The Carters | ✓

Chapter Two - Carly

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Cody's POV

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"Cody, I'm telling you this right now, as your best friend." Gia speaks to me slowly, her eyes wide, "You are crazy."

I groan, rolling back in my desk chair away from the front counter in the town library. "I'm not crazy. It was probably just a coincidence."

"Once is a coincidence," Gia tells me, continuing to return the pile of books and stack them in the cart beside her as if I'm not having a tantrum behind her. "Twice? Nuh uh, baby. That boy is definitely into you."

"He probably just saw me in the library and thought it would be polite to say hi." I try to convince her and myself. Because if I let myself believe I really do stand a chance I will definitely be a goner.

"Cody Carter." Gia turns to me with a stern look, "How many people do you think bump into each other in the halls every day? Dozens. How many do you think actually stop and speak to each other when it happens? Maybe a few. And how many of those people do you think strike up a conversation with the person they bumped into at a later date? None! None until Mason Reed, that is."

I groan again, this time leaning forward and burying my head in my hands. "Stop trying to convince me, Gia! It's messing with my head!"

"Good. Let it. Maybe it'll mess it up enough that you get some sense knocked into you." Gia chuckles, finishing scanning the last book and stacking it into the cart. She starts pushing it towards the rows of bookshelves around the library and away from the front desk. "You man the desk while I put these away, you big baby!"

I huff, rolling forward to the desk and resting my elbows on it. I stare down at the wooden top of the desk and mindlessly followed the wood grain with my eyes. I don't know how long I do that for before someone clears their throat in front of me. Immediately I startle, jerking my head up and staring at the person in front of me with wide eyes.

And of course it's Mason fúcking Reed.

"Uh hi," I stutter, sitting up in my chair straighter. It's only when I finally manage to drag my gaze away from his intense grey eyes that I find he isn't alone.

In his arms sits a little girl that looks to be about six or seven. She has Mason's dark hair and tanned skin as well as his piercing grey eyes. Her dark curls are pulled into two adorable pigtails and she wears a wide grin on her lips. She is gorgeous, just like the man holding her.

"Hi!" She exclaims adorably, waving down at me with an adorable smile, "Do you have any superhero books?"

My eyes widen slightly but I feel a small smile slip onto my lips, "Of course. Would you like some help finding them?" My eyes dart back up to Mason's face and I find him regarding me with a soft stare. He nods at the same time the little girl exclaims her confirmation.

I stand up from my chair and walk around the desk, hearing the little girl gasp. "You're so tall! Almost as tall as Masey!"

Masey. I smirk a bit at that, turning back to them. I catch Mason's eye and raise an eyebrow questioningly. He only rolls his eyes, trudging behind me begrudgingly as I walk further into the library.

"Do you want a book about any superhero in particular?" I ask as I get to the section that I need.

"Um... I really like Spiderman and Wonder Woman. Oh! And Superman of course." The little girl babbles.

"Of course," I agree in mock seriousness, turning to the shelf filled with books. I crouch down to have a look at the bottom rows where the books she is after are. "You can come and have a look if you like. There are lots to choose from."