Cryptic Ocean {Book 1}

The Accident

Nervous didn't even begin to describe how Carter was feeling. It was Thursday afternoon when he pulled into the parking lot of Risk Management Resources. He had hopes of taking Tory out to dinner rather than eating at her apartment. He really wanted to talk to her about Erin. Tell her that there had never been another woman and beg her to reconsider the divorce. He didn't want to tell her everything in her apartment because it would be too easy for her to throw him out. At least in public, she would feel obligated to listen to his entire plea before turning him down. His nerves were getting the better of him as he climbed out of his car and walked toward the large glass doors.

He walked to her office and realized her door was closed... a sure sign she was either on the phone or in a meeting. He turned to leave.

"Hey Carter, what brings you here today?" The husky voice startled him from behind.

"Gage, hey, I was uh, just going to see Tory but her door's closed. Is she going to be long?" Carter asked.

"She's not here Carter. I gave her the week off." Steve didn't elaborate. Weren't these two "considered" divorced already? What in the hell was Carter doing stalking Tory? You had your chance Carter and you weren't man enough to keep her happy.

"Oh, she didn't mention it at graduation the other day. We are having dinner tonight and, well, I was hoping to see her before." Carter was divulging more than he wanted to, but he could see the concern etched on Gage's face. Carter wasn't a slight man by any means, but Steve Gage towered over him by more than six inches. They weighed about the same; although Carter was less muscular and more ... how would one say ... padded.

"Really?" Gage raised an eyebrow to Carter. "And how does Erin feel about that Carter?" He couldn't hide the smugness from his voice. Yes, Tory had told him about Erin. She was upset in her office a month or so ago. Gage walked in and she couldn't stop the water works. She had quickly pulled herself together after apologizing profusely, but the memory of her tear-stained cheeks was a reminder to Gage that Carter really hurt her deeply. He took a step forward toward Carter.

"Yeah, well that's what I need to talk to her about. She needs to understand some stuff before the divorce is final tomorrow." He was trying to hold his ground, but Gage was invading his personal bubble. Carter was so nervous that the words ran from his mouth like the lead horse at the races. "I've got to come clean with her. There never was an Erin. Gage, there was never anyone but Tory. I just didn't think she would want to stay with me if she really had a choice, so now I'm going to find out. Tonight." He paused, noticing that Gage's mouth was hanging wide open.

"Anyway, I have to go. Um, nice to see you, Gage." Carter had to get out of the building. God that man made him so stressed! Tory always spoke so highly of him but every time Carter was in the room with Gage, he couldn't help feeling like he was going to get his arse kicked. And Gage could definitely take him.

"Geez, when did I become such a weenie?" he said to himself. He still had an hour before he needed to pick up dinner, so Carter drove to Callihan's and ordered a beer. It helped ease the stress of seeing Gage, but only took the edge off. His mind drifted to what he was going to tell Tory. He hoped she would forgive him and take him back. All he wanted was for her to be sure that he was the one she wanted to spend the rest of forever with. One more beer, then I will head to Tory's.

He looked down at his phone and realized he had missed a call from Tory.

"Shit! I'm late. Hey can I get my tab over here man?" He paid his bill and raced out the door. He was a few blocks away from Tory's when his phone buzzed. He picked it up from the passenger seat 'New Text Message'. He knew it was her wondering where he was. He entered his password and looked up from the message just in time to see the red light, the blue truck... there was a loud, thundering crash and blackness.