Page 9 of Forever After All
“‘Death, death, O amiable, lovely death,’” he shouts and clutches his chest as passers by look over at his dramatic show.
"You are not seriously quoting Shakespeare to me right now." I start to laugh.
He returns with a grin and pulls me into a hug. The warm, masculine scent of his orange spice cologne hugs me just as hard as he does.
"Yeah, Alice. We're friends now." I’m pressed to his side in a very uncomfortable position, but don't have much choice in the matter.
"Friends that don't tell Autumn and Sawyer about this conversation, I hope?"
"Deal," he agrees, then Carter spits in his hand and holds it out to me, gesturing for me to do the same.
"You're disgusting," I say with feigned horror and make a retching sound.
"You told me I was hot five minutes ago. Now spit in your hand and shake on it."
Against my better judgement, I do as he says and spit in my hand. Carter slaps his palm into mine and firmly shakes my hand three times.
Chapter 5
Alice - three weeks later
Autumn: Hey Ali!
Me: Hey yourself! Finally pulled yourself away from that husband of yours. Is this the first daylight you've seen? Has your vagina seized up yet?
Autumn: My vagina is working perfectly. Ask Sawyer. *smirk emoji*
Me: I'll take your word for it.
Autumn: We get back from our honeymoon on Friday. You and Carter are coming for dinner on Saturday. We've just decided.
Me: You've just decided? What if I'm busy?
Autumn: I'm your only friend. That's impossible.
Me: Carter is my friend now too. Fuck you very much. He saved my life at the wedding. Pretended to be my boyfriend when their weird family friend was hitting on me.
Autumn: Ooooh. Fake boyfriend. You're a real-life book trope waiting to happen.
Me: Absolutely NOT. That is one mess I am not willing to make. Ha!
Autumn: Probably for the best, Ali. Probably for the best!
Carter: Want me to pick you up on Saturday? I hear that we're going for dinner and don't have a choice.
Me: I can drive. Thanks though!
Carter: Are you sure? I'm pretty confident it's normal for friends to travel together.
Me: Oh yes… We're officially friends now. How stupid of me to forget.
Carter: We exchanged saliva. Should I be offended? Have you forgotten me that quickly?
Me: How could I forget? *vomit emoji*You can pick me up.
Carter: See you at 5:30?
Me: Okay. I'll see you then! *two people driving in a car GIF*