Page 62 of Ask No Questions

“Such good role models.” I looked over at him and smirked.

“We are! We show you how to work hard, be successful, and have fun. We’re well-rounded role models.”

I just shook my head and gazed out at the moon reflecting over the ocean.

“It’s beautiful.” I looked over and saw Carter staring out like I was.

“Yeah, it is. I hope I never forget to appreciate it.”

“Once you live here for a few years, you probably will. Then every once in a while, there will be nights like this that remind you.”

A few minutes passed in silence before he leaned toward me, breaking my concentration. I met his eyes and smiled. His gazed dropped to my lips for the briefest second. A blush rose on his cheeks when he realized I caught him. He looked away but spoke.

“I hate that bad things have happened to you. I hate that I can’t take those memories from you to make you forget. I hate that I can’t comfort you when you’re scared. I know you are.” His eyes flickered to mine. This time, I was caught. Before I could deny anything, he said he saw the emotions I had been working so hard at covering up.

He sighed and looked away again. I pulled my legs to my chest and hugged them to me. He brought out all my vulnerability with one remark. He knew how scared and broken I was. Everyone else saw what I wanted them to. I was here to move on, and I thought I had been doing a pretty good job of doing it. Apparently not. Carter saw what no one else did.

“I need you to know that I care. I care about you, Aubrey. I know you have Brandon and your family here for you, but I want you to know that I’m here too. You can come to me for anything, anytime.”

A single tear escaped and rolled down my cheek. I froze, knowing if I moved to wipe it away, it would draw his attention. I closed my eyes and told myself to breathe. I felt his finger slide across my cheek. He had seen it anyway. Of course he had. He was the only one that saw all of me.

I opened my eyes and slowly raised my eyes to meet his. He had moved closer, and his face was inches away from mine. I sucked in a breath and waited. He slowly, so painfully slowly, leaned in and brushed his lips against mine. The briefest kiss, but it was beautiful. I knew he was worried about me and didn’t want to take advantage of me, plus my stupid age, but I wasn’t going to let him get away with a dusting of a kiss.

I leaned toward him, pressing out my frustration and desire in a kiss. He groaned as his hands reached my cheeks, holding me in place. I wrapped my arms around his neck and moved closer. Heat rose through my body, awakening something I didn’t know I was missing.

He pulled away, breaking the kiss too soon. I opened my eyes and saw my desire reflected in his.

“I’m so sorry, Aubrey. I never should have crossed that line.”

“I’m not sorry, Carter.”

He groaned again as he threw his head back. “We can’t do this. You’re seventeen, and your brother would kill me. Literally kill me. I’m sorry.”

Before I could speak again, he stood and walked back inside. I flinched when I heard the front door close. He was gone. He might have regrets, but I had none. Being with him was so right.

Kissing him was perfection.

Twenty-Six

“Are you kidding me?”

I bumped into the back of Mckayla as she stopped abruptly in the middle of the hallway. I thought she was mad at me for zoning out and not paying attention to whatever she was rambling on about. I had other things on my mind. Like, Carter. And his lips. And what it all meant. I looked up, ready to apologize for not listening when I saw she wasn’t looking at me. Well, not the me that was standing next to her. She was staring at one of the Winter Formal posters promoting Luke and me. My picture had grown horns and a mustache overnight.

“Hmm, interesting interpretation. Although if they were going for originality, they failed.” I began walking away, but Mckayla grabbed my arm and pulled me back.

“We both know who did this, and she can’t get away with this! She’s trying to sabotage you!”

“I think most people will see this and know how pathetic she is. I’m not worried about the court thing anyway. If she wants it this bad, she can have the crown.”

“Aubrey, that is not the point! She vandalized your image, and she can’t get away with it. Don’t worry, I’ll come up with a plan!”

“All right, crazy, go to class. I’ll see you at lunch.”

I finally broke away from her and turned back to see her already on her phone. Alerting the others, I’m sure. It didn’t make me angry that Sydney had drawn on my picture. It just made me feel sorry for her. If Winter Formal Court meant this much to her, it meant she had nothing else to look forward to or validate her.

I put it out of my mind through the rest of my classes, but when I sat at our table for lunch, the girls were fuming. Apparently, Mckayla had rallied the troops, and they were planning the next takedown.

“Did you see the other posters? Every single one of them has been drawn on. Some even have some choice words which could really get her in trouble.” Talia leaned forward with her elbows on the table.