Book IV of the UNC Series
Carter Blake has a bone-deep hatred for the world-and especially for the people in it. All he wants is to keep his head down, focus on school and basketball, and avoid the mess of human connection. After enduring years of...
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I sling an arm around Addie as we step out of the Uber, the city noise washing over us. It's been a week since Addie left the hospital. Receiving a clean bill of health from her doctor, a blissful peace settled over us.
With each passing day, Olive's playful energy returned; her happy panting filled the apartment as she followed my every move. Addie's belongings—the soft blankets, the mountain of books, the quirky collection of art—were finally and officially all in my room. Now, my nights are peaceful, free from the haunting images of Dad's accident or the echoes of Mom's yelling.
Coming clean to Carsen truly helped alleviate some of the burden I felt about that night. His absolution of my wrongdoing also eased the weight of guilt pressing on my shoulders. I will always miss Dad, thinking fondly of him, and will always feel a twinge of pain when I recall that night.
He was only on the road because of me, picking me up. I'm no longer consumed by the feeling that I'm responsible for his death. Carsen is right. Even if I weren't the one driving, we still would have gotten into that accident. Both of us could have died, or maybe I would have survived but come out with a massive injury that could have altered the course of my life.
The only thing I can justify about that night is that Mom wouldn't have hated me in the aftermath if it had turned out differently. Carsen reached out to Mom to talk to her, but she soon revealed that she just wanted the baby and became hysterical when she found out the baby was a girl instead of a boy.
I don't know what Carsen plans to do with Mom—whether he chooses to help her and keep her in his life or if he will push her away like I have. But I know I'm done making excuses for her; I'm done giving her the power to hurt me. She no longer has leverage to hurt me any more—not with Ricky behind bars awaiting trial and no one to bail him out.
With no phone calls or messages from Mom, I've decided not to bother with her.
Addie knots my jacket in her hands as she tugs closer to me. We're heading to Ryan's brownstone apartment for dinner. Addie and I were responsible for dinner since no one expected either Carsen or Ryan to cook with a week-old baby at home.
But we got a bit distracted in the kitchen. I couldn't stop myself from hugging Addie from behind, tucking my face into the crook of her neck before turning her and pressing a kiss to her lips. Devouring the taste of her and the little gasps she let escape every time I did. I revelled in the press of her tongue against mine, the fight for power, and when she ultimately ceded control. I had her lifted onto the counter, fitting between her thighs, with hands on her hips to drag her closer to me.
I almost got her shirt over her head, my lips casting a warm breath over her dark nipples, causing goosebumps to rise on her skin before the smoke alarm sounded in the kitchen. The charred remains of what should have been our dinner reached our noses.
So obviously, we picked up dinner from Monty's, a local restaurant downtown, on our way to Ryan's.
Carsen offered to let me take Dad's old truck, but aside from driving it back to Ryan's place, I had no use for it—at least not until I got my learner's permit. I'm wary of driving and want to take the time to really prepare. However, Carsen mentioned I could take it whenever I want since they won't need it for a while.
