"Like what?" Carrie asks, and I give her a kiss on the forehead.
“Let’s get off campus for a little while—try to get your head right before you go back to class tomorrow. And we've got us to talk about."
Carrie nods. "Where do we go?"
I push back and look down at her frumpy shorts and oversized t-shirt. "First, how about we get you dressed in something more appropriate, then we'll figure it out?"
For the first time, Carrie smiles and nods, snapping me a mock salute. "Yes, sir!"
She grabs some clothes from her dresser and runs off down the hall to the bathroom, coming back with her hair pulled back into a ponytail, a light green sleeveless blouse, and some jeans on. "Better?"
I pull her close and kiss her, letting her know exactly how I feel. "Much. Anything else you need?”
"Let me grab a few things, throw them in my backpack, grab my jacket, and let's go," Carrie says. "Duncan . . . I'll go anywhere with you. I really do need to get out of here.”
I nod. "Let me go get the bike ready and grab your helmet.”
"Okay. I'll see you down there. And Duncan?"
"Yeah?"
Carrie kisses me, and I’m tempted to change plans, to close the door to her room and take her to bed, but I don't, slapping that inner demon away and just returning the kiss. Man, sometimes, I regret trying to be a good guy. “Thank you."
I head downstairs in a haze, waving at the few people who call out my name. When I'm in the parking lot, I see Chelsea Brown walking toward the entrance to the dorm, and I set Carrie's helmet aside. "Yo, Chelsea!"
She turns her head and smiles, walking over. "Duncan! How are you?”
"That's close enough," I say when she's about ten feet away.
I pull out my phone and turn on the video camera. In this world of accusations and campus culture, I'm not going to fuck around any longer. She’s obviously a vindictive bitch with how she’s lying on Carrie. "I'm just letting you know that I know what you accused Carrie of. I don’t understand why you decided to result to such lies, especially something as damaging as that . . . but I’m not going to let you get away with it.”
Chelsea sees my phone, then looks at me and turns, stomping off without a word. I turn off my video and put the phone back in my pocket. A few minutes later, Carrie emerges and she's smiling. Her backpack is stuffed, and I give her a questioning look. "I don't plan on coming back here tonight," she says simply. "Think you have space for me at your apartment?"
I grin, not needing to say more as I pull her in for a hug. "Hey, does Chelsea live in this dorm?"
Carrie shakes her head, confused. "No. Why?"
"She just went in a few minutes ago. Maybe I should talk to Coach tomorrow."
"No," Carrie says, shaking her head. "You don't need drama—you have your own demons to deal with. Remember, this is about us, right?"
"Any idea where you'd like to go?"
Carrie nods and kisses my chin. "Take me up to the foothills. We can watch the city for a while from Mission Park. Then, we go back to your place."
Chapter 14
Carrie
I didn't expect Duncan to react the way he does when I tell him I want to go back to his place. I mean, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know what that means. Instead of looking excited, he looks pensive, but he nods and hands me my helmet. I climb on behind him, and we ride off, getting on the freeway and heading up to the hills. Mission Park overlooks most of the city, where we can sit on a picnic table and look down on the lights twinkling below us.
"Hmmm, this is nice," I say as I lean into Duncan. "I've never been up here at night before."
Duncan puts an arm around my shoulders. His hand is warm, and the summer has officially ended in California, fall is starting to take hold, and the air is just a little chilly. I hum, but Duncan's still stiff. "What is it?"
"Just . . . I guess I don't want to rush you into something," he says, and in his voice, I can hear restraint, tenderness, and a hint of doubt, something I’d never expect. It's touching and warms me as much as his hand or his body. "I didn't come by to end up repeating the same mistake I made last time."
"You aren't," I reassure him. “This past week has been hard for me, and I know for you too. All week, the conversation we had has been replaying in my head. I kept hoping and praying that you were getting on top of your demons, and watching you Saturday, I thought you were."
"I tried to call you yesterday, but I got home too late to call," Duncan says quietly. "But you didn't pick up. I guess I know why now. When you didn't call back again today, I couldn't stand it any longer. I need you—I need you for your strength, for your tenderness, for everything that makes you who you are. Because the fight's not over."