wasn’t liking you that was stupid. It was thinking that I had a chance when you’re thirteen years older. I was young and dumb. Na?ve.”
He wants to say something, I can tell. But whatever it is doesn’t pass his lips. “The reason I don’t have that with somebody is because I haven’t found the right person for the job. I’m working on that though.”
Lips parting, I stare at him before collecting myself and nodding slowly. “Yeah. Well … that makes sense.”
His lips spread into a higher curve as he glances down at the ground. “For what it’s worth, I think things happen for a reason. I don’t think it was dumb or na?ve of you to like somebody older. It’s natural. I was always around.”
I want nothing more than to end this conversation. The last thing I want to talk to my professor-slash-old family friend about is my pre-teen crush on him before moving onto to the man who really tore me apart. I can really choose them.
He clears his throat and steps back, his eyes flashing with something I can’t quite make out. “And you know what? Life is full of chances, Piper. You never know what will happen.”
I blink.
And blink again.
Before I can really process what he says, Carter is already gone.
Lips parting, I let out a breath.
My alarm goes off. I need to get Ainsley.
Chapter Nineteen
A spoon hangs from Jenna’s mouth as she grips her favorite hazelnut spread in her palm and dangles her feet off the island countertop. “Tell me exactly what he said again.”
Rolling my eyes, I stop the working pizza dough I’m flattening onto the pan. “I already did. Five times. I’m not about to make it six.”
She drops her head back and dips her spoon into the jar. “You’re no fun, Piper. I just want to see you get all flushed and girly when you tell me. There’s a look in your eyes.”
I scoff and reach for the tomato sauce. “I don’t have a look. You’re just crazy.” Eyeing the half-empty jar in her hands, I narrow my gaze at her before reaching for the shredded cheese on the counter. “Are you going to save room for dinner or keep eating that? Who even travels with hazelnut spread?”
She holds it closer to her. “I do, bitch. Don’t judge me. I mean, who travels with a book? You don’t go anywhere without one in your bag.”
I blink. “A lot of people do.”
“Well I’m sure people carry hazelnut spread,” she counters in a huff, though we both know they don’t. “Remember that one chick from freshman year?”
I bite back a smile. “Oh, sure. That one chick. Among the three thousand that attended with us. I definitely remember her.”
If she had something to throw at me right now, I know she would. “Ugh, you suck. I’m talking about the one who used to carry honey mustard with her everywhere. Like there’d be a need for it.”
Scrunching my nose, I try recalling the person she’s talking about. It sounds like someone worth remembering. “I have no idea who you’re talking about. But that is a little weird,” I admit openly.
“A little? Honey mustard, Piper!”
“Hazelnut spread, Jenna,” I deadpan.
She hops off the counter. “Can we talk about you and your sexy professor again? Are you going to sleep with him?”
I drop the bag of cheese onto the counter and watch shreds of it go everywhere. Cursing, I brush it into a pile. “Why would you even ask me that? No. We’re not like that.”
She helps me clean up the mess. “But you want to. You have to admit that.”
“I don’t have to do anything.”
She grabs my hand to stop me. “As your best friend, I need to inform you that I’m concerned. I love you. It’s because I love you that I feel the need to voice said concerns.”
“Concerns?”
She turns me to face her. “You don’t want to ask for help. You’ve always been like that. I get you have Ainsley to look after, but you can ask me for help, and I’ll come whenever you need. Like when a hot, grown ass man wants to hang out with you.”
“To work—”
“He says it’s work.” Her brows arch. “I want you to ask me to watch Ainsley so you can give yourself a chance.”
I click my tongue. “I’m not seeing where you’re concerned.”
Her hold tightens, the expression on her face suddenly serious. “I’m concerned for your vagina.”
Yanking my hands away, I shake my head and focus back on the