This Thing That Breaks My Heart

Chapter 6

It was a lazy day, full of lounging and napping and watching dumb TV shows. Erica had her head in Carter’s lap. Erica noticed the distant look in his eyes and it made her nervous. She didn’t like when Carter got like this, he was too withdrawn, too quiet, not at all his normal self.

“Want to build a fort?” Erica interrupted, jolting Carter out of his thoughts.

Carter considered. “Okay.”

When Bobby and Bridget returned home later that evening, they found their living room transformed - it appeared that all of the mattresses, bedding, and most of the furniture in the house had been relocated.

Erica peeked out from behind a comforter. “We built a fort.”

“I see that,” replied Bridget. “Where do we sleep, since our mattress is currently being used as a wall?”

“In the fort, dum-dum.”

Bobby crawled in. “A sleepover? Sweet.”

Bridget put her hands on her hips. “I live with children.”

“You’re sleeping with one of them. What does that say about you?”

“Dude, gross.”

“Truth hurts.”

* * * * * *

As camp approached, Carter got quieter and more withdrawn. He blamed it on nerves, and his friends reluctantly accepted his excuse.

Only Erica knew about how bad the fight had been, but not the details. The other two could sense something bigger was up, but they didn’t want to pry.

* * * * * *

The breakup was doing wonders for Aly’s fitness and her career was fantastic; everything else in her life was a mess.

Lindsey was right, something had to give. She had to talk to Carter, at the very least apologize.

* * * * * *

Carter had two days of peace before Aly showed. He was at a loss of what to do, how to act.

He knew what he wanted - Aly.

But Aly didn’t want him.

* * * * * *

When Aly walked in to the dining room, Carter stiffened and stared at his plate.

Bobby nudged him, but he refused to look up. He could feel Aly’s eyes on him.

Finally, after a long minute, Bobby sighed. “Okay, you idiot. She’s gone.”

Carter ventured a glance and saw that Aly had taken a seat at the other end of the room.

“What was that? I thought you guys were fine?”

Carter glared at him. “We are.”

Bobby opened his mouth, but Carter quickly cut him off. “Drop it, man. I mean it.”

Bobby looked at Bridget helplessly.

* * * * * *

Aly was prepared on what she was going to say to Carter. She had even practiced in front of the mirror.

What she neglected to consider was what she’d do if Carter refused to talk to her.

But really - she should have expected that possibility.

Aly also didn’t realize how just the sight of Carter would make her mouth go dry, her hands shake, her stomach drop as if she was on a roller coaster.