Carter Reed 2

Amanda leaned closer to me. “Why do I get the feeling this is the image we’re going to be seeing all night?”

I laughed. “Because they’re in love, and they’re happy.”

“Finally.”

“Finally.”

We shared another grin. It felt right to be on the same page.

“Again,” Theresa groaned. “Shut up, you two. I could do without your commentary.”

“Then don’t canoodle in front of us.” Amanda gestured at the two of them. “Look at you. This is prime entertainment. How can we not watch? Our men aren’t here—” She bit off her words and looked at me, panicked. Her face paled.

“Wait. What?” Theresa untangled herself from Noah. “Your men? As in both of you?”

Amanda sent me a pleading look, biting down hard on her lip.

“She meant Carter.” I leaned forward, blocking Amanda from their view and patting her arm. “She’s being nice, trying to distract us all by saying that. And see, it’s working.” I gestured to Theresa. “This would’ve lasted the whole drive to the club.” I turned back to Amanda. “You don’t have to distract me, though. Watching the lovesick couple isn’t making me miss Carter,” except that it was. I patted her hand again. “Thanks for trying to distract me, though.”

“Oh.” Theresa frowned, her voice softening.

Amanda closed her eyes and let out a silent breath of relief. She mouthed the words, thank you to me before shifting back in her seat and looking once again to Theresa and Noah. “Sorry. I didn’t mean for you two to stop cuddling. Keep going. Emma and I will keep up the commentary.” She whispered loudly to me, “Do you see that? His hand is shifting, and he’s going for the lay-up.”

Noah froze.

Theresa frowned.

I laughed. “Two points if he makes the basket.”

“Oh!” Amanda snapped her fingers. “He just got the rim. So close.”

“What the fuck?” Noah rolled his eyes.

Theresa relaxed and shook her head. “They’re making fun of us. Don’t worry. It’s not really a play-by-play of us having sex.”

“What?” he asked again. “What the hell is going on here?”

“So when’s the move-in date?” Amanda asked.

I sucked in my breath. Theresa’s mouth fell open, and Noah’s forehead wrinkled into a scowl.

“Damn, Amanda.” Theresa closed her mouth, shaking her head as if to clear her mind. “Way to just dig right in.”

Amanda shrugged. “My question stands.”

I shot her a sideways look. Where was this coming from? But I caught the swift rise and pause of her chest as she held her breath. I frowned. Was this still about distracting from her slip before? I had covered it. Theresa took the bait—hook, line, and sinker. We’d just been laughing, and now a sudden tension filled the car.

No one said a word.

Theresa shifted and looked out the side of the car. Noah glanced at her, his scowl deepening, then he sighed and leaned back in his own seat. He turned to look out the other side of the car, so now it was just Amanda watching them, and me wondering what the hell was going on.

Those two had checked out, but the car was slowing to a stop, and it wasn’t long before the door was opened for us. Thomas and Michael stood outside. They waited as Noah let Theresa out first. He moved behind her, placing his hand at the small of her back. Amanda was next, and she held back for me. As I got out, I shot her a look. “What the hell was that about in there?”

Her face was stony, and she jerked a shoulder up. “It was nothing.”

“That wasn’t nothing. You seemed fine with them being like that. We were joking even.”

“Leave it alone, Emma.” The wall slid away, and a haunted expression flickered across her face. The sides of her mouth curved down slightly, and she pressed a hand to the corner of her eye. Her eyelid had started to twitch. “I’m sorry. I—I’m sorry.” She started forward, ahead of me.

“Miss Emma.”

Thomas held his hand out, and I started forward. The car door shut behind me, and I was soon flanked by two guards, and Thomas and Michael behind me.

Everyone else had gone ahead toward the front door of the club. A line had formed on both sides of the sidewalk with large bouncers keeping people back. There was no rope, but it was evident that people couldn’t enter freely. As Noah and Theresa walked through, a protest rose from the crowd.

“Who are they?” yelled a voice. “What the hell, man?!”

The bouncers ignored them.

Amanda was allowed in next and then as I approached, I felt the wave of attention turning my way. I swallowed tightly. I could be recognized any moment, but I held my breath and hoped no one would notice me without Carter. As I walked past the front of the lines, I didn’t hear any other protests. Once inside, my shoulders dropped from relief.

I hadn’t been recognized, and I’d never thought to look at the name of the club either.

One shot.

Two shots.

Three shots.

By the fourth shot, Amanda was toasting by herself. Theresa had dragged Noah to the dance floor, and we could watch them from our private box. Amanda took her phone out and texted someone, but then left it forgotten to the side.

When she signaled for a fifth shot, I knew it was time. I’d been waiting since we got inside to confront her again. Theresa had stuck close to Noah, and I wasn’t sure if that was why Amanda was pushing the drinks or if she would’ve been anyway. I sat back and shook my head when she offered me a shot, too.