Fall from Love

that if I don’t leave now, I may never.
    When I’m halfway home, I decide to call Kelly back and she picks up on the first ring.
    “Geez, Carter. I’ve been trying to get you all week,” is the first thing she says and she sounds pissed. I guess she has every reason to be, I have been avoiding her all week.
    “Sorry. Things have just been a little crazy, but I can talk now… so talk.” I don’t mean to, but I sound like an asshole.
    “Really? That’s all you have to say to me. Did you even listen to my messages? God, you’re so freaking aggravating. Where are you anyway?” she asks and her irritation level is rising by the second.
    “I’m on my way home.”
    “Good, I’ll see you when you get here.”
    “What?! You’re at my house?” I scream into the phone.
    “Yep. This is what you get for ignoring me all week. I had to come over and see if you were actually still breathing.”

 
     
    Chapter Thirteen
     
    Sometimes the heart sees what is invisible to the eye.
    ~ Jackson Brown, Jr.
     
    HOLLY
    After Carter leaves, I can’t help feeling… empty.
    The emotions that are stirring around inside are beginning to scare me. The possibility of caring for someone again causes my chest to tighten and, the more I think about it, I’m not so sure I am ready for those types of feelings yet.
    I can’t deny that when Carter offered to drive me home, I got excited knowing that we could possibly have the entire day to spend together. My heart relaxed knowing that I wouldn’t have to say goodbye to him for a few more hours.
    Over the past couple months I’ve gotten used to seeing him and then missing him when he leaves.
    When I come out of my room and find him with his head in his hands, I can tell that something has happened while I was in the bathroom. His total demeanor has changed. When he tells me he has to leave, I try my hardest not to let him see the pain I feel. I want to question him, but I have no right to.
    The rest of the day, I try to keep myself busy with laundry and cleaning around the apartment. Every time I get a free moment to think or feel, my thoughts focus back to Carter. At first, my thoughts are fairly innocent, I wonder what he’s doing, what he’s thinking, and if he’s alright. Then, as much as I try to fight them, my thoughts take a drastic turn. I remember how his muscles had flexed earlier when he was changing my tire and how good his ass looked in his jeans. I try to envision how his skin would feel and taste if I ever got the chance to sample it.
    It isn’t until I realize that I’ve been standing in front of the washer—dazed out and holding a pile of shirts—that these thoughts I am having start to feel wrong... these are not thoughts that friends should be having about other friends.
    It’s around eleven p.m. when Jenna finally comes through the door. The moment I hear the door open, relief runs through me. I’ve been looking forward to talking to her all day about what I am feeling with Carter. My relief turns to surprise when I see her walking through the door backwards. She’s kissing Josh as he guides her forward. I’m not sure what to do and I start to panic when Josh starts telling her all the places he wants to ‘do’ her in the apartment. I clear my throat and immediately they break apart and Jenna stares at me wide-eyed.
    “Shit, Holly. You scared me. I didn’t think you were home. Your car’s not in the parking lot.”
    I try to hide my smile when her face turns cherry red. “Yeah, my car’s in the shop. I got a flat tire today and Carter gave me a ride home.”
    “Oh,” she says, looking back at Josh. “Sorry, I thought we were alone.”
    “Well, don’t let me bother you. I’m about to call it a night anyway,” I say, getting off the couch and walking towards my room. The main reason I stayed up this long, other than to talk to Jenna, is to see if Carter is going to call. Deep down, I’m not sure why, but I don’t expect to hear his voice tonight.
    “Goodnight, guys,” I say, passing them, but then stop short. “Oh, and Josh, I just have one request… Can you please avoid the couch?”
    Jenna closes her eyes and mashes her lips together, embarrassment spilling out of her. Josh on the other hand looks amused.
    “Sure thing, Holly… The couch is off limits,” he says, giving me a devilish smile. I’m not sure who’s enjoying Jenna’s cherry red face more, me or him.
    As I lay down in bed, I try not to let myself think of