“Are you okay?” he asks, gently placing his hand on my shoulder. “You’re awfully pale.” Well yeah. How would he feel if a stranger manhandled his private parts? Scratch that. It’s Carter. He’d more than likely enjoy it.
“That girl just had hold of my …” I’m not sure why I can’t say the word out loud, but I point in the direction of my vagina instead. God I’m so lame. “How do you think I am?” I’m mortified by what she did, but even more so that he witnessed it. Even though his eyes look angry, I see a small smile play on is lips. Bastard.
“I know. I saw. She’s lucky she has tits or I would’ve knocked her the fuck out.”
“Carter,” Meg says from behind him. “What are you doing here?” Thank god she said that. I love how she always has my back.
“Did you find the bathroom?” I ask with a wink when Carter turns his head in her direction.
“Yes. Yes I did. Are you okay? Your face is all white,” she observes frowning.
“Some girl just grabbed me on the … you know what,” I tell her. I still can’t believe that just happened. Who does that kind of thing? Of course the bitch starts laughing.
“What’s a ‘you know what’?” she asks. Fucker. She knows exactly what I mean.
“My lady parts,” I admit as I feel my face burn up.
“Your vagina? Your hoo-ha? Your snatch? You can say the word you know,” she says giggling. I’m glad she finds this amusing. Not.
“Shut up,” I snap narrowing my eyes at her. She’s just adding to my humiliation.
“You’re shitting me right?” she asks like she doesn’t believe me. Why would I lie about something like that?
“No, she isn’t,” Carter chuckles. Somebody kill me now.
“I’m glad you two think it’s amusing,” I retort as my eyes move between them. Of course they’re both snickering.
“It’s not amusing, it’s fucking hilarious,” Meg laughs. “Who was it? Point her out.” I just glare at her. I need to get the hell out of here.
“Serves you right for being in a place like this when you’re underage,” Carter chimes in. Who asked for his damn opinion anyway?
“Excuse me? I believe you’re underage too,” I respond. What a hypocrite.
“Only by a few months. I came in to play pool. Besides, I’m a guy. I can handle myself. You, on the other hand, are a kid. Your little run-in with the she-man just proved that this is no place for you.” I hear Meg snigger again from beside me and I want to kick her. Carter just stares me down. I can tell by the look on his face that he’s trying to rile me up.
“Whatever.” I want to say more, but I don’t. He’ll only have another smartarse remark to come back with. So much for Meg having my back. To hell with them both. I turn on my heels and stomp towards the exit. I’m sure one day I’ll find the humour in this situation, but right now I don’t.
••••
Carter begrudgingly agreed to hang with us for the rest of the afternoon. “I suppose being around you two is better than being around my stepfather,” he said sarcastically. Although initially it pissed me off, he was smiling when he said it. I swear he does shit like that just to get under my skin. Although he’d never admit it, I think he was grateful.
He confessed to not wanting to go home because his stepfather had the public holiday off work. It made me feel sad for him. Things must be pretty shitty living with that arsehole. Especially since he makes it quite clear he’s not welcome. I know he’s lost without his car, as well. It’s still going to be another week before the repairs are complete.
Thankfully, the little incident back at the pub isn’t mentioned again. I’m sure I haven’t heard the last of it though, especially from Carter. On our walk back to the car, Meg remembers she has to pick up some photos her mum is having printed. Carter waits for us outside the shop while I go in with her.
I see that they have some T-shirts on display behind the counter, where you can print your own image on them. It gives me an idea. After speaking to the lady who served Meg, she says she can definitely make what I want. Thankfully, I’ve got the perfect image on my phone. After she downloads it onto her computer, she tells me I can pick it up tomorrow. I smile. I can’t wait to see Carter’s reaction when I give it to him.
We drove around for a while before heading back home to swim in the lake. He even came with Lassie and I later that afternoon when we walked Meg home. I still find it hard to be around him after everything we’ve done, but I’m hoping in time it will get easier. I’m glad that we’re somewhat friends at least.
••••
Tuesday morning, I head for my car—my first day of driving myself to school. I didn’t ask Carter yesterday if he’d like a lift. He’s forward enough to ask if he wants one. He has his mum’s car if he doesn’t.
“Morning, kid,” he says when I round the corner, almost scaring the life out of me. I wish he’d stop surprising me like that. He’s leaning up against my car looking all smug and sexy. Obviously he’s travelling with me.
“Can I help you with something?” I ask raising an eyebrow at him. He never makes things easy on me, so I intend to do the same.
“I’m just here for my lift,” he replies as one side of his mouth turns up into a cocky smile. It really should be illegal to be that damn good looking.
“What lift? I didn’t offer to take you,” I retort, trying to keep a straight face.
“You don’t need to,” he says all smug. “You owe me.”
“I don’t think so,” I chuckle.
“What about all the lifts I’ve given you?”
“If I remember correctly they were under duress.”
“Duress or not, a lift is a lift, kid,” he says as he walks around the passenger side and opens the door.
“Stop calling me kid.”
“As long as I know it annoys you,” he chuckles, “I’m never going to stop.” Remind me again why I put up with him? Grrrr.
As much as I hate to admit it, I like having him around.
••••
After school, I told Carter I needed to swing by town so I could pick up the shirt I ordered. He was cool with that. He waited in the car while I ran inside. I burst out laughing when the lady showed me the finished product.
I’d gotten a large image of Lassie’s face printed on the front of the T-shirt, with ‘My Man Lassie’, in big bold letters. Dumb I know, but I was over him calling Lassie, Larry. He thought the picture he drew me was funny, well ditto to this shirt. My little bit of revenge you could say.
“What did you have to pick up?” he asked when I got back into the car. I tossed the plastic bag on his lap.
“A present for you.”
“You bought me a gift?”
“Yes. Open the bag.” He looked sceptical as he reached in and pulled out the T-shirt. When he held it up and read what it said, he threw his head back and laughed.
“I fucking love it, but she spelt Larry’s name wrong.”
“No she didn’t.” I couldn’t hide the smile on my face. Finally, one for Indi.
Well that’s what I thought until the next morning. He actually met me at the car before school wearing the shirt. I couldn’t believe it. I should’ve known he was up to something by the big-arse grin on his face. My gaze immediately moved to the bottom of the shirt where Lassie’s name was printed. Ugh! He’d crossed it out with a thick black sharpie, and written ‘Larry’ next to it in big capital letters. Touché, arsehole.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Carter
Over the next few weeks, life seems to get harder. Even though I finally have my car back, which is a fucking relief, Indi and I are spending a lot of time together. I’m finding the more I’m with her, the more I don’t want to be without her. It’s so fucked up. It sucks to want someone when you know you can’t have them.