Chasing Destiny (12 page)

“You heard her,” I said, taking Kristin’s hand. “Let’s go be happy.”

I walked her to the passenger side of the truck and opened the door. “You aren’t going to become one of those sickeningly sweet boyfriends, are you?” She scrunched her nose up and tilted her head to the side.

“No,” I answered, letting my hand find her ass and pushing her up into the truck. “You’re stuck with the same Carson I was yesterday.”

“Good.” She sat down and I closed the door, chuckling to myself. I felt…happy—no, it was more than that. I had been happy, but this feeling was bliss. I had put my heart out there and she had taken it and given me hers in return.

I sound like a fuckin’ girl.

Once I got inside the truck, I turned to her. “Do you mind if I just take you home? I don’t really want to be around people right now.”

“Yeah.”

I nodded at her reply and sent off a text.

We drove home with our hands interlocked while we made small talk, both of us wearing smiles. Once I pulled into the parking lot, I checked my phone to make sure everything was good and exhaled.

Miranda: Everything is ready, lover boy. :)

If it were any other time, I’d have a smartass reply for her, but at that moment, I didn’t care. Kristin was all I cared about.

We both got out of the truck and I met her at the front, taking her hand again. I loved how her delicate hand felt.
Well, that’s fucking sappy.

Reaching the door, I turned and took her face in my hands. I leaned down and kissed her. “Just to let you know before we go in there, I wouldn’t do this for just anyone. You’re special to me, Kristin.”

“Wouldn’t do what?” she asked, one eyebrow arched.

I unlocked the door, opened it, and gestured for her to go in first.

She stepped through the threshold and gasped, whipping her head back in my direction. “Carson?”

I shrugged. “I told you you’re special.” I had asked Miranda to come over and make the place look good with some candles and food. She gave me shit at first when I told her what I was doing and why, but by the end of the conversation, she was crying.

“I’m just so happy for you, Carson,”
Miranda had said.
“You deserve this so much. And I won’t let you forget I’m the reason y’all met.”

“Thanks,”
I’d replied,
“just make sure you get here on time!”

“I will, asshole.”
She’d sniffled, trying to hide the fact that she was still crying.

“You know you love me.”

“I do! That’s why I’m so freaking happy right now.”

Candles were set all over the living room and kitchen counter, lighting the rooms with a soft glow. The kitchen table was set with two bigger candles and takeout boxes. I guessed it would have been too much to ask her to actually set the food out on plates.

“This is amazing,” Kristin whispered as she walked inside. “How?”

I stepped behind her and wrapped my arms around her. “Miranda helped me a little.” She turned and enveloped me in a hug. “I guess you like it?”

“Of course I do. I just never expected anything like this from you. No offense.” She smiled wryly.

“Funny, funny.” I gestured toward the table. “Wanna eat?”

“Sure.” She sat down while I rummaged around in the drawer for some silverware. Then I grabbed two glasses and filled them with water.

“What? No wine?” Kristin asked playfully. I loved the fact that she could call me out on my abnormal behavior.

“Nope. That would be way too lame and expected.” I placed the glass beside her plate. “Besides, water is so much better for you.”

“Whatever.” She opened her takeout box. “Oh, hell yes! Burgers and fries!”

“I’m glad you approve.”

She took a huge bite of her burger. “It tastes fucking delicious.”

I laughed and dug into mine. I almost let out a moan it tasted so good. “I did good calling this order in.”

“That you did.”

We ate in mostly silence since Kristin took food just as seriously as I did. Every once in a while, we would smile or lean over and kiss each other, but we mostly just ate until Kristin finally tossed her napkin on the table. I had finished my food already.

“That was so good,” she remarked, patting her stomach.

“Yeah, it was.” I stood and grabbed her hand. “Wanna go lay on the couch or your bed?”

She twisted her mouth up as she thought it over. “Bed. That way we won’t have to move again.”

Pulling her up from the seat, I dropped my voice. “And what makes you think we won’t be moving? I plan on keeping that hot body of yours moving all night long.”

She snorted. “We both know all night long is stretching it.”

“Oh really?” I cocked my head to the side. “Wanna bet on that?”

“Absolutely.”

I began walking toward the bedroom, letting her trail behind me. “Fine. I win, you have to give me foot massages for a week. If you win, I have to—”

“No, no, no! I get to pick what I get when
I
win.” She walked into the bedroom and kicked her shoes off before flopping onto the bed. “I want…back massages for two weeks.”

“Deal. I’ll totally rub your backside for two weeks.” I lay down beside her, brushing a couple strands of hair away from her gorgeous eyes.

“No. I said back massages, not backside. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“You drive a
hard
bargain, but it’s a deal.”

I leaned down and planted a kiss on her lips, letting my hand find her hip to pull her closer to me. She moaned and her lips parted, giving me easy access to her mouth. She tasted good for someone who just ate a burger and fries, and the scent of her perfume invaded my senses, causing me to ache for her.

“Carson,” she mumbled as I let my lips trail down her jaw to her neck.

“Hmmm.”

“I…I…never mind.” She grabbed my t-shirt and yanked it over my head. “You are so fucking sexy.”

“I know.” I smirked and moved my head closer so I could nip her ear.

“Mmm,” she moaned, then I kissed the spot just below her lobe. She made another noise and tossed her head back, letting her hands travel over my chest.

I removed her shirt and bra, then the rest of her clothes. “Fuck, you are gorgeous,” I stated, hovering over her.

“Well, I’m all yours.”

And with that simple statement, I yanked my jeans off and made sure she knew just how correct her words were.

***

We were lying under the comforter with our legs tangled, looking at each other. I was stroking her cheek with my thumb when I just happened to glance at her nightstand. She had a book with a half-naked guy on the cover and a bookmark sticking out of it. “What kind of books do you read?”

“Huh?” She looked puzzled at my random question.

I gestured toward the nightstand. “You like to read naughty things?”

She turned and grabbed the book. “I love romance with a little dirty.”

I read the title and author,
Lessons of the Past
by Chloe Maxx. “And what exactly is this dirty book of yours about?”

“A cheating professor and his student.”

“Hmmm.” I grabbed the book from her hand. “I’m not sure I like you reading about other guys.”

“Because you know you can’t compete?”

I pinched her ass. “After how we just spent the last few hours, we both know I can compete and win—even with fictional men.”

“Whatever you want to believe.” She grinned and I tossed the book to the side, rolling on top of her.

“Do you need me to remind you just how naughty I can be?”

Her big, brown eyes flared with lust. “Maybe. Actually, I think we’ll have to wait until later. I’m kinda tired.”

“Thank God,” I sighed, relieved. “Because I wasn’t really sure I could give it my all.” I rolled back over, moving her to lay her head on my chest. “Give me a few hours of sleep.”

She yawned. “Okay.”

We both stayed quiet for a few minutes. I was staring at the white, popcorn ceiling, thanking my lucky stars that the night had turned out so perfectly when she whispered, “Carson?”

“Yeah, baby?”

“I loved the song tonight. You know, the trouble you went to to prove you wanted me. The lyrics were perfect.”

“I’m glad you think so.”

“I’m sorry I left with a note. I was just scared.”

I hugged her closer. “I know. I understand. I haven’t ever given you a reason to think this is what I want. But I do.” I took her chin between my finger and thumb, guiding her to look at me. “I want this more than I have ever wanted anything.”

She smiled and her eyes were glassy. “Me, too.”

Kristin

Sunday, Carson and I lounged around the apartment together. Mainly in bed, but we did make it to the couch for a couple hours. It was strange, Carson and I being a couple. It was as if nothing had really changed and it felt completely natural. I did love the part where I was now free to touch his sculpted, tattooed body anytime I felt like it. And I did, often. He reciprocated, of course, only he seemed to focus on my ass.

It was now Monday night.

“I’m going to take a quick shower, babe, before everyone gets here,” Carson informed me, kissing me on the cheek as I poured a bag of chips into a bowl. We had invited his cousin Ryder, and his girlfriend, Megan, Mark and his girlfriend, Hollis, and Holly and
Darkness
over for a night of drinking. I snorted at the thought of his name. It wouldn’t get old.

“Okay.”

“Wanna join me?” he asked, letting his mouth trail kisses down my neck.

“I would,” I said as a shiver raced down my spine, “but everyone will be getting here soon.”

He bit the tip of my earlobe. “Fine.”

“Oh, I forgot to tell you Holly and Darkness are coming over, too.”

He straightened and spun me around. “I’m sorry, who?”

I tried to hold in my laugh. “That’s what her boyfriend likes people to call him,” I replied, shrugging, trying my best to seem unaffected while dying from laughter on the inside.

Tossing his head back, he let out a belly laugh. “You’re going to have to find out his real name or I’m just going to call him assface.”

“Don’t be a jerk.”

“I’m not. Only a tool would have people refer to him as Darkness.”

“I’ll try. Now, go take that shower. You stink.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Carson left the kitchen and trotted down the hallway as I admired his ass.
I’m a lucky girl,
I thought as a knock sounded on the door.

I rounded the counter and stepped toward the door before opening it. “Hey,” I said, staring at Ryder and Megan. I assumed the couple behind them was Mark and Hollis. “Come in.”

“Hi,” Megan greeted as she and Ryder made their way inside.

“I’m Hollis. It’s nice to meet you,” the gorgeous blonde girl said, introducing herself. The guy beside her smiled. “And I’m Mark.”

“Hi. It’s nice to meet you both. I’m Kristin.” I shut the door after everyone was inside. “Carson’s in the shower.”

“Thank God,” Ryder hollered as he sat down in the chair and pulled Megan on top of him.

“Ain’t that the truth.” I grinned and walked into the kitchen. “Drinks and chips are in here. Just make yourself at home.”

“No worries,” one of the guys replied.

The doorbell rang and I made my way back over to the door. Yanking it open, I expected it to be Holly, but it wasn’t. It was a gorgeous—and when I say gorgeous, I mean breathtaking—girl standing at the door. Her black hair was long and shiny, makeup flawless, along with her red lips, and her short trench coat left nothing to the imagination.

My lips twitched upward as I really took in the whole look.
A trench coat, really? How many cheap pornos has this girl watched?

“Can I help you?” I asked, though I already knew why she was here.

“I’m here to see Carson.” Of fucking course she was. It had only been a few days since we became a couple, and it would have been hard for everyone to know that bit of news, but I couldn’t help feeling a little angry at Carson.

“Sure,” I said, “follow me.” I had no idea why I was leading this skank to our bedroom—I guess I wanted to see his reaction.

I knocked on the bedroom door, and hollered, “You decent?”

“Yeah.”

I opened the door to see Carson with only a towel wrapped around his waist. His eyes snapped to mine, then to the girl behind me. It was the look in his eyes that told me exactly who the girl was. She wasn’t a random slut—she was Sam.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” Carson seethed.

Sam stepped in front of me, then turned to look at me, a conniving smile on her face. “I can take it from here, honey.”

My eyes found Carson’s, but he wasn’t looking at me. He was still staring Sam down. “Why are you here?”

“For you, of course.”

He finally made eye contact with me. “Give me a minute.”

Anger began coursing through my body at a rapid pace. He was standing there in only a towel with his ex-girlfriend in the same room asking me to give him a minute. “You’ve got it,” I bit out, then turned and left, knowing exactly how much she meant to him. I heard the door slam behind me as I walked into the living room. Everyone in the room was staring at me, completely silent. I could see the confusion on Hollis’ face, but Megan had nothing but pity on hers. She had either been filled in by Ryder or actually knew Sam. I didn’t care, I only cared about the bottle of tequila in the cabinet.

I smiled as I passed by the couples and walked swiftly into the kitchen. I pulled the bottle down from the shelf, uncapped it, and immediately turned it up to my lips. It burned going down my throat, but I didn’t care. I took another swallow, followed by another, and another.

I heard footsteps, followed by Carson’s voice. “We’ll be right back.” I couldn’t see him from where I was standing in the corner of the kitchen, but I didn’t want to either. I was so embarrassed that I had a group of people in my living room witnessing this—witnessing my shame as my boyfriend dressed and then left with his ex.

I trusted Carson, I really did, but I also knew Sam had a certain hold over him. If she wanted him, she’d have him.

I drank two more swallows before I walked over to the counter and looked into the living room. “Do y’all want some margaritas? I have beer, too.”