Page 44 of Carter
“How’s your coffee?”
“Better than what’s at the office.”
“Were you really in the area?”
“No,” I admit.
He smiles. “I knew it. So why are you here then?”
“Honestly?”
He puts his sandwich down and sighs. “If there is anything you can do for me while we’re… for lack of a better word, working together, it’s being honest with me. Please, don’t lie to me about anything, even if you think it’s for my own good.”
“Okay. I won’t.”
“Thank you. Seriously.” He shifts in his seat, gaze still on mine. “I’ve had a lot of people treat me like I’ll break since Ryan, and though I am emotional, I’m not fragile. You aren’t one of those people though, and I really appreciate that.”
“I just know how I want to be treated and try to do the same for others.”
“You’re a smart man, Nash Bennett.”
He smiles, and I give him a small smile in return. I rest my hands on the table because my coffee is still too hot to drink.
“I just wanted to check on you after last night,” I admit.
“Right. I kind of forgot that I called you in a panic. Couldn’t just call me back?”
“I can’t see your face on the phone to tell if you were lying or not.”
“Fair.” He picks up his sandwich and takes another bite.
“So, how are you?”
Nodding, he chews and swallows, then says, “Tired. Hungry. Don’t really want to be here. A little sad. Shaken, maybe. But… not terrible.”
“Good. That’s good.”
“And how are you? Because I’d never guess you were up so late. You don’t even have bags under your eyes.”
“I’m really good at applying makeup.”
He smirks, his eyes shining. “Are you now?”
“Yes. It’s what I do in my spare time, actually. Even have one of those YouTube channels. It’s how I got rich.”
He’s laughing now, the sound sweet and soft. “It’s always the ones you never expect.”
Carter drinks some of his water, before taking the napkin to wipe his mouth.
“Honestly, though, I’m fine,” I say. “Same as always. Getting by. Doing my job.”
“You’re used to living like that, huh?”
“Like what?”
Shrugging, he says, “Avoiding everything around you. Losing yourself in work. Ignoring your feelings.”
“Feelings are messy.”
