##Chapter 46: CarterThis has been one of the strangest days of my life.How else do you describe a twelve-hour period where you experience the highest of highs and the lowest of lows?Throughout the whole damn thing, Daisy has been unwaveringly at my side. Somehow that made the worst of it a little easier to bear. The situation with my family has always been a dirty secret that I've gone to great lengths to hide. Having Daisy there as a silent onlooker, watching me as I subdued my father...that was beyond anything I could have envisioned. The hot licks of humiliation will forever be singed into my psyche. And yet, now that she knows the truth, it's like a crushing weight has been lifted from my shoulders.After all these years, I can finally suck in a full breath of air. Daisy's hand is secured in mine as we ride the elevator to the third floor. Today is a turning point and I want to get the rest of it over with. I want everyone to know that Daisy is mine.And that means shari
##Chapter 47: Daisy"Yeah, sure." Carter nods and gives my fingers another squeeze before releasing them. "Where do you want to go?" "Not you," Noah snaps and stabs a finger in my direction. "I want to talk to her.""What?" Carter's brows jerk together as he glances at me in surprise.I'm just as thrown by the request. "Me?" I place a hand on my chest to clarify. "You want to talk with me?"Noah's scowl intensifies. I can't remember the last time I've seen him this angry. He looks ready to bust a nut."Yeah, you." He jerks his head toward my room. "Let's go."I catch Carter's gaze and shake my head in confusion. "Um, okay."This isn't the way I saw the conversation unfolding. Noah stalks to my bedroom and I trail after him before closing the door. I knew he would be mad. My cousin has always gotten bent out of shape when his friends or teammates looked sideways at me. So, this reaction was to be expected. Although I'd assumed he would want to have it out with Carter,
##Chapter 48: Daisy"You need to back this truck up and start over again," Olivia demands over the loud noise of the stadium. "I want all the details in slow motion, so I can savor them more fully. Plus, I want to make sure you didn't leave anything out.""That's not necessary," I chuckle. "You're totally in the know.""Likely story." She huffs and slaps my thigh. "I still can't believe you were holding out on me like that!" She pauses for a beat. "This is huge."Even though we're sitting in the tenth row of the student section, with people jam packed around us, she manages to throw her arms wide, narrowly missing the guy sitting next to her. "Bigger than huge. Mega-huge.""Yeah," I wince. "I know."I probably should have clued Olivia in to what was going on with Carter, but how could I do that when I didn't know myself? Olivia and I have always confided in each other. We delved headfirst into our friendship the first week of freshman year and haven't come up for air since.
##Chapter 49: Carter"Great game, Prescott!""Dude, you owned that field today!"Hands pat me on the shoulder as I move through the crowd searching for Daisy. She hung around after the game to congratulate me and then took off with Olivia, saying they would meet up with us later.It amazes me that I went this long without Daisy and now all I want is her by my side.And her wearing my jersey this afternoon?Yeah, that was sexy as fuck.I'm sure she's changed into something more party-friendly, but I'm fantasizing about seeing her in my jersey and nothing else. Thinking about it gives me a semi.The plan for this evening is simple. I find her, we hang for an hour or so and make the rounds, then we head back home where I immediately strip her ass naked. Maybe have her throw on that jersey again.I stop and survey the crowd, but don't see her blond head anywhere. I'm just about to pull out my cell and track her down when a pair of female hands rove over my chest. My head snaps up, ho
##Chapter 50: DaisyAs soon as Olivia and I walked through the door of this party, some guy glommed onto me and I haven't been able to shake him loose. He's not getting the hint that I'm not interested. My guess is that his inebriated state has something to do with it.Ugh.Even if I were single and ready to mingle, drunk guys are never on my radar.For one thing, they have the tendency to think they're hilarious. As if everything that spews from their mouth is comedic gold. Let me tell you from experience, it's not. Far from it. Half the time, you can't make heads or tails of what they're slurring.Two, they're usually way too handsy for my taste. I'm not a girl who likes to be manhandled. Unless, I give you the green light to manhandle me. Then I love it. But otherwise, forget about it. I'm liable to deck you. And lastly, there is no such thing as letting them down gently. They get all offended if you're not interested and either end up calling you a bitch or a dyke.Wh
##Chapter 51: CarterI sit on the grassy bank, staring across the lake. There's not much of a breeze tonight, so the water is calm and serene, which is a direct contrast to everything that riots inside me. It's been more than an hour since I hauled ass from that party and still panic crashes through my veins making it difficult to breathe. I toss the mangled blade of grass I've been twisting in my fingers.If I'd thought a little time and distance would make me feel better about what happened-what almost happened-it doesn't. The pit that has taken up residence in the bottom of my gut continues to churn. I snap off another blade of grass as the situation plays in my head on a constant loop. I'm furious with myself for allowing this to happen. The knowledge that I almost hit someone is enough to knock the breath from my lungs. I was moments away from plowing my fist into that asshole's face. If Daisy hadn't caught my attention, I would have done it without thinking twice.The wa
##Chapter 52: DaisyIt's been a week since the party. I'd hoped that after a few days, Carter would calm down and realize that he isn't to blame for losing his cool. Then we could sit down and hash out the situation. But neither of those things have happened.I wouldn't have thought it possible, but Carter has disappeared from my life. He no longer sleeps at the apartment. When I asked Noah, he informed me that Carter has been crashing at one of the houses that a bunch of football players rent off campus. It's difficult to wrap my head around everything that has transpired. It's like I blinked, and our relationship fell apart. Not only does Carter not live here anymore, but he's avoiding all interaction with me. He only stops by when I'm not home.I've peeked in his room and his books are no longer neatly stacked on his desk. His duffle bag has disappeared from the corner. His toothbrush and other personal items have been removed from the bathroom counter. Exasperated by
##Chapter 53: DaisyI hightail it from the classroom and decide to text Olivia to see if she wants to meet for lunch. Just as I'm about to race down the stone steps, my eyes collide with somber gray ones. I pause and my breath hitches.I wasn't expecting him to stick around. Carter raises a tentative hand in greeting and I do the same as I move in his direction. The breeze picks up and the scent of his aftershave hits me. Sadness pools in my belly.Carter shifts his weight from one foot to the other and looks as uncomfortable as I feel. He glances away for a heartbeat and refocuses his gaze on me. I long to reach out and bridge the distance. But it's not just physical, it's emotional as well. He squints against the autumn sunlight. "Do you have a few moments to talk?""Sure." For two weeks, all I've wanted is to have a conversation with Carter and now that I'm being given the opportunity, I don't know what to say."Good." His shoulders tense as he points to a couple of pic