Page 34 of Convincing Carrie
For now, I was glad to have some time to myself to think about things. Was Madison up to something? Or was I being paranoid?
I remembered that Carrie had called me a few times earlier. I listened to my texts and voicemails as I headed north up I-75.
Carrie’s voice filled the car.
Are you almost here, Thatcher? I need to leave for the club in about twenty minutes. I really wanted us to arrive together.
A cold chill crawled up my spine. “Fuck!” I slammed my hands on the steering wheel. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. How could I get the date wrong? Why didn’t I ask her to verify when the ball was?”
This was bad. This was very bad. It was one thing to be home late for dinner. Missing the biggest social event of the year in Indigo Falls after she’d spent months planning it? That was so much worse. Everyone in Indigo Falls would have seen her there alone and wondered where the hell I was.
“Shit.” I didn’t even want to know what her parents and friends thought of me right now.
Knowing I’d missed the ball to take Madison out and that I’d then almost slept with her was even more gut wrenching. I couldn’t believe I’d let Carrie down in such horrible ways.
I hadn’t just let her down. I’d betrayed her.
I drove into the neighborhood way too fast but ignored the judging eyes of the security guard at the impressive stone front gates. There was someone there at all times, even if I thought that was overkill for quiet, little Indigo Falls.
I zipped to the back of the neighborhood and pulled into the driveway. Her car wasn’t here. I wasn’t exactly shocked by that, but it still upset me. Tonight, of all nights, I wanted to see her. I wanted to hug her and admit how badly I’d screwed up. I wantedto tell her I’d never meant to embarrass her by not showing up for the Orchid Ball.
But I wasn’t going to get that chance. She’d made things pretty clear. She was giving me until after the ball and maybe the launch party next week before she made a decision about our marriage.
Now, I was almost positive what that decision would be. I’d been on extremely thin ice before not showing up tonight. Now? I didn’t see a way that she’d forgive me.
The ironic thing was that just as I was starting to doubt my real feelings for Madison, Carrie was more than likely done with me.
I left voice mail after voice mail, text after text, but I got nothing in return. I knew it served me right.
I got online and ordered a huge bouquet of blue, pink, and purple hydrangeas in a beautiful large silver vase, a massive box of her favorite Godiva chocolates, and a spa basket assortment of her favorite products from Jo Malone. I had them all rush delivered to her parents’ house, and they would hopefully arrive the next day.
It hadn’t taken me long to order; I’d known her favorites, thank goodness. The hardest part was knowing what to write. How many different ways could you say, ‘I’m an idiot?’
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Thatcher
I sat dejectedly at my desk. I’d heard nothing from Carrie. And an interesting thing was happening. Madison hadn’t been by since the night I’d almost slept with her. And… I didn’t miss her. What did that mean?
There was a light knock on my door before Bryce slipped in. He hadn’t waited for an answer, but that didn’t bother me. I was just glad to see a friendly face.
Except… he didn’t look all that friendly.
“We need to talk.”
I was surprised. Bryce rarely had such a serious tone in his voice. “Sure, come on in.” I gestured to one of the chairs. Instead of plopping down and resting one leg over the arm of the antique as he usually did, he sat up straight, his posture that of a businessman coming to discuss something of importance.
“My God. What have I done?” I chuckled.
Instead of laughing, Bryce looked even more uncomfortable. “Thatch, this is… bad.”
I frowned. “What is it? Is everyone okay? Is Carrie…”
He held up a hand. “Everyone is fine. There’s a sticky situation with one of the company credit cards. The head of accounting brought it to me, because he didn’t want to face you directly.” Bryce stared at me, and I could tell he was waiting on me to just come clean about whatever purchases I’d made.
Jesus. I went over anything irregular I’d charged to a business account. There was nothing. Certainly not anything that would have caused such an uproar.
My brother sighed. “You’re going to make me show you the evidence, huh?”
