Page 9

Carter

Seeing the picture of Harlee and me on her front porch did something to me.

Because it looked so right.

Two halves of a whole finally coming together to make something perfect.

And yes, you better believe I made it my lock screen.

As for my wallpaper, I might be going to hell for that one.

It was a few summers ago when we were at the lake, on our parents’ boat.

Harlee had taken off her cutoff jean shorts and her tank top, revealing a red bikini.

Her hair was down, the wind blowing the blonde strands around.

I was staring at my phone, trying to hide that I was looking at her.

For some reason, my finger had pressed the camera app, and then when she turned her head and looked in my direction, my finger had pressed the button.

Capturing her small smile, her eyes on me, just right.

To say I was probably going to hell... well... I might be.

Because that picture had helped me in a number of ways when it was just me and my hand.

“Who is that?” I heard and then tried to hide my aggravation.

“That’s not Talia.” She continued.

“You’d know if you attended the rewards banquet a few weeks back,” Granger said at my side.

“My sister was getting married. Cleared it already.” She said with a haughtiness I didn’t know how she pulled it off.

“Anyway, who is that? If I’d known you weren’t going to bring one of your siblings, I might have changed my plans.”

I didn’t care to engage with her. It wasn’t worth it.

She was one of those people who had to have the last word in, and it didn’t matter if it was perceived as an insult or not.

She really just didn’t care.

With that thought, I locked my phone, slid it in my pocket, picked up my tray, and headed to the galley.

Granger was walking step for step with me, and at the sound of running feet, I growled.

Granger chuckled, “She has it bad for you.”

“I’d rather swallow bleach followed by a shot of... nah, five shots of vinegar than even get within ten feet of her.

“Guys, wait up.” I heard her say.

Thankfully, someone up ahead was going to provide our escape route.

“Yo, Marshall?” I called out.

Then, almost immediately, she breathed out his name, “Marshall?”

I fought like hell to hide my smirk, but I managed to do it, just barely.

Marshall turned his head, jerked up his chin at us, looked around us, then narrowed his eyes at me as he mouthed, “Payback is a bitch.”

We had passed Marshall and left Susanna behind with Marshall.

“Man, that was epic,” Granger said.

My smirk came out full-blown then.

***

Marshall’s payback came in the form of a blow-up doll with a Susanna nametag standing beside my station.

I shook my head and then flipped him off from where I knew he was in the control room.

Then with Granger, George, Kyle, and Phillip, I got on my gear and then headed into the ocean to get to work.

***

Deep in the water, one hundred feet deep, I let that little light I always saw guide my way.

Her light.

Leading me home without ever knowing it.

***

Whispering Falls, North Carolina

Population – 3,738

Corrected Population – 3,739

For years, I have been trying to figure out who maintains that sign.

Just as everyone else that I knew had also been doing that.

But whoever it was, they were being quiet.

Man, I was fucking tired.

I had just gotten done with a three-month contract.

I stretched in my seat, trying to work out the kink in my back.

I loved what I did.

Was it terrifying at times? Fuck yes it was.

Did I see some cool shit sometimes? Oh, absolutely.

But being an underwater welder wasn’t for the weak.

Can’t tell you how many I have seen come and go.

Chasing the paycheck, wanting more than what they can handle.

But thankfully, that wasn’t me.

I’d been smart.

Chosen a career path that I actually was interested in.

Sixteen years is a long time in any profession.

And thanks to my dad being an accountant before he had retired three years ago, meant that he had helped me save money in more ways than one.

No one knew how much I had in my bank account.

I made a whack at my job.

I owned my own home, no mortgage.

I owned my truck outright.

And since I was gone more times than I was home, my bills were small.

I had all of this money, and no one to spend it on.

Well... that was a lie.

I had spent a portion of it on something that only three people know about.

I had bought the building for Harlee when she graduated from college and had dropped subtle hints to my sister about a space for rent that would be perfect for Harlee.

I had someone appear as the landlord for her, and my dad had facilitated the paperwork and the lease.

Harlee didn’t know it, but every payment she’d made through the years went into an account.

One I never touched. One that would go into a trust fund for Harlee’s future children.

Yeah, I loved her.

I loved her with every beat of my heart.

I just wasn’t good enough for her.

She was all light and sunshine.

All rainbows and color.

There wasn’t anything that made me feel this way.

Honestly, I couldn’t explain it.

It wasn’t just the age gap that had me thinking that way.

Nor was it the fact that she was my little sister’s best friend.

I just looked at her when she smiled, and felt unworthy of her.

There was a man out there who would be worthy of her.

And I knew that when that time came, I would lose the closeness I had with her.

It would kill.

But I would do it.

For her.

And speaking of that, if the man who wins her heart hurts her, they’ll have me in cuffs before you can say, oops.

Shaking my head at where my thoughts had headed, I pulled into Frozen Tree, the local ice cream parlor, and met up with Talia.

We got our ice cream.

Me, rocky road, and her, mint chocolate chip.

I had moved my back a certain way when I sat down, and Talia hadn’t missed my grimace.

Something had tweaked it a few weeks ago while I was working.

“Go see Harlee. She’ll help.” Talia said.

I nodded, “Planning on it. Just wanted to make sure she didn’t have any plans.”

Talia took a bite of her ice cream and shook her head, “Nope. She said she was doing a facial tonight and catching up on one of her favorite shows.”

Jerking my chin up at her, I pulled out my phone and shot a text off to Harlee.

Me – Hey, can you work on my back tonight?

With that done, I asked, “So heard something went down with you and Dominik. You okay?”

She sighed, “Who told you?”

“Garrick,” I said.

She nodded, “Yeah, it would have been fine. Like every other time we bicker, but that day, it was just wrong.”

“Sorry, Tal. Did Dom apologize or anything?” I asked.

Talia snickered, “You could say that,” and with those cryptic words, she pulled out her phone and showed me a picture.

I was damn glad I didn’t have any ice cream in my mouth.

Dominik stood in Milagros in nothing but a Speedo, with one-dollar bills stuffed into it.

I busted out laughing. “Damn. That’s just sad, but fucking epic.”

Talia beamed, “I know. Right.”

“By the way, is there a video of Harlee throwing a wrench at him?” I asked.

She smiled, wide, “Yep. She’s the freaking best. But when she drove me to Milagros that following night, I hadn’t been thinking that. Dominik had somehow enlisted Harlee to help him.”

I pulled out my phone and texted Dom.

Me – Heard about your strip show at Milagros. Points man. Points. Way to grovel.

Talia and I finished our ice cream and got in our own vehicles.

She had just pulled away when Harlee texted me back.

Darling – I would. But I’m out of the oil I need.

Me – What is it, and where do I find it?

Darling – *pinned the location*

Darling – *picture of the bottle*

Me – Got it. I’ll go get it and bring it with me.

Darling – That’s fine. Just don’t judge my face mask.

Me – Wouldn’t dream of it.

Just as I started to pull out of the lot, my phone beeped with a text.

Dom – I fucked up. Didn’t know it. Mama always told me that if you hurt someone close to you by being careless, you better own up and fix it.

Dom – I’m not just some 2-bit mechanic.

Me – Whoa, brother. Never thought that.

Dom – I know. Just some old bullshit.

He was talking about his ex. Never met her, but I knew of her.

Thirty minutes later, I had the bottle of stuff she needed and was waiting to check out when I heard it.

Fuck.

Me.

I so didn’t need this right now.

“See that your back, Carter,” I inwardly winced at Bridgett’s voice.

What was this girl’s deal?

How many times did I have to say that I wasn’t interested?

I did it again by pretending I hadn’t heard her.

But Bridgett was Bridgett; she was a lot like Susanna. Couldn’t take a fucking hint if it slapped her in the face.

Sighing, I did something I hadn’t ever done before; I pulled out my phone, hit Harlee’s contact, and pressed the button.

Putting the phone to my ear, she answered on the third ring, “Hey, did you find it?”

“Hey, baby, yeah, I got it. You worked fucking miracles before I left. Can’t wait to get your hands on me here in a little bit.”

She was silent for a beat, then she asked, “Umm, Carter. Are you alright?”

“Yeah, baby. Liked that too. Especially the thing you did with your tongue.” I said.

I heard Bridgett’s gasp.

But I ignored her.

“Whose there?” she asked.

“Tell you all about the way I see that fantasy going. Bet you’ll knock it out of the fucking park.”

She started giggling.

“Yeah, I know. Can’t wait too. Want me to grab takeout on my way home? That way we can pop it in the microwave, keep it warm while we see to some other... interesting matters.” I said.

Then I glanced back and watched as Bridgett stormed away.

I sighed long and deep.

“She’s gone?” Harlee asked.

“Yeah. Bridgett.”

“Well, in that case, you can use me as your alibi anytime. That girl, I swear.” She snickered.

I chuckled, then stepped forward and paid, “But seriously, need me to grab some takeout or something?”

“Nah, I got us covered. Thankfully, I put a roast in the crock pot before I headed to work this morning.”

“Fuck. You know the way to a man’s heart.” I groaned.

I loved my mother’s cooking. Seriously. But Harlee’s cooking knocked anything my mother made out of the freaking park.

She chuckled, “Okay, see you in thirty minutes or so.”

After we hung up, I walked out to my truck, climbed in, and headed to Harlee’s.