Strong (Kindred #1) (8 page)

“What are your mushrooms like?”

“Orgasmic, really they are. Try?” I hold my fork out to Carter and he takes a bite.

“I never knew mushrooms could taste that good!” he groans.

“I told you,” I grin. “How are your meatballs?” I smirk.

“Meaty. Want a taste?” he grins back at me.

“Of course.” I lean over and take the forkful he’s holding out to me.

“Nice balls, right?”

“Delicious.” I nod in agreement.

“Tell me about Australia. What’s it like?” he asks, taking a drink from his glass.

“Well, it’s hot, the beaches are incredible, the people are lovely and the accent is incredibly sexy. What’s Chicago like?”

“Busy. Exceptionally hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It’s home to the best pizza and some of the best people,” he smiles. “It’s also home to the best football team in the NFL.”

“And that’s the Bears, right?”

“Yup, are you a fan?”

“No… I’ve just heard Jack go on about them and I figured as much when the guys all got t-shirts at the wedding.”

“They were jerseys,” he grins at me. “My brother does give the best presents.”

“Do you like living in Chicago? Is it nice to have your brother back there?”

“Yeah, I love it. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to see the rest of the world, if I’ve never been anywhere else, how can I be sure it’s the best place for me?”

“True, it’s kind of the reason we went to Oz. To see what the world had to offer. I think it’s funny, Megs went all that way and met her husband there and he’s not even Australian.”

“And Josie met Jack, who also isn’t Australian. Did you meet an Australian?” he asks, looking interested in my answer.

“There were a couple of guys, nothing serious… at least not now anyway.”

“So you’re single?”

“Yes, and I’m not looking for anything right now, I’m just being me for now.” I smile.

I can’t explain any more than that and I’m glad when he doesn’t ask me to. Our main courses arrive and we both enjoy trying each other’s choice and chatting. When we’re stuffed, Carter insists on paying, practically throwing my card across the room when I suggest going halves. It seems Carter has been raised the old fashioned way. We walk back to the hotel a lot slower than before, still chatting and when we arrive back, he seems hesitant to end the night.

“I guess I’ll see you tomorrow? If it’s still okay to catch a ride to London with you?”

“Of course, a road trip, I’m looking forward to the company.” I tell him.

“Me too.”

“Thank you for a lovely evening, Carter.” I tell him, leaning in to kiss his cheek.

“Thank you, too.” he smiles.

I open the door to my room and step inside, I hear Carter’s door click closed a few seconds later. I get ready for bed and switch on the TV, flicking through the channels to find something to watch. I settle on Harry Potter and grin when I get a text from Megan.

Megan:
ITV are showing Harry Potter. I hope you’ve had a good evening, did you get dinner? We’re driving back tomorrow, can we have coffee when you’re back in London? x

Me:
Absolutely! I’ve literally just found it. I’ll phone when I’m back. Coffee sounds great. Get some rest! Love you x

I’m settled in bed when there’s a knock at the door, I get up and just as I approach, a note is passed under it and I hear a shuffle of feet on the other side.

I thought you might need something to help you sleep. C x

I open the door and sitting on a little plate is a cup of hot chocolate and a packet of cookies. I grin as I pick them up and bring them back into my room. I snuggle back into bed and take a sip of the hot chocolatey goodness, it’s as good as last night, how does he do it? I open the cookies and take a bite while I send Carter a message.

Me:
You could have come in you know. I’m going to sleep well tonight after your famous hot chocolate - thank you. I’ll see you tomorrow. Breakfast? xC

Carter:
Absolutely. The little coffee shop down the road? 8.30?

Me:
It’s a date. Sleep well xC

I don’t see the end of Harry Potter, but I do fall asleep with a smile on my face and a feeling of hope in my stomach.

The next morning, Carter knocks on my door and we walk the short distance to the nearest coffee shop, I’m surprised there is hardly anyone around. Carter holds open the door for me and I step in, turning around once I’m inside to ask him what he wants, he frowns at me and shakes his head.

“You’re not buying my coffee. I’d like to buy them, what would you like?” he asks me.

“It’s acceptable for a woman to buy the drinks you know? And you bought dinner last night.” I pout at him.

“Of course it is, just not today. What do you want?”

I place my order; a caramel macchiato and a muffin and go to get us a table while Carter waits for the order. I watch him from where I sit, he’s a little taller than Jack but just as dark. His eyes are the exact same shade of brown and his smile actually stops women in their tracks. I see the female serving him lean over the counter and flirtatiously rub his arm, he flashes her his all American smile as he thanks her then takes the tray and I swear she looks like she’s about to faint.

Jeez.

Carter Manning is a charmer.

He walks over and starts unloading our drinks and muffins. When everything is on the table he sits down and looks at me, I look right back and for a few seconds I’m lost for words, I literally cannot think of a single thing to say to him. Luckily for me, he breaks the silence.

“You’re here for five days, right?” Carter asks me.

His choice of question surprises me, I’m not sure what I expected but it wasn’t this question. I take a deep breath and prepare to answer him.

Just tell him the bare minimum, he doesn’t have to know everything.

“No… I’m… I’m here longer than that.”

“Oh? Megan and Harr—”

“They don’t know, and I’d really appreciate it if you don’t tell them right now. I’ve got…”

Why do I feel like I can tell him everything? I haven’t told anyone other than my parents, not Megs or Josie.

No one.

So why does this brown eyed, cheeky guy make me want to confess everything? Why do I feel like, if I can just tell him, everything will be easier?

“I wouldn’t, it’s not my place,” he looks at me like he’s hearing something more than what I’m telling him. “Carmen… Are you okay? Is there something wrong?”

“Yes actually,” I whisper croakily, suddenly more scared than I have ever been in my whole life. “I have… Carter?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m so scared.” I tell him honestly.

“Why? You can talk to me, I’m a really good listener.” he smiles at me and I try to smile back but my face just won’t cooperate.

“I’m moving back home. I… I was diagnosed… I can’t even say the word.” I whisper.

“Can you give me a hint?” he asks leaning forward and taking my hand.

“It’s the worst thing someone can be diagnosed with,” I tell him, tears filling my eyes, fear filling my stomach. “I have to go to the hospital Wednesday and discuss everything through with them. Then I guess it’s luck?” I try to laugh but a sob breaks free from my throat instead.

Carter stands and comes to sit in the empty chair next to me, he pulls me to his chest and holds me while I sob, unable to control it or stop it. It’s the first time I’ve allowed myself to feel these emotions, the first time I’ve truly thought about what this all means.

“I have cancer, Carter.” I sob, the truth suddenly seeming too heavy to carry around alone any more.

“Shit, I’m so sorry. I’m so so sorry.” he keeps repeating the same three words over and over until the sobs subside and I pull back.

“Don’t tell anyone, please. Not Jack or Josie and not Megs. I can’t… They have so much going on in their lives right now, they don’t need… I don’t want… Just please.” I plead.

“I won’t tell anyone, I promise. But they’d want to know.”

“I know, and I will tell them, I promise I will, just not right now, I can’t right now. I need to know exactly what I’m facing before I tell them.”

“Okay.”

He pulls me back to him and does something I don’t expect him to, he places a kiss on the top of my head. It’s a sweet, comforting kiss and it makes every last ounce of strength I have disappear.

“I can’t do this alone. I’m so scared. Mum and Dad, they’ll be there for me, of course they will, but I can’t stand to put them through this, Carter. I can’t”

“Hey, you won’t have to. I’m here. I’m here, and I won’t let you go through this on your own.”

“You have a life Carter and you barely know me.” I wipe my eyes and look at him.

He looks completely serious and a little hurt by what I just said. Is he being serious? How can he possibly mean that? We met two days ago, we know nothing about each other, how can he say he’ll be there for me?

“Does it matter? You’re facing one of the worst things anyone could ever have to face, you won’t tell your friends, you cannot go through this alone, I won’t let you and I’m sure as hell going to be there for you,” he looks at me then adds as an after thought. “If you want me to be.”

“Are you real?” I half laugh, half sob,

“As real as they come.” he smiles, that smile that has my legs feeling like jelly.

“And you’re going to stay here, in a country you don’t know, for a girl you met two days ago while I undergo whatever it is they are going to tell me I need?” I shake my head.

“Yeah. I’ll find a place to stay, I’ve always wanted to travel, visit England.”

“This isn’t travelling Carter, this is hospital visits and sickness and who knows what else. This isn’t a holiday.”

“I know,” he takes my hand and squeezes it. “Which is why I’m not letting you do this alone. Let me be here Carmen, please?”

“If I tell you no, will you leave?”

“No.”

“So whatever I say, your mind is made up?”

“Pretty much, yeah. It will just be a whole lot easier if you’re on board with this.” he grins.

“Then I guess we need to find you a place to stay right? And me too, I cannot live with my parents any longer than I have to.”

“It’ll be okay, you know?” he whispers, leaning forward to wipe a tear from my cheek.

“I hope you’re right.” I whisper back.

H
ow can this be happening?

Is this happening?

I look over at Carmen and realise it is. How can someone who looks so healthy, so well, be battling cancer right now? And how the hell can she still be smiling? Still be so strong? I sit there with everything just going around and around in my head. When I asked her what was wrong this morning, that was the very last thing I expected her to say, and she doesn’t want to tell anyone? Not Josie or Megan, she wants to do it alone. Like hell is she going to battle this thing alone. No one should have to do that and Carmen certainly isn’t going to. I’m sure she can sense the tension that feels like it’s rolling off me.

C
alm down, Carter, this isn’t about you.