember the name of one of Carter’s idols—“I can’t remember the name… You know the guy. Broody. Dark.”

“Johnny Cash.”

I jumped in my seat. “Yes. Him.”

It seemed to do the trick because the walls around Carter melted at the name of the music artist.

“Do you wanna go?” I tried again.

He shrugged. “Sure. Could be fun.”

“Great.”

The rest of the day passed in a blur. Carter’s happy mood came back as we walked the exhibition. Four times, we had to stop for pictures with his fans. His fingers intertwined with mine as we left the venue. “Thanks for bringing me here” was all he said before pulling away from the parking lot.

We drove in silence for a while. Carter looked more relaxed than he’d been in weeks. At some point, his fingers weaved through mine again, and he rested our joined hands on my lap. “Sushi?” he asked, his head tilting to meet my gaze. “We could get takeout and watch a movie or something.”

I loved the prospect of letting go of the argument that had kept us apart for far too long. “I’d like that. Same order as usual?” I asked.

He nodded, and using the app on my phone, I placed our order.

For the rest of the evening, we cuddled on the couch, sharing food and watching a comedy we both agreed on. Life was back to normal. And it gave me hope. That whatever stood between us, we could mend it if we gave it a try.

Around midnight, Carter was in the bedroom, exiting the shower with only a towel around his waist when I walked in. For a second, I admired his toned abs and the golden skin that covered every inch of him. Yes, the Californian sun—thanks to our walk on the beach today—had done wonders for his complexion.

After the day we had, I wasn’t ready to lose him all over again to his life up North.

“I was thinking,” I began while I slipped into a set of silk pajamas. “Instead of going to Tennessee, why don’t you invite Dahlia and Jack over for a few days? You’ve been saying for months how you wished I’d meet them. This could be the perfect opportunity.”

Carter’s eyes snapped toward mine, and surprise painted his expression. Yeah, I was never the one begging for a child to enter my perfect life, but if inviting them over would help to keep the much-needed peace between us, then so damn be it. I would sacrifice my own comfort and peace for two or three days.

And a voice in my head repeated in a loop I should size up the competition. Carter admitted one night that Dahlia Ellis, his ex-bandmate and deceased-brother’s widow, was the only woman he ever truly loved. And I wanted to understand why. If we were to have a future together, I had to grasp every bit of the missing piece of information.

“What do you say?” I pressed, sitting on the edge of the bed and rubbing rose water lotion over my hands. “We could settle them in one of the guest rooms.” My tongue burned to propose they be set up at a hotel, but knowing Carter, he’d either refuse or would spend time with them there, and I would end up here alone. “You could buy a crib.”

Carter swiveled to face me. “Jack sleeps in a bed. He’s not a baby anymore.”

I flicked my wrist around me. “Whatever. You get what I mean.”

He studied me with an expression I couldn’t decipher. Once again today, I smiled at him in the sweetest possible way so he would have no reason to refuse. Or doubt my motives.

“After over a year of dating and making all kinds of excuses to never meet my family, you’re suddenly feeling the urge to play hostess? What’s the catch?”

I sighed and lowered my shoulders. “There’s none. At first, it was because I felt threatened by Dahlia. Now that I know we’re serious, she doesn’t bother me as much. And I know you miss them. You keep going to them every chance you get. For once, I’m offering you to invite them over.” I moved to my feet and looped my arms around his neck, staring deep into his eyes. “My jealousy was misplaced. I realize it now. What do you say? It would be fun to go to the beach, the four of us. Like we did today. And dine someplace trendy. When was the last time Dahlia came to LA?” I cocked a brow, hoping my sincerity showed. “I’m sure she’d like the escape to sunnier sceneries for a quick vacation.”

Carter caressed my cheek with a knuckle and combed my hair back. “You would do that? For me?”

I nodded. “I would do anything for you.” I pinched my lips together before I formulated the words I hadn’t planned to reveal. “I love you. Isn’t this what love means? Compromises? And being there for each other?”

“I suppose.” He remained silent. I didn’t miss the fact he didn’t return the L-word. Truth? I didn’t expect him to. If I’d learned anything about Carter Hills in the last year, it was that his heart wasn’t accessible. Sure, he might enjoy my company—who wouldn’t?—but not enough to break the thick wall of ice he hid his heart behind. Not yet. But I’d work hard to melt every layer. One day, I would get those words back. Tenfold.

“Is that a yes?” I asked, using my most smooth-as-honey voice. The one he could never resist.

He rubbed his scruffy jaw. “Let me talk to her, and I’ll let you know.” His smile broke free. “I’d love for them to come over. Thanks for offering.”

As I moved to my tiptoes to kiss him, I untied the towel around his waist. It pooled on the floor at our feet. “Oopsy,” I said against his lips. The remaining distance and tension that had been running high between us dissolved. If I’d known inviting his unrequited love over would chase his reluctance toward me, I would have done it a long time ago.