Before You Go

Chapter Eleven

"What if she thinks I'm your mistress?" I gasp aloud causing Carter to shake his head for the nth time. "We did sleep together while you were still married."

We're on our way to his parent's house for thanksgiving. He sent me his schedule for the entire month once he received it, highlighting the fact that he had the holidays off.

I've been worrying myself for the past hour, trying to find a way or a reason that his mother could possibly hate me. It's not that I don't want to meet his parents. I'm actually looking forward to it after two months of our trial run dating. But

I like to pride myself as a strong woman, courageous and independent. But I'm also the biggest wimp of them all. If I haven't been such a coward, our trial run probably ended weeks ago. He's been so perfect, he's so perfect. Except that we still haven't had sex. This has me very much impressed, and disappointed too. He has shown up at my apartment, and office a handful of times still in his uniform. By now I'm sure he knows how much it affects me when he's nearby and wearing it. I think he does it just to see me squirm.

I know I shouldn't but I can't help to compare him with Michael, and Carter is so, so much better than him in so many ways.

I've never knew feeling this much for someone this quick was possible, but Carter has once again proved me wrong.

It's like love at first sight, but I can't stretch my feelings enough to call it love yet.

Whenever he's around, he's all that I see. Whenever he's around, he's all that I think about. Whenever he's not around, I'd long for his touch.

And even I know this isn't just some infatuation that I'll eventually get over with.

This could be the pro to the cons of our relationship. He's away half of the time because of work, but because he's away a lot, I get butterflies in my stomach when I know we're about to see each other.

We've only been dating for two months, but it feels like we've been together for years now. He's spent a lot of time at my place more than he does at his. I haven't been to his often, only because his schedule is crazy and chaotic. He'd kiss me goodnight, and the next time I'll be seeing him is in the middle of the night the next day.

All of what I felt with Michael for the entire three years we were together could not even compare to the two months Carter and I shared. And if this doesn't mean anything, I don't know what does.

"She won't." Carter sighs, interrupting my thoughts. "My parents know all about the divorce. I can't say my mother was too pleased about it."

"Why not?" I ask. "Did she want you to work things out with Cynthia?"

"She's very religious." He says, and my stomach sinks even further down. "She eventually warmed up to the idea that her son got a divorce. Her religious group wasn't exactly ecstatic with it."

"Holy shit. Remind me not to swear in front of her." I say, making him laugh. "I don't go to church, Carter. I'm not religious, at all. What if she starts asking me about the bible? The only person I know is Jesus."

"That makes the two of us." He says and reaches out for my hand. It's warm and comforting. He's drawing small soft circles on my palm. "She's religious, but she won't shove it down your throat. Just relax. She doesn't bite."

"I'm a twenty seven year old woman who engages in premarital sex, slept with a married man, and barely knows anything about the bible." I say, shaking my head, and sulking in my seat. "In her eyes, I'm the epitome of evil."

"You need to calm down, Valentine." he says, squeezing my hand in his in an attempt to ease me from overthinking- something I tend to do often. "I'm the same, well except for sleeping with a married man. But I did sleep with another woman while I was still married. I also engaged in premarital sex, and barely know anything about the bible. And I'm her son. I think she can't complain about you."