False Start - Jessica Ruddick Page 0,32

would.

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Carson

“BECCA WANTS TO get together for lunch,” Roman said. “How soon can you be ready?”

I hadn’t told him the real reason Becca had left last night. Instead, I’d lied and said she wasn’t feeling well. Roman hadn’t questioned it because he had no reason to—I’d never lied to him before. It didn’t sit right with me now, but I hadn’t been able to bring myself to repeat the words that had been running through my head nonstop since she’d said them.

You’re the one who’s hurting me, Carson.

“I have a football thing,” I told Roman. “Go without me.”

Again, he didn’t question me, and I felt like the biggest ass for lying to him once more. But there was no way in hell I could tell him the truth—that Becca didn’t want to see me. How the hell had it gotten to that? I’d never had a fight like this with either Roman or her. The Zizzos were more like family to me than my own.

She’ll cool off. She’d gotten irritated with me about my protectiveness before, but she’d never been able to hold a grudge. I would admit that I was overbearing sometimes, but I couldn’t stop myself. Even if Roman hadn’t asked me to look out for her when he left for boot camp, I still would. I was hardwired to look out for that girl. Making sure she was safe and seeing her smile made me happy. Unfortunately, those two things weren’t meshing lately.

You’re the one who’s hurting me, Carson.

But I wasn’t. I couldn’t be. I cared about her way too much to ever hurt her.

She’d been stone sober. Otherwise I could have blamed her irrationality on alcohol. Maybe she had just been tired and overwhelmed. Senior engineering classes were tough, and on top of that, she was going forward with the asinine plan of being on the homecoming court. I still couldn’t figure that one out.

After Roman had left to meet her, my place was way too quiet. Good thing I knew exactly where to find the antithesis of that. And if I went to Jake’s, then what I’d told Roman wasn’t entirely a lie since Jake was my football buddy. Integrity partially intact.

I was out the door before I remembered that Becca had taken my Jeep. But there it was, parked in my spot. I stared at it in confusion then looked at where she’d parked her car last night. It was gone.

Of course she’d returned my Jeep already because she was responsible and considerate, though not enough to knock on the door to return the key. Guess she really is pissed.

No matter. I had a spare key.

When I got to Jake’s house, Rachel answered the door, looking like she’d been run over. I could have seen that one coming. She held a hand over her eyes to block out the sun that was shining through the open door. “Come in.”

“Thanks.”

Cringing, she put a hand on the wall to brace herself. “Why are you yelling?”

I raised my eyebrows. “I’m not,” I whispered. If I were in a better mood, I would totally take advantage of the situation and give her hell, especially after some of the things she’d said last night, but I wasn’t feeling it.

“That’s better.” She resumed the trek to the living room and carefully stretched out on the couch. Closing her eyes, she flung an arm over her face. “Jake’s in the shower.”

“Is he as hung over as you?”

“No. He was reasonable last night, so he’s all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. I kind of hate him right now.”

“That’s not true.” She and Jake were still in the phase where they made googly eyes at each other all the time. While I was happy for them, it could be nauseating to watch.

“You’re right.” She moved her arm and peeled open an eyelid. “It’s me I hate. I’m sorry for last night. Those Bahama Mamas turned me into a Bitchy Mama.”

Her apology made me glad I hadn’t given her a hard time a moment ago. “You weren’t bitchy.” Rachel was a sweetheart. I doubted she had full-on bitch mode in her programming.

She closed her eyes again. “Maybe not bitchy but definitely obnoxious.”

“A little,” I allowed. But I’d dealt with much worse.

“I need to apologize to Becca too.”

“You’re not the only one,” I muttered. I’d come to Jake’s house to be distracted from thinking about her, but I couldn’t even be pissed at Rachel for bringing her up because I’d been a fool to think it would be