Centre of His World

Chapter 28

"Carter, would you shut up?!" Luke yelled at him. "So what? I miss one fucking rehearsal. It was one damn sound check! It's not the end of the world!"

Carter was now fuming. He had his fists clenched tight. "You know damn well that this isn't about that. You're engaged?!"

Luke flipped Carter off before hopping up onto his bus. As soon as Luke had brought up his recent engagement to Caroline, Carter had flipped out.

"You know what?! I wish we never met!" Luke shouted.

"Fuck it! I quit!" Carter scorned before running to the band bus to pack his things. Luke collapsed on his bed.

He's been gone for a month and was already regretting leaving home. He wish he was still bed reddened. He just wanted to hold Caroline. He just wanted Carter to understand that he was in love. He just wanted Carter there. He never wanted him to quit.

Caroline came out of the washroom and saw Luke sitting there, tears in his eyes. She sat down next to him and held him tightly. When Luke saw her, he jumped, but then relaxed into the hug.

"What's wrong?" she asked calmly.

"Carter's just being stupid," Luke sighed. "He doesn't want me to marry you. I mean, I guess I shouldn't care, but he's supposed to be my bestman."

Caroline squeezed Luke's shoulder and caressed his cheek. Luke gave her a small smile. "Carter just isn't ready to move on from May. You marrying me just triggers him. He loved her as much as you did and he thinks you moving on mean he has to."

"He quit, Carol. I think my best friend is gone forever," Luke choked out. "What will I do?"

"I don't know, Luke. I just don't know," Caroline said, her tone very quiet. She hugged Luke and let him cry for a good five minutes.

After a while, Caroline left the bus and made her way to Carter, who wad packing his bags into a taxi. She crossed her arms and tapped her foot. Carter rolled his eyes at her as she continued to stand there. "What?!"

"Don't get snappy with me. You're the one that started this fight. Carter, he's your best friend for Christ's sake! Luke is literally in the bus crying, because he thinks he lost you as a friend!"

Carter scoffed. "Tell him to grow up, be a man, and stop sending his girlfriend to solve his problems!"

"Carter! Luke's your God damn best friend! I can't believe you!" Caroline shouted.

"You're only defending him, because he's fucking you! And don't say he's not, because you're pregnant," Carter sneered.

Caroline was furious now. Her and her child had nothing to do with this. "Actually, we make love, and that's the last thing on my mind."

Carter shook his head. "Look, Luke doesn't love you. All you do is hurt him. I ain't no fool, Ms. Boyer! He's so fragile. Prove to me that you love him and then maybe I'll apologize to him."

"I think I just proved that I'm in love with that man. He's not only my first, but also my true love. I love him to the moon and back. I can't tell you how much he's inspired me to keep going. I'm gonna marry him no matter what you do. If you don't want to be his best man, fine. His father can be. Or better yet, Til can be."

Caroline then turned around and left Carter standing there, flabbergasted. She had sat here, trying to fix Luke's friendship with him. Most women, if they were using their spouse or whatever for money and sex, would've said "Fuck them!"

She didn't, though. Maybe Caroline really was the right girl for him. Maybe he should let them be happy, even if he thought Luke was moving on too fast.

Luke wad humming as he stroked Caroline's hair. She had fallen asleep on top of him. Luke, on the other hand, couldn't find it in him to sleep. So many thoughts were running through his head and he just couldn't shake them. He heard a knock on the door and looked up to see Carter.

"What do you want? Here to tell me that she's just using me for sex?"

Carter looked down and rubbed his hand along his arm nervously. "I'm sorry, Luke. I guess I over reacted a little."

"A little? Try a lot. You told my fiancée that I was just using her for sex!"

"I didn't say that, I said that she was using you for it," Carter tried to defend himself.

Luke looked down at Caroline sleeping soundly. "Do you hate her? Look, man, whatever the problem is, it shouldn't get in the way of our friendship. I'm in love with her, I want to marry her. Carter, you're supposed to be my bestman. Can't you find it in yourself to allow me this? I'm ready to move on, aren't you?"

Carter smiled. He loved Caroline as much as Luke did. She was like a sister to him, just as May was. Besides, Luke had a point. If Luke was ready to move on from May, he was her husband after all, then why wasn't he? He never kissed May or had a child with her, so shouldn't it be easier on him? The answer was no. May wad like his sister.

"No, I'm not ready. But you are, so you should be allowed to marry that wonderful girl. She really does love you, Luke. I'm sorry that I tried to fight it with you. I just wasn't thinking. I love you like a brother and I love Carol like a sister. I'm not gonna stop you from loving her the way that a man should. You're perfect for her, and shoot me did if I'm wrong, but you seem happier with her than you ever did with May."

"I am happier with her," Luke smiled as he leaned down to kiss her forehead, a small smile forming on her lips. "She's perfect. She's great with Kelly, and she loves me for me."

"Am I forgiven? Do I still get to be in the band?" Carter quizzed his best friend.

"Yes, you're forgiven. And, Carter, you were always part if the band," Luke smiled wide.

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A/N: So, this story is almost finished, but that's okay, because there will be a sequel to it. What did you think of Luke and Carter's fight? Are you glad that they made up? What will happen leading up to the end of the story? ~Kelsea

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Here's the blurb to the sequel.