Indignant Heart

Chapter 53: Unforeseen Occurance

"I'll see you later Dad!" I call out to him and he tells me the same as I close the door behind me.

Carter is already at the foot of my steps, eyeing me as I descend. "I have to get used to you with this hairstyle." He smiles as he rakes a hand through my strands.

I smile, leaning my head into his hand. "Don't worry, I'll have a bush of curls on my head before you know it."

"Either way..." He looks me fondly in my eyes. "You're beautiful."

I shy away from his intensity once I feel my face getting hot. I couldn't help how bashful I became in a matter of seconds and Carter didn't back down. He continued to lock his gaze on me and I could feel it.

"Shouldn't we be going?" I try to evade the situation he put me in. He snickers and drops his hand.

"Yeah. We should. Let's bring your bike just in case."

"You think we need to?"

He shrugs. "Safety measures."

I retrieve my bike from the garage and he hoists it up on his car. We go through our usual routine of prayer and soon, we are on the road.

"Did you name the bird yet?"

I hadn't actually. Up until now, I didn't even think about giving it a name. "No...I have no idea if it's even a boy or a girl."

"It's a boy. At least that's what the shop owner told me."

"Hmm..." The first name that came to mind was Carter's, but I wondered if that would've been too cliche. "I'd like to name him Carter if I'm being honest."

I glance to my left and he's grinning immensely. "Carter's a good name."

I lay my head against the seat and smile. "Carter it is."

The drive is soothing. As I gaze out my window, watching as the trees soar past, I feel Carter's fingertips against the palm of my hand. The goosebumps on my skin rose instantly, but I was too shy to turn and give the gesture any attention. The memory of what almost happened between us came flooding back and I became too flustered. I kept my eyes on the scenery outside.

"Naomi."

My natural reaction was to turn and face him, but I fought the urge to do so. "Mhm?"

"Can we talk about what happened last night? I feel like it's been on your mind lately."

"It hasn't." I lie, hoping he would drop the subject.

He sits in silence for a few seconds more. I wanted so badly to gage the expression on his face, but I couldn't bring myself to look him in the eyes.

"Well, it's been on mine."

That did it. I turn to my left and see him already watching me. I say nothing and neither does he.

He glues his eyes back on the road right before saying, "I regret not going through with it even now...I think my nerves got the best of me."

I felt his hand squeeze mine, almost subconsciously.

"We don't have to talk about it. I just wanted to make sure things were okay with you."

I inhaled sharply, taking in the kindness and caring words he intended for me to hear. The fact alone that he was nervous about it too made me feel better. Why is this such a big deal? To most people, it's just a kiss, a token of affection. People perform this action to greet each other every day, they don't overthink a thing like we've been doing.

But the difference is, I hold the relationship with Carter like a delicate flower. I'm scared to firmly grasp him in the way I thought I should've been doing because I'm scared he'll wilt away. I want to hold him comfortably and cradle what we have. And I bet he feels the same. We are both two delicate creatures that's been intertwined, unsure of how we should be engaging with one another.