An Inconvenient Bet

Chapter Twenty Two

I wasn't the jealous type; I never had been. But every girl at this party had either their arms around Carter's neck or their lips whispering things into his ear, every five seconds. After all, he was the quarterback who had just broken the school record, while single handedly winning the team the playoffs. He was now officially a school legend and he knew it.

I had no right to be annoyed, he wasn't mine, not really. Being his secret was getting really old and fast, especially when he was so good at looking interested in other girls. Too good if you asked me.

"So how long have you two been a thing?" Noah asked as he appeared beside me, passing me a red cup filled with some unknown alcohol.

I looked away from Carter and to my brother, "I don't know what you're talking about," I denied.

He scoffed at me, as he took a mouthful from his cup, "you're rubbish at lying and you do remember I'm your twin right."

"Twin-intuition, how could I forget," I sighed. "I was going to tell you, promise, I just don't know what we're doing," I added.

"It seems to me that right now, you should be one of the girls over there and yet instead you're over here looking like someone just ran your dog over," he said.

I shot him a look, "we don't have a dog."

"That's what you took from that," he laughed and I couldn't help but smile back.

I sighed, everything had become so complicated. I wanted to ask Carter what we were doing, but I already had. My mind was swirling round and round with so many thoughts. If we became boyfriend and girlfriend then we would have committed to a public relationship and that meant someone would end up hurt. But every part of me was fighting with myself, telling me that there wasn't any point, I would be going to college soon, so would he. And yet, every time I looked at him, I wanted to kiss the shit out of him.

"It's complicated, besides I'm not his girlfriend, we're friends," I explained.

"I always thought you were the more intelligent twin, but you're being very blonde sis," he said and I whacked him across the chest. "Just be careful, I don't want to have to kick his ass, I don't think I'd stand a chance."

"My hero," I said and crossed my hands over my heart and he nudged me. "Have you heard anything from the scouts?" I asked.

He shook his head, "they start contacting everyone tomorrow."

"You'll do great," I said, finishing off my drink.

"Hopefully we will both be heading to Russellton," he said.

I crossed my fingers and he did the same, before we tapped them together. It was something we had done for years. Something that said we were in this together no matter what.

I looked over at Carter again and all I could wonder was, were me and him in this together no matter what or had we simply just been too caught up in the moment.

He must have sensed me looking as he turned around, shot me his signature grin and made his way over to me. I hadn't even noticed that Noah had slipped away and into the crowds.

"Hey beautiful," he said once he had reached me, his body so close to mine I could smell his aftershave.

The smell was so familiar to me that I almost felt myself getting high from the smell. Overnight Carter had become so familiar to me and I couldn't remember what it felt like to not want him to touch me.

"Hi," I said meeting his eyes.

He dipped his lips next to my ear, "I really want to kiss you right now," he whispered and the words sent a shiver down my spine.