Whiskey and Lace(26)

"Yea, I just need to process. I’m going to take a shower, get out of this dress." I pulled the fabric further down on my thighs with a wiggle. Cate gave me a wide smile and a tight hug when I stood.

"I love you, Cate." I squeezed her.

"Love you too." She smoothed her hand down my hair.





I stepped out of the shower and threw on a pair of pajama pants and my UMASS sweatshirt. I snuggled into the soft fabric and dropped myself on the bed, curling up with one of my pillows. My mind was reeling. He had dropped me off less than an hour ago and I already felt a little better after talking to Cate and having a hot shower. I just wanted to block out the last few hours and sleep, and then wake up tomorrow with a hopefully fresh perspective.

I heard Cate talking and glanced at the clock. After ten already, maybe she was on the phone. Just then Carter burst through the door of my room. His hair was wild and he had a frantic look in his eyes.

I bolted up in bed, "What's wrong?"

"Eva." He dropped to his knees at the edge of my bed and grasped my hips with both of his palms. He laid his head in my lap and I ran my fingers through his hair.

"I knew something was wrong when I left. I knew we weren't right. I tried to go home. I tried to workout, get work done, go to bed. My bed sheets feel empty when you're not there. Your heartbeat helps me sleep. Your breath soothes my soul. I know you're mad, but, please don't leave. Don't run on me Eva, I love you, more than I knew I could ever love anyone. When we're apart I think of nothing but you. You're my everything."

I took slow deep breaths and watched Carter’s beautiful head in my lap. I ran my hand down his strong neck to his upper back and circled my fingertips on top of the muscles. For so long I had thought he consumed me; that it only went one way; that he would leave me at any moment once he realized I didn't fit into his world.

And yet here he was.

My hands moved to his face and I held his head in my palms. "Hey, look at me."

His head remained bent.

"Look at me, Carter." I forced him to lift his head and look me in the eye. "You consume me. I've got it so deep I can barely even breathe. When we're together you take my breath away and when we're apart I'm lost. I won't run again, I promise. What can I say to make you believe me?"

Carter's fiery gaze held mine with an intensity that only he could muster. "Marry me. Go to bed with me every night, and wake up with me every morning for the rest of my life."

The air left my lungs.