Page 69 of Claimed By my Father's Enemies
Carter just scoffs. Short and dismissive.
"You're too scared to lose so you won’t even play the game," I can see that gets a raise out of him.
Carter's jaw tightens. "This is not a game. These are people's feelings."
"I know that."
"Then what are you actually suggesting?"
I don’t know what I’m suggesting. Not entirely. The idea is not fully formed. There is no real logic to it, and yet…
"We both go for it," I say. "We both date Sienna. See where it leads."
Carter looks at me for a long beat. "You're suggesting we turn it into a competition?" His voice has an edge to it now. Like he is forcing himself to stay in control. "She's not athingto fight for."
"No." I admit. "She's not."
“So what exactly are you saying? We woo Sienna until she chooses one of us?
“Or…” I sit back on the sofa. I can’t believe what I’m about to suggest. “She doesn’t have to choose.”
Carter goes still. Like something just stopped working correctly. I can see him trying to figure out if I said what I just said.
"It seems that we both have strong feelings for her," my voice is steadier than I expected, the idea taking shape as I speak. "So maybe we stop making it a problem that needs solving. Maybe we let it be what it is."
Carter stands up. He is processing.
He takes two steps toward the window. Stops. Stands there looking out at nothing specific.
A long moment passes.
He turns around.
"You're out of your mind," he says. There is disbelief, but not weighted. More like awhat if.
"That’s for sure. But that predates this situation." I joke.
I wait, and I watch him, and I can see the moment the idea stops being impossible and starts being something else. Something he's considering, turning over, evaluating pros and cons.
He comes back. Sits down. Picks up the espresso, looks at it, sets it down without drinking.
I can see he has made a decision he's not entirely comfortable with. And I can see that underneath the discomfort, underneath the resistance, he's in.
"Now," I sober up. "How do we do this?"
Carter looks at me for a long moment. Like I've just handed him something fragile and he's still deciding whether to hold it.
"I think," he says slowly, "I know how."
25
SIENNA
Every time I put the gloves on I notice that they are really good gloves. The leather has worn soft over the past two days without losing its structure.
And every time I put them on I can't stop my thoughts going straight to Carter.
Does this gift mean something? He said he didn't regret what happened between us. Was he being honest about that? It has been two days since I last heard from him, and I've gotten good at not counting days since I was sixteen, so it means something that I'm counting.
