A Pound of Flesh (A Pound of Flesh #1)(107)

“Yeah?”

“The bacon’s burning.”

Kat’s eyes flew open and the smell of the burning meat registered instantly in her nostrils. She shoved past a chuckling Carter and yanked the frying pan from the heat. It was smoking and a little crisp, though it wasn’t entirely unsalvageable. Kat glared at Carter, who was trying his hardest to look innocent, and failing miserably.

For the next ten minutes, while Kat cooked the omelettes, Carter asked her about Arthur Kill. He asked about her students and told her about Riley’s visit to his place after he’d gotten parole. It was apparent that Riley and Carter’s love of cars, and all things metal and fast, was what had brought them together.

This led to Kat asking him about his love of bikes and the origin of it. She loved how his face lit up when he spoke about Kala. Carter explained that Max’s father had been a mechanic, and he’d practically lived in the shop from the age of nine, watching and listening as cars and bikes were brought in, disassembled, and rebuilt over and over. Carter had learned everything he knew about engines right there.

Despite his initial protestations, Carter devoured the omelette she placed in front of him, with a few grunts and words of appreciation. It was oddly normal, having Carter sitting at her dining table.

They’d both finished, with their empty plates between them, and were arguing playfully over who was better, the Beatles or the Stones, when Kat’s apartment phone began ringing. The sound made Kat’s heart stutter.

Carter turned around and gaped at the still ringing phone. Kat could see he was curious as to why she hadn’t answered it, but, to his credit, he didn’t say anything. Kat fisted her hands in her lap when the answering machine kicked in.

“Katherine, it’s your mother. I know you’re home; Nana told me. We need to talk. I— There are things to be said, dealt with, and the way you left … Beth is frantic and still very upset. I don’t understand you. Call me.”

The beep of the message ending thundered around the apartment and rattled Kat’s very core. If her mother thought she was going to apologize to anyone, then she was sorely mistaken. Kat hadn’t done anything wrong. None of them understood her heart. None of them.

Carter placed his forearms on the table. His face was concerned, with a tinge of anger around his blue eyes. “Are you okay?”

Kat nodded, not trusting her own voice.

“Wanna talk about it?”

She shook her head sharply but gave an apologetic smile. He sat back, his eyes still on her. She wrapped her arms around herself and exhaled through pursed lips in an effort to calm down. She was embarrassed that Carter had heard her mother, but was also comforted by the protectiveness he exuded. Deep in her heart, she was so glad he was there.

“Peaches?” At the sound of Carter’s voice around her pet name, two large tears fell onto her arm. “Do you wanna get outta here? Go somewhere?”

She wiped at her face. “Where?”

He shrugged and smiled. “I don’t know.”

Kat smiled back.

“You want to?” he asked again. “Just you and me?”


She agreed without hesitation, knowing she wanted nothing more than to just be with him, away from all the f*ckery going on around her.

“Good.” He stood determinedly, pushing his chair back with his legs, and walked to Kat’s side. He held his palm out for her and waited with patient eyes.

As soon as Kat’s palm touched Carter’s, she was better, calmer, freer. It was the strangest sensation, but she had the sudden urge to tell him so, to tell him she was home with him. To tell him it was the simplest gestures of his that had the largest effect on her heart.