Before You Go

Chapter Twenty

I may be a little tipsy, but I know what I heard. I jumped out of the car and chase after Carter who's already closing the front door behind him.

"Carter!" I call his name out as I scurry behind him. "Carter, wait."

"You're sleeping in the guest room, or on the couch. Whichever works for you." he says with his back turned to me.

"Damn it, Carter. Listen to me for a second." I exasperatedly say out loud as I kick off my shoes. He stops walking and turns around, waiting for me to talk.

Okay, I did not think this through. How am I supposed to tell him that I lied and went to Ginger to get a drink because I found an engagement ring in his bag and it's been freaking me out since?

"I'm sorry I lied to you." I say and he scoffs.

"Get your shit out of my room." he says, ignoring my apology.

"Carter, please. I'm sorry I lied."

"Actually, you have five days to get out. Stay in a hotel or something. I'll pay for it." He says.

"You're kicking me out without even listening to me?" I say angrily. I know I'm not in the position to be mad, but his reaction to all of this is way too much. "I know I lied when I shouldn't have, but aren't you overreacting?"

"I've been listening to you but all you keep doing is apologizing and not telling me why you did it." he crosses his arms over his chest. "I was married to a liar. I don't want another one in my life."

"Carter..."

"Please, Val." He sighs and shakes his head before heading to the bedroom.

"Carter." I call his name but he ignores me again.

In complete panic that Carter is actually kicking me out of his house, I blurt out, almost scream rather, "I know about the ring."

Those five words are enough for him to stop walking. He turns around slowly, locking his eyes on me. "What?"

"I know about the ring." I say the words again, this time in a low whisper. I don't even know why I'm telling him about it as if it can undo all the mistakes I made today. "I saw it in your bag."

"You went through my stuff?"

"I accidentally knocked it over this morning and I saw it." I mutter, shifting my weight from one foot to the other, keeping my gaze on the floor.

"So you saw it. That doesn't explain anything." He says harshly.

"It explains everything." I cut him off and look him in the eye.

"You decided to lie to me when you found out I was going to propose?" He asks, cocking an eyebrow at me.

I bite my lip. Hearing him say it makes me realize just how preposterous my reaction is. But even how ridiculous it may be, it's true.

"That's not how you react when someone you love wants to spend the rest of their life with you. You don't lie to them."

"That's how you react when you're scared shitless." I reply, just right before I could feel my stomach churn.

I should not have taken that last shot so soon. I feel sick.

His eyes snap back to mine, caught off guard with what I had just told him. He opens his mouth to speak but I run right past him and to the nearest bathroom.

All of the alcohol I had forced down my throat earlier tonight finds its way to the toilet. This is the part where I swear I'll never drink again. But even I know it's a lie so why even bother.