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As much as I want to point out the obvious, that we’re both desperate to be together, I don’t. After what she went through, I can’t even imagine where her head is, so I don’t push. I do, however, lay my feelings on the line for her.
“I want to put the past behind us. I don’t care about what happened. None of it. I just need to have you in my life.”
“I can’t, Carter. I just…” She begins to cry again.
“I just want to be your friend, Lex. That’s it.” At least for now. The woman is worth the wait. And I’ll be here, however long it takes.
“Friends?” she says, though she sounds unconvinced. I would be as well if I was her. There’s no doubt where my heart lies.
“Yeah, friends. You can take whatever time and space you need. I’ll be right here, waiting for you. You’re worth it, Lexie. We’re worth it.”
She rests her head back on my shoulder.
“Friends.”
Chapter27
Lexie
Step one of our friendship: friends help each other out. Since Carter helped me with Aaron, I didn’t have to plead with him too much to get him to let me accompany him to his doctor’s appointment.
After the attack, we went to the hospital and did some tests, but the doctors there were less than helpful. It’s not completely their fault. With less than complete records it would be impossible to know the condition of Carter’s arm. Still, the last thing I want is him giving up. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. He’s seemed to have adopted that motto in relation to us. I just need for him to find it again when it comes to his career.
Miracles do happen. They happened to me the minute Carter walked into that room and saved me from Aaron.
The day after Aaron attacked me, I headed into the Ravens owner’s office and told him exactly what his players had been doing. Part of me knew it wouldn’t make a difference, but I had to speak up. I couldn’t just let this go.
Ted essentially gave me the “that’s what it’s like being a woman in a man’s world” speech. I don’t care what world we’re living in. There isn’t one that makes what Aaron did okay.
Carter encouraged me to file charges, but with all the media attention we were already getting, I just wasn’t ready. I just wanted to go home.
Today, Carter and I are sitting in the room, waiting for the doctor to come in. He’s on the exam table, swinging his feet and looking calmer than he should. I’m a nervous wreck, and this isn’t my career on the line. He can’t possibly be okay with this, not after all the work he did to get here.
The doctor walks in a serious look on his face. Either Carter doesn’t notice, or he doesn’t care.
“Hey, Doc,” he greets him.
“Carter,” the doctor says. He sits down on his rolling chair and comes to a stop in front of Carter. “What the hell are you trying to do here, kid?”
“It was an emergency,” Carter tells him.
“Yeah, well, that emergency may have just cost you your career,” the doctor replies.
He begins to go over the MRI results. They’re not good. At the end of the day, it’s going to take nothing short of a miracle for Carter to repair his arm.
“Thanks, Doc, I appreciate it,” he says as he hops off the table. “See you in two weeks.”
I follow him out of the office. What the hell is with him? This isn’t good. Why is he so okay with this?
“Carter,” I yell after him. He stops and turns to me. “Talk to me. You can’t be okay with this?”
“Maybe not, but I am. It is what it is, Lex.” He keeps moving.
I run to catch up with him and stop in front of him, crossing my arms over my chest.
“If you quit doing stupid shit, I can help you. We might be—”
“I’m not living on mights or maybes. What’s done is done.”
