"Yes, we do go out a good bit. I know who you work with, and I'm sure you've heard stories," I say. "However, I was talking about girls at the car shows and auctions we hit up out of town."
Her mouth draws tight, and she holds up her palms. "Spare me the details."
"We meet a lot of star-struck girls whose interest extends as far as Walker's abs, and that's it."
"Mm-hmm, I'm sure their interest extends—" Her eyes skim below my face.
"Jess, you're best friends with half the A&M football team." I stop at an arm's length. My control may slip if I touch her. "I know the scene; I imagine things are the same there as they were at Oregon. Spare me the look."
"I'm not giving you a look," she says, disproving her point by pursing her lips until she reminds me of a pouty little duck. "And I'm not friends with half the team, more like a quarter—" Her brows knit as realization hits. "Not that I've slept with a quarter of the football team or any of them. We're friends."
"Mm-hmm." I snag her by the knot of my shirt, tugging until she's one step closer and looking into my eyes. "No judgment. You sure as hell know I liked a good time."
Her eyes narrow. "From secondhand information, not personal experience."
"How sad and true," I say, my knuckle grazing her belly.
This nine hours of foreplay is officially old. A conversation about our individual pasts is pointless. Who cares how many football players, frat boys, or A&M cadets she slept with?
"Okay, my turn to ask you a question."
"Oh, we're playing a game? I wasn't aware. Shoot," she says, her voice breathy and low.
"Are you interested in Finn?"
She blinks. "What is this middle school? Are you asking for him, or…"
I drop the humor from my face. "What do you think?"
Jess cants her head. "No." She drops her gaze to the floor for a beat before returning to my face. "I'm not interested in Finn, Carter. Plus, I've heard a lot about his player ways from the other girls."
That draws my amusement. "You know my reputation is similar."
She rocks on her toes, lifting and batting her lashes. The move is playful, but on her, the look is sexy as hell. "Sure, but we've got history."
Fuck.
I wrap my arm around her back and pull our bodies flush. "Not enough, if you ask me."
"I was thinking the same thing." Her grin is fucking delicious.
"Wanna get out of here?"
"Absolutely."
Jess
My cell sits in the middle of Carter's seat where I left it and is the first thing I see when we reach his car. A sense of foreboding hits me. I ran out on Dad this morning, and I've been unavailable the entire day. My pulse ratchets into high gear while I wait for Carter to unlock the door. Are automatic locks in classic cars too much to ask for? I scoop up the phone and unlock the screen.
Eleven missed calls from Dad. No voice mails. No texts.
"Jess?" Carter's hand brushes my shoulder. "Something wrong?"
"I need to get home," I say, turning and grabbing his forearm. "Right away."
Whatever expectations he has for us tonight, this isn't it. My plan was different, too, but…
Heat prickles at the base of my neck, and I sink into the passenger seat, staring at my phone. "I'm a selfish daughter." I drop my face into my hands. "I can't believe … How could I?"
Carter grips my wrist and tugs one hand from my face, stopping my recriminations. He kneels at my side, his forehead creasing. "Don't do that," he says, reaching for the seat belt over my shoulder and drawing the buckle across my chest. "C'mon, buckle up, and we'll go."
The drive is silent and tense. Carter doesn't bother answering his phone when it buzzes, and I wonder if he's scared a sudden move would upset me. I grip my phone in my trembling fist and call Dad's number. His voicemail—a generic computer system recording and not his own voice—picks up. I don't bother leaving a message.
Lost in thoughts, I startle as we pass beneath the shadow of a familiar tree. We're turning onto Mary Ann Avenue.
"One thousand seventeen." I give Carter the house number, my throat raw from holding back tears.
Carter pulls the Chevelle into the driveway. My Acura is up the drive, the tail end peeking out from around the back of the house. Its presence is a small blessing. It means he's home, or he left with a