Part 6 (1/2)

He merely shrugged, opening my door wider. ”It's my f.u.c.king house, and I don't ask anyone for rent, so I don't think they'll mind who I invite in. Besides, since when did you care, really? You and the girls practically lived there during last summer, so what's the difference now? We all grew up together, and you're one of us, so I don't get why you're acting this way.”

Glaring at him, I felt as though I had to take a moment to lay it out on him. I did have to admit, though, Carter had a point. We all had grown up together, and yes, as he had pointed out, as well, in a sense I was one of them. I was a part of their crew. Indeed, I surely was, so why did I feel so f.u.c.king unsure about it?

”See, you don't even have some smart comeback. Come on, let's go,” he said hurriedly before raising his brow at me. ”Unless, of course, you want me to carry you. I could do that, too.”

”Oh, shut up!” I rolled my eyes at him, feeling defeated. ”I have legs, and I can still use them to get me from point A to point B; thank you very much.” Huffing out, I dejectedly got out of bed with a worried face. ”If they utter one bad word about me staying there, I'm outta there in a flash. Deal?”

He stupidly wiggled his brow before beaming his signature smile. ”It's a deal, yo.” With that said, he was immediately gone in a flash, leaving me no choice other than to drag myself downstairs and join him.

Since I hadn't unpacked any of my things from Athens, I technically had everything I needed to make my small two week jaunt to his house. Before I knew it, I was secured in his car, making our way towards his house, reaching it in a manner of minutes.

d.a.m.n, it had better pan out well, or I was going to kick Carter's b.u.t.t big time.

The moment I jumped out of his car, I could already feel my heart pitter-pattering like mad, leaving me utterly nervous. Glancing towards a relaxed Carter as he was opening the house door, I braced myself as I followed behind him.

”Oh, by the way, I forgot to tell you, but you're going to be staying in my room,” he nonchalantly informed me as he looked around the house that was packed with random people from school.

”What happened to the spare room?” I hissed at him, not wanting people to overhear our conversation since some people were already curious at seeing Carter with luggage in hand. Since he had already come here, they knew the luggage wasn't his and most likely mine.

”I forgot to tell you?” he c.o.c.ked his head sideways. ”We took in an exchange student for a few months. His name is Johann, and he's from Denmark.”

”What?” I almost screamed at him, probably because no one had ever mentioned an exchange student or the f.u.c.king fact that I didn't have a room to myself and would be sharing a room with Carter.

What had I gotten myself into?

Chapter Ten.

”Amber?”

Oh, dear G.o.d, not yet, I silently prayed, knowing full well who that voice belonged to.

Internally cringing as I s.h.i.+fted to the side to face him, I wasn't surprised to find he was throwing his best friend a dubious look.

”Carter?” he questioned with a heavy note of suspicion in his voice.

I was about to say my h.e.l.lo, but Carter spoke first.

”Amber's staying with us for the next two weeks. Let me go ahead and situate her things first, and then I'll join you guys afterwards.”

Brody's face darkened before he threw me an accusing yet confused look.

Before I had the chance to argue against whatever he was obviously imagining in his mind, Carter hastily placed his hand on my back, eagerly ushering me out of the spotlight and into the pathway of the staircase, leading me towards the bedrooms.

Reeling from the awkward encounter, my heart remained pounding as I entered his private quarter. I worriedly watched him drag my things towards the end of the room, parking them next to an empty chair before he faced me with a s.h.i.+t-eating grin.

”He didn't look happy.”

Carter shrugged as if it was no big deal to him. ”He'll get over it.”

My eyes were as big as saucers as I glared at him. Why couldn't he take this seriously? What the h.e.l.l!

”I don't want it to be weird between you two because of me. I can just go back home. I really don't mind.”

”You're already here. Toughen up a little bit. So he's probably mad? Who cares? It's not as if you're his keeper. What you do or don't do isn't any of his business.”

If he said it that way, then yes, it made complete sense, but come on, Brody seemed like he was going to skin me alive by the look he was giving me. It was as though I was cheating on him or something, which was seriously absurd.

”I don't know about this...”

”Just use this opportunity to up your game a little. Maybe it's time you show him you're done following him like a lost puppy.” His blatant comment overrode the suggestion he had made, making me squirm hardcore from ultimate embarra.s.sment.

”What? I'm really that obvious?” G.o.d, how humiliating. How many knew and saw me as this lovesick, pathetic woman? s.h.i.+t. Unbeknownst to me, I began to nervously chew on my thumb as I tried to calm myself. Maybe Carter had a point about making this an opportunity to change things between Brody and I. Better yet, maybe it was high time people saw me differently, as well, and not labeled me as some lovesick fool.

My newly minted resolution came to a standstill when there was a loud rap at the door.

Before Carter and I could bring our attention towards it, Brody yanked it open, looking as if he was ready to tackle whoever was in his way.

I was holding my breath as our eyes connected, and I could have sworn I saw something there, something that held substantial meaning, but that vital thought was left unexplored because my heart felt as if it was about to explode from seeing him rattled.

His familiar, handsome face I could stare at all night long had been frozen in a frown since his eyes had landed on me tonight.

”I need to speak to you,” he deadpanned, unblinking before pointedly adding, ”Alone.”

Glancing towards Carter, who seemed to be unmoved by Brody's arctic att.i.tude, I knew I had to take the initiative in trying to calm him down by taking this private discussion elsewhere.

”All right,” I conceded with a nod. ”Okay, if that's what you want.”

I made my way towards the door, barely throwing Carter a mild look as I exited and then found myself being slightly pushed towards Brody's bedroom at the opposite side of the hall. A protest teased the tip of my tongue, yet I reined it in, knowing this wasn't the time to test how foul his mood was.

Truth be told, I was a little surprised by his reaction. I get that maybe he was feeling somewhat betrayed if his thoughts were leading him to me and Carter hooking up. Apart from that, however, he should be speaking to his friend more than me since he and I didn't have a ”relations.h.i.+p.” I didn't want to label what we did have or had, because it was embarra.s.sing to even admit it. Let's face it; I was his booty call, nothing more.

Upon entering his room, he didn't even wait until the door was closed before his verbal attack began, putting me on the spot.

”Are you really f.u.c.king serious about this, Amber?” He was as mad as a d.a.m.n bull. ”What the f.u.c.k's gotten into you? You must be out of your mind to consider sleeping in Carter's room.”

I opened my mouth, feeling as if I had to defend myself, but before I had the chance to spar back, he continued his attack. ”Are you f.u.c.king him now, too?”

Oh, h.e.l.l no! ”Well, f.u.c.k you very much, Brody!”

What was I to him? A hussy? Probably. After all, I never once denied him if he sought me for s.e.x. At this point, I was going to look bad in his eyes either way. There was no way to save myself from this. Might as well just go with what he thought of me. Like that would make a difference.

”You know what? Think what you like. If you're done insulting me and yelling at me, I'd very much like to go now.”

”He's not going to make you happy. I hope you know that.”