Page 19 of Forever After All (Pine Harbour #2)

Carter

I look down at my phone to a message from my brother.

"Jesus, news really does fucking travel fast with you two," I mumble, still half asleep.

That didn't take long. In fact, it took about twenty seconds from the time Autumn left the apartment to me getting that text.

I didn't picture my sister-in-law as a gossip, yet here we are.

Alice scoots past me, shoots me a look that could kill even the strongest man, and disappears out of her apartment door.

Me: Should have known better than to bet money when it involves me.

Sawyer: Don't hurt her, moron.

Me: Oh yeah, because that's what I live for. Leaving a trail of broken women in my wake.

Sawyer: Well, if the reputation fits.

Me: Fuck you.

Sawyer: That's how you got into this mess.

Me: *Middle finger emoji*

I slide my phone back into the pocket of Alice's sweats that I'm wearing and head towards the coffee.

The aroma of it is what woke me in the first place.

I pour myself a mug and walk towards the couch, but instead of sitting on it, I walk straight past it and head for the apartment door as I hear laughing from the other side of it.

What are you doing? Leave them alone.

I can't help myself and I press my ear to the door, hoping to listen to the conversation. The voices are very muffled through the thick wood, so I press my ear into it harder hoping it will make a difference.

"I was horny, he was there. We're friends. He's fun, it's safe… "

I'm able to hear the girls talking on the other side of the door and even though I know I shouldn't be listening, I do it anyway.

"There is nothing going on outside the physical."

Speak for yourself, Alice.

I pull away from the door and take a few long sips of my black coffee. Steam swirls off the top of the mug.

Their voices get lower and I can't make anything out. Maybe it's my cue to walk away and stop trying to listen to a private conversation. I can't help eavesdropping. I know I shouldn't, but at this point I also don't care.

"This means nothing. He's just a lay." Their voices may be muffled and quieter, but I heard that as clear as day.

Ouch. Is that really what she thinks or is she just saying that? It dawns on me that we haven’t had any sort of conversation about boundaries, wants, needs, or where we stand.

In hindsight, that would have been a good idea, but when I had Alice's body in my hands last night, and she was moaning for me and crumbling under my touch, funnily enough the last thing on my mind was boundaries.

She's a mess, remember? She told you.

I need to leave. At least until we figure this thing out. This could get messy and it could get messy very fucking fast. Did I take advantage of her last night? A wave of guilt rolls over my stomach .

I put my mug on the counter and head back into Alice's bedroom.

Looking around the room, I make sure I've left nothing behind.

I kick off her sweats and chuck them at the bottom of the bed then go back into the living room and gather my clothes that are strewn over the floor and pull them on hurriedly.

I head towards the apartment door, forgetting that my wallet and keys are on the rug.

Alice walks back into the apartment at that moment.

"The coffee is done. I've poured you a mug. Sorry, I have to go. Something’s come up." I try desperately to keep my tone even, as I grab my stuff from the floor.

This isn't her fault. It's not her fault I touched her and became infatuated. It's not her fault that she struggles, it's not her fault that all I can think about is kissing every inch of her bare skin.

"Oh, okay. Is everything okay? You look upset.

" Alice reaches out to touch my arm and I move out of the way.

I cannot bear to feel her touch, because if I do, then I'll slam her up against this goddamn wall and fuck her until she can't speak.

I've had a taste of Alice, in more ways than one, and until we know what this is, I need to go.

"I'm fine, Alice. Have a good day." And I leave the apartment, pulling the door closed behind me. I couldn't get out of there fast enough.