Standing, Carter follows me towards the window. I’m not sure if I should kiss him goodbye, so I don’t. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” I say as I swing my legs over the windowsill.
“Hey.” He reaches out and gently grabs hold of my arm. “I know we were just mucking around here tonight, but don’t let it make things weird between us, okay?”
“Okay.” I turn my head and give him one last smile. “Goodnight,” I say as I jump off the window ledge.
“Night, kid.” Looking over my shoulder I narrow my eyes at him, making him chuckle. He stands there and watches until I’m safely back in my room. I lift my hand to wave before closing the window, and he flips me off. He’s smiling when he does it though. I guess that’s his way of keeping things normal between us.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Carter
As soon as she leaves, I lay in bed with a huge shit-arse grin on my face. Christ. My mind is spinning. Did that really just happen? I’ve never not gone all the way with a chick before, but fuck me, if what we just did didn’t satisfy me more than any of the others have in the past. I’d give anything to be able to fuck her. Anything. But, I can’t do that to her. She deserves so much better than a one-night stand. That’s all I can offer. I don’t do commitments. Ever.
I’m not sure what time it is when I eventually fall back to sleep, but I do know I dreamt of her when I did. I even woke up with a smile on my face. Shit. That’s not like me. I hope today things aren’t weird between us. I want things to stay just the way they are.
I don’t even notice that I’m whistling when I walk into the kitchen for breakfast, until my mum mentions it. “Someone got out the right side of bed this morning,” she chirps. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you looking so happy. It’s so good to see, sweetheart.”
“Morning, Mum,” I say kissing her cheek and ignoring her observation. My mood actually surprises me as well.
“With everything that went on yesterday, this is the last thing I expected to see this morning. I know how much you love that car.”
Fuck. My car. For a minute I thought she was talking about me and Indi. My head is so clouded with her that this shit with the car completely slipped my mind. The smile instantly drops from my face and that sick feeling I had all yesterday afternoon returns. I’d like to get my hands on whoever is responsible.
“I hope they find out who did this,” she says placing my breakfast in front of me. Suddenly I no longer have an appetite. I don’t know how I’m going to find the money for the repairs. My insurance only covers the other party if I have an accident. That’s all I could afford. “I won’t be needing my car today, sweetie. You can use it to get to school if you like.”
“Thanks, Mum.”
“Eat something,” she encourages, gently rubbing my back from behind me. “I’m sure Ross will get to the bottom of it.”
I fucking hope so.
••••
Making my way towards the car I’m not sure if Indi is going to turn up, but I’m hoping she will. I’m surprised my stomach is churning about seeing her. I have no regrets about last night. How could I? I just want things to be normal between us again. I need to pull my shit together and play it cool. Last night was a one-time thing. As much as I’d like a repeat, for both our sakes, it can’t happen again.
I throw my backpack in the back seat just as Indi comes through the side gate. I hate that I have to take my mum’s car today. I hate that someone fucked mine up. God help whoever it was when I find out. Even though I’m pretty sure it’s that prick Brad.
“Hey,” she says walking towards me. “I thought we’d be catching the bus today.”
“Who said I’m giving you a lift?”
“What?” she gasps before narrowing her eyes. “I see you didn’t forget to put your arsehole attire on again today.” I chuckle at her comment. Thank Christ we’re okay.
••••
“I heard what happened to your car,” Brad laughs as I pass him in the hall on the way to my locker. “Sucked-fucking-in.” I had planned on ignoring that prick until I had some kind of proof it was him, but not now. Not after what he just said. Something inside me snaps. My backpack doesn’t even hit the ground before I lunge at him.
I only get a few good hits in before I’m being dragged off him by one of the teachers. “Cartwright, Reynolds, principal’s office now!” he screams pointing down the hall. Great. After all the trouble I got in at my last school, I promised my mum I’d try and keep my nose clean here. Guess I just broke that promise.
The teacher leaves us both seated outside in the waiting room once he’s had words with the principal. “You’ll pay for what you did to my car, cocksucker,” I say through gritted teeth as I glare over at Cartwright.
“Good luck proving it, arsehole. You think I was stupid enough to do it in front of witnesses?” I fucking knew it was him. I rise from my chair, ready to give him another serving.
“Sit back down, Mr. Reynolds,” the principal says sternly from the doorway of his office before turning his attention to Brad. “Did I just hear you correctly, Mr. Cartwright?” Christ, I fucking hope he heard his confession.
“What?” Brad says as the colour drains from his face.
“If I’m not mistaken, I just heard you admit to vandalising Mr. Reynolds’ car.”
“Noooo,” that lying cocksucker squeals.
“So now you’re going to add lying to your list of offenses. I had the police here earlier this morning, making a few inquiries about this particular incident. I think I may need to call them back.”
“I didn’t do it,” he screeches, panic lining his voice. Like shit he didn’t. I’m so glad that smug bastard couldn’t keep his big mouth shut.
••••
I received lunchtime detention for my part in the fight, but Cartwright got his pretty boy arse suspended. Indi’s dad came back to the school and took him away for questioning, and he was later charged with vandalism and malicious destruction of property.
After school was out, Indi and I made our way home. I’m glad last night hasn’t changed things between us. Although we still act like we annoy the crap out of each other, I think we’re actually becoming friends. I haven’t had a real friend since I was a boy.
After the day I found out the true meaning of what a bastard was, I started to act out. The older I got, the worse my attitude became. The friends I had back then were soon stopped from hanging around me. I guess their parents thought I was a bad influence. Maybe I was, but it only served to make me feel more worthless than I already did.
Indi’s dad comes out to greet us when we pull into the driveway. “Hey, Daddy,” she says as he walks towards the car.
“Hi, Pumpkin. Do you mind if I have a few words with Carter?”
“Not at all. I’m going to take Lassie for a walk before I start my homework.” We both watch her walk towards the house. Of course my eyes are glued to her arse again. Well I thought we were both watching, until I turn to face Mr. Montgomery and find him staring at me. Fuck.
“Can I ask what your intentions are with my daughter?”
“We’re friends, nothing more,” I lie. Well it’s kind of true. Friends with benefits you might say, but I don’t have a death wish so I’m not going to tell him that.
“I’m not stupid, son. I see the way you both look at each other.” I nervously shove my hands into the pockets of my jeans. It’s one thing for me to know how I feel, but it’s another for anyone else to know. I don’t like where this conversation is heading. I’m waiting for him to tell me I’m not good enough for his daughter. I know that, but it’s gonna suck to hear him say it. Up until now I’ve liked the way he’s treated me. “It’s the exact same way I used to look at my wife when she first moved to town,” he confesses.