Page 136 of Pink and Country

Carter. What was he doing?

His hand hit the honk two more times, and he mouthed, “Pull over.” I noticed his knitted brows and thin lips.

Taylor stopped the car behind Carter’s on the side of the road, and my man jumped out of his before Taylor could shift the SUV into park.

I exited the vehicle on wobbly legs.

We collapsed in the middle of the road, already craving each other. Carter stepped back and dropped to one knee on the gravelly ground. He caught my hand between his. His irises darkened, taking my soul hostage.

“April, we belong together. I didn’t believe in love before I met you. But now I can’t imagine not having you in my life. How can you walk away from us? You’re my muse, my fairy, my soulmate.” I cupped my mouth with both hands as tears ran down my cheeks. “The sun will never wake up again if you’re not in my life. We’re meant to be together. We’re a perfect match. Life is only worth living if you’re around. If we do this together. I’ll never forgive myself if you walk away. I don’t care about any of this fame shit. We’ll move to Greenland if that’s what you want. I promise I’ll cheer you up when you’re down and care for you when you’re sick. And to love you every day. I want to be your muse too. Our story is only beginning. You’re an author, so you know no book ends after chapter one. I’ll never distract you again with sex when you’re in one of your creative flows. I’ll read every line you write if you let me. Fairy, I love you so damn much. My knee hurts like hell right now, but I’ll kneel before you every minute of every day on a bed of blazing nails if that’s what it takes to keep you in my life. Come back to me.”

Carter’s squeeze on me tightened, and his eyes shadowed one shade darker.

“April Simmons, will you marry me?” Carter sucked in a breath.

My breathing hitched, my heart stopped, tremors shook my body. From under my curtain of tears, I stared at the ring Carter fished from his back pocket. An emerald-cut pink diamond surrounded by a halo of little diamonds on a rose gold band. This was beautiful. And perfect.

Carter looked at me, sparks of hope flashing in his eyes.

“When did you get this? You’re out of your mind.” I kneeled before him, taking his hands in mine and squeezing them. I wanted to say yes. To scream it for the entire world to hear. I wanted to jump in his arms and kiss him until our lips bled. To hold on to him until we were old and gray. I inhaled the most painful breath I ever took. “Carter, I’m not right for you. Don’t you see that nobody wants us together?”

“What about us? What about what we want?”

“I wish it’d be that easy, but it’s not. Love can’t fix everything. Our worlds don’t blend.” My eyes lowered to the ring box. I skimmed the diamond with the tip of my finger. My words weakened. “This is the most gorgeous ring I’ve ever seen, and I wish it could be mine.” The flow down my cheeks worsened.

I dried my tears with the sleeve of my sweater.

“Please, April. Don’t run away.”

“This is the hardest thing I’ve ever done.” I breathed in. “Oh, Carter, you’re my soulmate, too, and for a moment, I really thought we were it. That I could—”

Carter glared at me, his lips pursed, his body stiff. “April.” I placed a finger over his lips to silence him. My heart died at that moment. It detached from my body and turned to ashes. Sobs shook my core. My hands trembled. Hiccups left my mouth.

“I’ll never love anybody else,” I said between heartbreaking sobs, “but I can’t stay.” My lips brushed his. “Set me free, Carter. If you love me, you’ll let me go.” Carter deepened our kiss and nodded, his forehead pressing against mine, and his hands framing my face. The flutters in my belly died too and turned into boulders.

Carter tried to speak, but no words came out. He cleared his throat.

“You’re free. I can’t force you to be with me. Just know I’ll never love anybody else either, Fairy. You’re the one for me.”

We clung to each other like we were drowning. My heart sank deeper in my burning chest. Carter’s Adam's apple bobbed.

Without another word, Carter rose to his feet and moved aside. “Goodbye, April.” I hauled myself back to the SUV and dissolved into the passenger seat. What did I do? I was a terrible person. Remember why you’re doing thi s. His career. His freedom.

“Are you going to be okay?” Taylor asked, his face etched with worries.

I shook my head. Carter stood on the side of the road, his shoulders slouched, his face pale, his hands stuffed in his pockets. His eyes stayed on us as we passed him. I saw the pleading in his gaze. It shattered my heart all over again. I mouthed an “I love you” his way.

A void grew within me. I was empty. Wrecked. Dead inside. Nothing would ever jolt my heart back to life again. With my head buried in my hands, I sobbed. For ten minutes or four hours. I didn’t know. When I opened my eyes again, we’d just crossed the North Carolina state line.

One quick look at my phone later, I sank further into my seat. Somehow, I wished Carter had sent me a message or called. He didn’t.

Realization hit me. Hard.

We were done.

33

Carter