to it. We didn’t drink much that night, but any time we ordered something, he’d go up and get it. They’d have a quick exchange, watch each other, but do nothing else. Their eyes, though … that was where you could see it.”
“See what?” I’m enamored by this side of my brother I didn’t know. Granted, there weren’t many sides of him I knew well, but the soft one? The one in love?
“They were both gone.” I swear my heart swooned over that. And knowing Carter and his genuine nature, I know he isn’t playing up a story to get me all doe eyed. If he says it happened like that, it happened. “We went back to that same place so many times and I’d have to watch the same thing. A whole lot of nothing. Then one day he was getting flustered when a guy was hitting on her and he got up to leave. Ren called after him, stopping him before he could go. She asked where he was going and said he couldn’t leave.”
I blink. “What? Why?”
His lips lift slightly. “I believe her exact words were ‘you haven’t asked me out yet, asshole. Do it before somebody else does.’” His head shakes with an amused laugh.
“That sounds like Ren,” I confirm.
“Yep.”
“Wow.” I didn’t realize how much I’d love that story. It’s not what I’d expected to hear knowing the player Jesse used to be. Yet, it gives me hope that anything can happen. Why would I need that reassurance when I’m on a date with a great guy—a guy I used to crush on. I’ve dreamt of having this kind of one on one time with him before. Now? It just feels … natural. Normal. Like there’s nothing surreal about us coming full circle or reacquainting.
It’s nuts to me. “If I hadn’t moved, we wouldn’t have seen each other again,” I murmur, almost to myself in realization. My eyes pivot to his. “That’s sort of weird to think about.”
“I’m sure we would have crossed paths eventually. I know Jesse, your family,” he points out evenly.
“Do you really believe that?” In all these years, we haven’t crossed paths once. I’d hear about him occasionally from somebody, but it was rare. And, in all honesty, I tended to tune out the conversation if the topic drifted in his direction. I was bitter.
“I believe things happen when they’re meant to, yes. Maybe we wouldn’t have crossed paths right away, but eventually.” He says it so calmly, so sure, that I can do nothing but study him. His eyes are light, content, and his almost-empty glass in front of him has his loose hand wrapped around it without tension. He really does mean that.
“Huh.” It’s all I can muster.
“Think about it,” he says. “We all do things that lead us to one point or another. I had job offers at a few other colleges. One out of state I considered taking because of the pay. But I chose Linwood. I live here. You made decisions that led you to Aberdeen and I think that means something.”
I want to tell him that it means I couldn’t find a cheaper place, but I refrain. “I never took you as a fate kind of guy, Carter.”
His lips quirk up. “I guess I need to do better at opening up, so you get to know me then. How about we go somewhere else? Talk?”
“Aren’t we talking now?”
“Want to see where Jesse and Ren met?”
My chest tingles over the idea, and it’s hard not to smile as soon as the offer is out in the open. Of course, I want to see where they met. After that story, how can I not?
“Isn’t it too early to drink?” It’s not even four o’clock yet.
“But it’s not too early for pool.”
I lick my lips. “Okay.”
I realize after following him out of the restaurant once he pays that I like this. Getting out. Talking to Carter. Having a life. I can picture doing it more often; smiling, laughing, feeling lighter than normal.
When Carter looks at me, it’s like he knows what I’m thinking. He reaches over and holds my hand, folding our fingers together the whole way to our next destination.
My smile grows bigger.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Mom helps me set the table that we never typically use while I pull the vegetable lasagna out of the oven. Ainsley is in the living room with Dad playing Barbie’s together. She always gets people wrapped around her finger, but him especially.