Carter’s Mustang is parked right up front. I park and approach it. Since it’s hot outside, they have the windows rolled up and the air still on, so I make my presence known by knocking on the window.
Carter kills the engine and lets Chloe out. She slides down off the leather seat, appraises me, then says, “You’re the bookstore lady.”
“That’s me,” I say with a nod. “Is it all right if I tag along to the movie theater with you today?”
“Sure,” she says magnanimously, before taking her brother’s hand and stopping at the edge of the sidewalk. I don’t stop walking until I realize she isn’t following, so she chastises me. “Gotta look both ways before you cross the street.”
“That’s right. Thank you for reminding me about that,” I tell her.
Now that she’s sure no cars are coming, she crosses. I walk ahead and open the door for her, all but forgetting the reason I hadn’t wanted to come here in the first place.
Then I see my youth pastor’s younger brother behind the counter and my hopes of not being seen are completely dashed.
“Hey, Zoey,” he says brightly, flashing me a smile. “Lovely to see you, as always.” His gaze drifts past me to Carter and his smile droops.
Steeling myself, I approach the counter and study the menu much harder than I need to. “Hi, Luke.”
“I see you brought a friend,” Luke remarks.
Because he’s an asshole, Carter strides up to the counter and offers his hand. “Carter Mahoney.”
“Yes, I know who you are,” Luke says, his tone a touch reserved as he reluctantly shakes Carter’s hand. His gaze drifts back to me and he makes a painful effort to inject something more like enthusiasm into his tone. “I didn’t realize you were friends with the star quarterback.”
Instead of making my life easier, Carter lets go of his sister’s hand and drapes his arm around my waist, tugging me close. Like he did that first night he showed up at my house and blindsided me with soup and manipulation, he asks, “What looks good, babe?”
Luke’s smile tightens, but he looks down at his cash register to keep from openly judging me, I think.
Great. Fantastic. I slide an unamused look at Carter, but he flashes me his bullshit golden boy smile.
Chloe decides she has been ignored for long enough, and she puts her small hands on the edge of the counter and peers over at Luke. “We’re going to the movies.”
With his free hand, Carter ruffles her hair. “That’s right. First, why don’t you tell the nice cashier what you want to eat?”
Luke briefly meets Carter’s gaze, letting him know he’s aware of the subtle put-down, then he goes about taking our order. It’s just as bad as I worried it would be, maybe worse. Somehow I did not expect Carter to call me babe. I knew just my association with someone in Carter’s crowd—let alone Carter himself—wouldn’t shine my halo any, but he may as well have stamped me with his seal to let Luke know we’re together—even though we’re not. I wanted to object, but that would have been even weirder. Better to ignore it and get to a booth as quickly as possible.
At least once we’re seated and waiting for our food, I can glare at Carter in peace.
“What?” he asks, with a ridiculous attempt at innocence.
“That is my pastor’s brother,” I inform him.
“And?”
“And he goes to our school, so he knows who you are.”
Carter cocks an eyebrow. “And?”
I shrug. “No big deal, I guess I’m just going to Hell now.”
Carter smirks. “Because you’ve been seen in public with me? That seems a little dramatic.”
“My pastor will hear all about it and stop praying for me. Decide I’m a lost cause.”
“If your pastor knows enough about my life to know I’m bad news, I think he’s got much bigger problems than the fate of your eternal soul. This town loves me. I can do no wrong around here.”
“You do lots of wrong,” I mutter. “What about that art teacher that had to move because of you? Grace told me, so he probably knows about that.”
Carter waves off my concerns. “Who cares? I don’t care what anyone thinks about me going out with you, do I? So why should you care?”
“Because, as you said, you can do no wrong in this town. I am in the opposite situation. My family and I are about one complaint away from being run out of town with pitchforks after the whole Jake debacle.”
“I’m hungry,” Chloe states, leaning forward on the table.
“Your food will be out in just a minute,” he tells her.
“I want my milkshake,” she says, looking up at him.
“You’ll get it when it’s ready. Be patient.”
“I hate being patient,” she tells him, resting her chin on her arms and sulking.
“Yeah, so do I,” he says, winking at me.