Fall from Love

we should slow down before things go too far.”
    Feeling the rush of his kiss and his touch evaporate out of me, I exhale loudly and lean back, knowing he’s right, yet still wishing he hadn’t stopped.
    “You’re right,” I agree, trying to catch my breath.

 
     
    Chapter Nineteen
     
    For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.
    ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
     
    CARTER
    The next morning, I wake up on the couch alone. The images from last night run through my head and I would swear that it was just a dream, but the soreness that lingers on my lips from our rough kiss tells me that it was all real. Sucking on my bottom lip, I can still taste her and remember how soft her skin felt against mine and how sweet she tasted. It’s making me crazy and I’m beginning to regret stopping it from going further.
    I’m not sure where the control to pull away from her came from last night because God knows I want her. I want her so badly, but there are still a lot of things that need to be said between us. I’ve already let too much time go by without telling her the truth.
    I hear a door open from one of the upstairs bedrooms, and a few seconds later I hear another one shut. The toilet flushes, the faucet runs, and then footsteps start down the stairs. I’m hoping it’s Holly and I’m hoping that her face doesn’t hold a look of regret. I don’t regret a second of what happened last night and I’m not sure what it would do to me if I know she does.
    When she finally appears, she meets my stare and an adorable smile spreads across her face, causing my breath to catch.
    “Morning.” I smile. The smile she’s wearing grows wider, allowing me to relax a little.
    “Good morning.” She continues making her way to the couch and takes a seat beside me, almost in the exact spot she started in last night.
    “You marked me,” she says.
    “I what?”
    She moves her long brown hair over to one shoulder, exposing her neck and I finally see what she means. A large hickey rests on the base of her throat, glowing like a beacon in the night.
    “Oh, man. I’m so sorry. I got a little carried away.”
    “Don’t be sorry,” she says, stealing the line I’ve used on her a couple times. “I’m not.”
    When another door from upstairs opens, our connection is broken and Jenna joins us in the living room.
    “Breakfast is on us this morning. Josh feels like sleeping the day away,” Jenna says, annoyed, making her way into the kitchen.
    “I’ll help.” Holly stands, smiling back at me.
    After joining them in the kitchen, I’m aware of every move Holly makes and I don’t miss the small gestures she gives me every time she passes by me. The way her fingers linger a little longer than they have to when she hands the butter to me or the way her whole body brushes against mine when she squeezes in between me and the counter in order to get to the refrigerator.
    We’re about to sit down to eat when Jenna gasps. “Holly! What is that on your neck? Is that a—”
    “What’s on whose neck?” Josh asks, walking in, finally gracing us with his presence.
    “Uh, nothing. Josh, would you grab the OJ out of the fridge, please?” Jenna asks, clearly trying to distract Josh from seeing anything. Holly is biting her lip, trying to hide a smile as she moves her hair around to cover the mark I left on her neck.
    When I glance up, Jenna’s looking between me and Holly, smiling wide and shaking her head.
     
    HOLLY
    I’m convinced that my best friend is the most relentless person on the planet. We aren’t even two steps outside of Josh and Carter’s before she stops me and pulls my hair away from my neck.
    “Holly Ann. It’s about damn time, girl.”
    I lean back, pulling my hair back and continuing down the flagstone path.
    “You’re not even going to tell me about it?” She follows close behind me.
    “Do you really want details?”
    “Uh, yeah ,” she responds as if it’s a no brainer.
    I laugh, shaking my head and pulling open my car door. “Well, I don’t think I’m comfortable giving you the details.”
    “Oh, my God! It’s been hell watching the two of you the last few months. I’ve seen you go through hell, Carter’s been a miserable SOB, and now you’re not even gonna let me reap the benefits with you?”
    “I’m still not even sure what it means. We didn’t get a lot of talking done last night if you know what I mean,” I say, glancing over at her and she squeals loudly.
    “Oh,