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“Okay…”
That didn’t sound like an affirmativeokay.
“Look,” she started, “this is the part where I have to be real with you, Zoe. If you were a man and you were dating around, this probably wouldn’t be an issue. I know, I know. Double standard. People suck.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice.”
“But I will anyway. There are a lot of people out there who don’t take too kindly to women hooking up casually. Especially when those women are mothers. I don’t know why, but as soon as you have a child, you’re expected to behave like a nun in the public eye,” she continued. “So unless you and Carter are serious or it’s really headed in that direction…”
“I get it. No more… sleepovers with the neighbor boy.”
“Carter’s handsome and I bet he’s a good time,” she said. “But he’s not the type you build a home with.”
Holly looked down and wrote a few more notes. My mind started to wander. Carter said that he wasn’t ready for serious. But every one of his actions said otherwise. He literally helped me build a home. His work was in our walls. He was the one who sent Holly over to help me keep custody of Rex. He helped build my life. He’s helping me keep it.
Why wasn’t he ready to be a part of it?
“Zoe?” Holly asked, forcing me back to reality. “Does that sound okay?”
“Does what sound okay?”
“That we’ll schedule something at your condo sometime next week. That’ll give you time to make sure your place is in order and to talk to Rex.”
“Okay.”
“Good,” she continued. “It’ll also give you some time to talk to Carter. You know… say what you need to say to him.”
“Yeah.” I swallowed hard. “Good idea.”
Twenty-Five
Carter
I had just gotten home from the hardware store when I got a text from Zoe.
Zoe: We need to talk.
Nothing good ever comes from awe need to talktext. I told her I’d be at her place in ten. I changed my shirt and ran my fingers through my hair before heading next door, wondering what she needed. It had been a week since I’d sent Holly to help Zoe with her custody situation and while she’d thanked me when she got home that night, we hadn’t talked since. About anything.
I knocked on her door and she let me in. I reached out for a hug, but we both knew to break it early. As she pulled away, I felt a chill run through my body.
“Carter, I…”
“You can’t do this anymore,” I stated.
She nodded. “It’s not that I don’t like you. Or care about you. Or appreciate everything you’ve done,” she said. “But with the custody stuff and Desmond…”
“I get it.”
“It’s just… if we were serious—”
“I get it, Zoe.” I put my hands up in mock surrender. “Is this all you wanted to talk about?”
It wasn’t. I could see it in her expression.
“Yes,” she answered. “I just… I wish things… never mind.”
I nodded slowly. I did too.
