Page 130 of Lured By Shadows

Carter scratched at the back of his head, relief visibly loosening his posture when I didn’t immediately shut him down.

“I’ll keep ya posted,” he said vaguely. “Thinkin’ ’bout a do.”

“Hmm. Maybe,” I replied, letting the uncertainty linger between us like perfume.

I was giving Carter a taste of his own medicine. It wasn’t like I wanted anything to do with him. Honestly, I was more than content with Culver, especially with all the sexually charged tension constantly simmering between us. Carter was boring, and I probably should’ve realized that before I slept with him.

Carter lit up like I’d just handed him a prize.

“Just shoot me a message,” I said lightly, my lips curling into a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes. “I might be available. Who knows.”

“Brilliant,” he replied, backing away slowly now that he’d clearly taken the hint. “Anywho… later, Ira.”

“Bye-bye,” I answered, lifting my fingers in a lazy wave.

I didn’t move until the door clicked shut behind him and he disappeared into the building, already slipping into the category of things I didn’t plan on remembering.

I sighed as the car door shut behind me, the sound sealing the conversation with Carter inside the vehicle along with us.

“He’s that boy,” my ma murmured, reaching for her seatbelt.

I turned toward her slowly, eyes widening when I realized she’d already put it together.

“You caught that?”

She shrugged, one hand resting loosely against the steering wheel like it was just another small observation. “Is he important?”

“No,” I answered too quickly. “I wouldn’t even call him a friend.”

The silence that followed wasn’t heavy, but it wasn’t empty either. She tilted her head slightly, a familiar perceptive look sharpening her expression enough to cut straight through any excuse I could’ve built.

“Are you playing with Culver’s feelings?”

God. Of course she went straight there.

I groaned and sank back against the seat in mild defeat.

“Of course not. I’m not playing with anyone.” Even while saying it, I could hear how flimsy it sounded. Not because it wasn’t true, but because she’d already started forming her own conclusions.

“Do you want Culver?” she asked, like I hadn’t spoken at all.

Tension flared beneath my skin.

“Do you even—” I cut myself off, my voice pitching higher than I wanted before I forced it back down. “I did say we were dating, so of course… I want him.”

“I just think you two look well together,” she replied casually. “I don’t want you ruining things before they’ve even had a chance to blossom, ladybug.”

“I’m not ruining things, Ma,” I muttered, clearing my throat as I turned my gaze toward the window instead.

I couldn’t bring myself to look at her directly, not with all that longing and doubt twisting around inside me, the way Culver’s intensity pulled me closer while still making some stubborn survival instinct want to run in the opposite direction.

Her expression softened, the edge melting into something unmistakably maternal.

“Whatever you decide, Ira,” she said quietly, reaching over to brush a strand of hair off my shoulder, “I’ll stick by your side. Just remember to be safe.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I muttered, a grin tugging at my mouth as I shook my head at her usual reminder.

“How about you?” I fired back, suddenly bold enough to redirect the attention. “Has any man taken your heart lately?”