Double Dealing(113)

“What are you doing living out here anyway?” I asked. I never thought in a million years Carly would wind up in a place like this. She was more of a city girl.

“It was a good deal,” Carly replied. “And you know how expensive everything is in the Bay Area.”

I nodded. “No doubt. It’s ridiculous. But you didn’t have to do something this drastic just to afford rent. Dad’s wealthy, he would have helped you out . . . he always was fond of you.” My Dad and I weren’t on speaking terms, but I knew he held a soft place in his heart for Carly, and if she needed help, I’m sure he would’ve lent a hand.

Carly shook her head. “You know I don’t like asking for help. Besides, he already practically paid my way through college.”

While I dropped out . . .

Silence filled the room and Carly bit her lower lip as she stared at me. I knew what she was thinking. She was thinking that I’d walked out on all of the money my Father invested in me, walked out on the future he wanted for me, and walked out on her.

If she only knew why.

“But I thought for sure you’d be some big shot reporter by now,” I said, quick to deflect the accusations that I knew was coming.

A shadow darkened Carly’s visage. She glared at me as if pissed off I brought up such a sore subject, and resumed pacing back and forth in front of me.

My eyes followed her like the Mona Lisa. Damn. It was almost like she was teasing me, though I knew she wasn’t.

She was wearing pink shorts, which showcased her tight, round ass and a white, short-sleeved, V-neck top that showed off her cleavage.

I felt guilt-ridden, but I was more than a little turned on at half-mast. In fact, I wanted to bend her over the couch and . . .

Shit. Stop.

She stopped pacing, fixing her angry eyes on my face. “Well?”

I tore my eyes away from her lush figure, pushing my sinful thoughts away. “Well, what?” I asked stupidly, hoping she hadn’t seen me checking her out.

Carly hissed with exasperation. “How the hell did you find me?”

“I have my ways,” I replied coyly. It hadn’t been easy, especially with Carly practically living off the grid, but eventually, I managed to track her down.

“Ugh,” Carly growled. “You’re impossible.” Then she proceeded to let me have it. “Where the fuck have you been anyway? Our parents and I have been worried sick about you. You drop out of college and disappear off of the face of the earth.”

It was hard to formulate an answer. There were so many reasons I’d chosen to take off — Carly being one of them. No matter what I said, I could never make her understand.

“No one knew where you were. You didn’t call, never even sent so much as an e-mail. Jesus, Mason! Mom and Brian even started saying that you fell in with the wrong people, started being all anti-government and crap. They said you started doing hardcore drugs.”

“Well, I can tell you right now that is a bunch of a bullshit,” I assured her. “At least the drug part.”

“Oh really?” Carly snapped. “Because from where I’m standing, it sure makes a lot of sense to me.”

“Look, you don’t have to believe me—”

“How could you?” Carly hissed furiously. “How could you just leave like that and walk away from . . .” Carly bit her lower lip and then stomped her foot against the hardwood floor like a petulant child. “How could you do it!”

It was hard to face the pain in her eyes, and actually, it surprised me that she was hurt.

When I left, I’d done it partly to protect myself from my emotions, not considering that I could possibly be hurting her.

“You wouldn’t understand,” I muttered.

“Make me understand,” Carly demanded. “I’ve spent this whole time feeling guilty over you leaving.”

I let out a sigh and shook my head. “I can’t. I’m sorry, Carly, but I can’t. Some things are better left unsaid.”

She glared at me for several long seconds and then threw her hands up in the air in exasperation. “Fine! Can you at least tell me if you wound up knocking up some tramp?”

I laughed incredulously. “What?”

Carly cut her eyes at me. “You were with a new skank every weekend, remember? I thought it was only a matter of time before you wound up with a few baby mamas.”

I shook my head and continued to laugh. “No baby mamas here.” But there had been a close call, but I wasn’t going to go into that. I’d never hear the end of it if I did.

“Amazing,” Carly muttered nastily. “You stuck it in more holes than Tiger Woods and none wound up pregnant? Shit, you probably have ten children you don’t even know about.”