Unveiled (Torn #6)(15)

“Everything ‘kay, Linds? Your eyes look puffy,” Carter weakly told me. Even though he appeared exhausted and out of it, his keenness seemed to be on par and pretty much intact. I hated seeing that he worried about me. So much so that he was addressing my puffy eyes right in front of Brody, knowing well enough how his best friend had been trying to get me back for months to no avail.

Feeling like a deer caught in the headlights, I merely shrugged and gave him the biggest smile I could muster. “Their puffiness was the after effect of too much crying because you gave me a heart attack by pulling some dumb shit like getting alcohol poisoning. Why would you do that, Carter? I thought I was going to f*uking lose you, too.”

Although it was only a partial truth, my issues with Dimitris Kosta didn’t need to have any light shed on them. I didn’t want Carter knowing how fragile my relationship was with the Greek. In fact, I didn’t want anyone to know how delicate it was, because I was afraid they would tell me they would be reacting the same, too. That, after what I had caused Dimitris in the past, they simply couldn’t blame him if the idea of matrimony with me had left a bad taste on his tongue.

I pushed my own troubles aside as Carter gave me a look, one that said that he was sorry, but also that he hadn’t meant to alarm me. He knew what I had meant when I’d said, I thought I was going to f*uking lose you, too.

I meant to lecture him about being a reckless drunkard when my phone started beeping, alerting me to an incoming message. My heart rate sped up, soaring at the thought of Dimitris finally reaching out to me, but when I opened the message, I couldn’t help feeling let down when it was a note from Emma.

Could you meet me in the lobby for a second? I’m right outside.

f*uk.

“Give me just a second. I’ll be right back.” I waved my phone towards the men. “Something I gotta take care of really quick.” It was rather vague, but it was the best I could do. I wasn’t sure what Emma planned to do yet; thus, there was no point in telling Carter about it.

Both barely glanced at me before they resumed discussing the latest updates on anything soccer related; as a result, my instant exit from the room wasn’t even noticed.

Upon exiting the room, I immediately saw Emma looking glum as she hovered around the far end corner. If her teary face was any indicator, she felt rottenly guilty.

Advancing towards her, I made a wry face before giving her a fierce hug. “Hey, you,” I greeted her with a smile. “Since when did you become a shy woman?” My eyes connected with hers before my palm softly rubbed her still-flat abdomen. “How’s the little bun in the oven?”

The very thought that we would have a little miniature version of Bass Cole or Emma walking around brought immeasurable feelings of happiness to me. This baby would definitely be a knockout, whether it was a girl or a boy. The little monster had a prime gene pool.

While I was bubbling with joy, in the back recess of my mind, another thought came out of the blue, surprising me—the question of what my baby would look like if Dimitris and I had one of our own. It was a forward thought, one that left me reeling yet exhilarated at the same time. As much as I wanted to ponder what that all meant, weighing the pros and cons of my thoughts could wait until I was alone because Emma kept staring at me like she wasn’t sure where to start or what to say to me, making me frown.

“What’s wrong with you, woman?”

“I’m sorry. I’m sure seeing Carter this way brought out the ugly skeletons in the closet. I don’t know where to begin to tell you how sorry I am …”

Sigh. As much as I wanted to blame her, Carter was responsible for his reckless actions.

“I’m not going to lie and say the thought of blaming you hadn’t occurred to me, but let’s get real here. Everyone who knows my brother knows he’s a pro at alcohol binging, but for him to go overboard … there’s no one to blame but himself for that.” I purposely left out those damning perfumes. I wasn’t going to reveal that troubling tidbit to Emma. I was sure Carter was highly disconcerted by being in the hospital alone because, by being there, it marred his bad boy persona. Besides, I truly doubted he wanted Emma to see him as a basket case, either. He’d never forgive me for that.

Emma seemed touched, giving me a doe-eyed look before glancing towards Carter’s room. “I want to go in to see for myself that he’s okay, but I’m not sure if he’d welcome me or if it’s wise choice,” she reluctantly said before giving me a look that indicated she was more than open for suggestions.

Well … “He’s not over you—we all know that, Em—so what if you go inside and he gets clingy? What do you plan to do with that?”

She bit her lip, looking even more distraught. “I called Bass before texting you, and he told me he’d support whatever decision I make. He doesn’t like seeing me upset, and he knows I blame myself for Carter’s recent behavior changes. I want to talk to him. I want to help.”

Help? Her? f*uk. Sure, her influence over Carter might be effective to help him get out of this heartbreak phase of his, but there was a major downfall with that plan, too.

“What happens if he tries to win you back again, Emma? We both know my brother did that far too many times to even count.” I winced, dreading where this was all leading. “Even if you’re married to Bass, as long as you keep appearing in his life, he won’t get over you. He’s too crazy and too stubborn to listen to logic. When he sees you, he only ever sees you. That’s it. But if you think you can help him move forward by controlling this love he has for you and use it to your advantage to heal even a fraction of his injured heart, ego, and pride, then you’re more than welcome to take up the challenge.”