Page 3 of Carter

Two years later

“I’m done. Finally,” I announced as I slouched my tall body into Dahlia’s cream leather couch. “It was the shortest world tour I ever did, but the most tiring.”

Dahlia gave me a bottle of water and sat beside me, resting her head on my shoulder, her copper hair a halo around her head.

She raised her glass to clink my bottle. “To you, Cart. You did it. Once again.”

“And to you, too. Because you’re making the cover of Wedding Bliss magazine next month,” Nick, her fiancé, said as he joined us after checking on Jack to make sure the toddler was still fast asleep after we heard him talk in his sleep through the baby monitor.

I leaned myself away from my best friend. “Wait, what? You are? Why didn’t you tell me?” I tried my best to hide the hurt lacing my voice.

“I wanted to tell you in person.” Dahlia poked her tongue out at Nick. “Thanks for ruining the surprise,” she told him, unable to hide the amusement in her voice.

They were nauseatingly in love.

I rolled my eyes at their exchange.

“Sorry, babe, I thought you’d already told him. You two are always telling each other everything. It’s kind of disturbing sometimes.” Nick let out a heartfelt laugh, picked up his glass, and took a seat before us on a wooden chair with a purple cushion, raking his hand through his blond locks.

Dahlia squeezed my hand. “From an outside point of view, our relationship can be misunderstood, I agree.” She shrugged. “But I don’t care, though. It’s us. We’ve always been this way. And I love the way we are.”

I dragged a hand over my face and shook my head. “I guess it can be intimidating. Anyway, I can’t believe you hadn’t told me the big news. You know I’ll buy an entire stand of magazines, right?” Dahlia’s eyes widened, and she snickered.

“You’re always overdoing things. Perhaps I should’ve told you months after it actually came out. Or gifted you a copy on your birthday or something.”

Nick sighed. “I think I’ll never get the extent of your friendship, guys. It’s as amazing as it is disconcerting.” He took a sip of the bourbon. “But it’s something everyone should aim for because it’s quite extraordinary that it survived through everything you guys faced.”

I nodded.

Dahlia wiped the tears filling her eyes with her fingertips.

“I’m not sure I would have made it through everything without Cart by my side,” she said, her voice low and drenched with emotions.

A tightness grew in my chest.

I dropped a kiss on the crown of her head.

Dahlia and I had been through hell together in the last few years. But we made it through.

It had been hard on both of us, but it also sealed our friendship bond forever.

A lump formed in the back of my throat, making my breathing harsh. My eyes glazed at all the memories.

“I know I wouldn’t have made it without you, Dah. And Jack. You are both my anchors.” I fought a yawn. “Anyway, I’ll let you two be.” I unfolded my tall self from the couch and stretched my arms over my head. “Thanks for dinner. I’ll see you guys later.” I dropped a kiss on my best friend’s cheek as she squeezed my forearm and held out my hand to shake Nick’s.

“Take care, man,” he said.

Dahlia let go of my arm. “Behave, Cart. And call me if you need anything.”

I nodded and blended into the dark night, before hauling myself into my truck.

My heart flipped in my chest, unable to decide if it was happy or sad. Aching or excited. I loved Dahlia—always had. And seeing her with Nick made my heart tick, while twisting in pain. All I’d wanted was for her to find happiness again, but it also hurt to witness that I couldn’t be her happily ever after. Even after everything we’d shared, she still saw me only as her friend. Her best friend. Not her lover. Not her endgame.

And the realization of it stung.

A fucking lot.

Like a thousand needles piercing the hard armor I grew around my bruised heart a long time ago. Back when we were teenagers.