An Inconvenient Bet

Chapter Eleven

I don't know why I had asked her to stay, but I didn't want her to leave either. I often got bored being in this house by myself, especially when dad was drunk and he was always drunk these days.

He made me so angry and he always smelt like whisky, it was vile. That was one of the reasons why I never got drunk; I didn't want to be like him. I knew Ashley hated him when he was like this, that's why she always stayed at her friends, rather than coming home and I didn't blame her. At least I didn't have to worry about her being in the house when he was drowning his sorrows in anything, he could get his hands on.

Saf was watching me, waiting for me to say something. She was cute when she studied me, her nose wrinkling as she focused, and when she wasn't cute, she was drop dead gorgeous.

There were quite a few hot girls at our school, but Saf was like the golden girl. Every guy wanted to be with her and every girl wanted to be her, although they wouldn't admit it. I knew she had her rules about who she slept with and she knew I was extremely smug about the fact that I got to sleep with her.

"So, what do you want to do?" she asked.

Other than her, I really didn't have any ideas I thought, but I decided against saying it aloud.

Saf was different to every other girl; she teased me and infuriated me, but I could actually have a conversation with her, if I wanted to. She didn't try to please me or suck up to me, like other girls did; she was simple. But that was probably because this agreement we had was strictly platonic. She had no interest in dating anyone and a girlfriend hadn't ever crossed my radar, well at least not since I was fourteen and had seen Saf in her bikini for the first time. Now that was a sight I would never forget.

"Earth to Carter! Are you even listening to me, you jerk" she said, half laughing as she nudged me with her arm.

I gently shoved her arm away from me.

"Let me show you something," I said, standing up.

I grabbed my jacket, keys and then motioned to Saf as we made our way out my bedroom and away from the house.

I climbed into my truck, as Saf quietly slid into the passenger seat beside me.

"Where are we going?" she asked.

"You'll see," I smiled, putting the radio on to fill in the silences between us as I drove.

The place I was taking her to was one of my favourite spots. I often came here when I needed some space away from everything, especially dad. I used to come here a lot after mum had died and it had always felt soothing to me. A way of relaxing and forgetting all the shit that was happening around me.

I had never bought anyone here before, but I knew Saf would appreciate a place like this, at least I hoped she would.

I pulled up and cut the engine, looking over at her curious and puzzled face, taking in everything about her.

"Come on," I said, opening the door.

I climbed into the back of my truck. I had an open roof and had shoved several pillows and blankets in the back to keep us warm, before we had left.

Saf would see right through this, I knew it immediately. Suddenly, it didn't seem like such a good idea to bring her here, she would think I was making a sleazy move on her.

She climbed in next to me and rested her back against the window of the truck, covering herself in a blanket.

"Is this your midnight hook up spot?" she laughed as she motioned to the pillows.