I took my seat, and while we ate, the conversation shifted to multiple topics that didn’t involve me.Thank god.What I wasn’t thankful for was how damn itchy this turtleneck was. I pulled at the top of it, hoping I could get some relief.
“Carter, what are you doing?” my grandma asked. “That’s not very lady-” My grandma gasped, and I dropped my hand. “Aw, my poor little girl, what did you do to your neck?”
“N-nothing. It’s fine.” If my face was as red as it was hot, I was sure that lie wasn’t going to fool anyone.
“No, really. It looks so red and irritated.” As if her words weren’t embarrassing enough, she rolled down my turtleneck, revealing the hickey to the whole table. “Did you burn yourself?”
I brought my hand to my neck, but if the look on everyone’s faces was anything to go by, I hadn’t done it quickly enough. “Maybe. I’m not sure.”
My grandma pulled my hand away and stared at my neck. “I don’t understand. That wasn’t there when I saw you last night. It doesn’t appear that you did your hair or else I’d say it’s from a straightener.”
I stared at the table and closed my eyes, praying this would all end. At least one person was definitely snickering, but I couldn’t tell who it was, and I refused to look up.
My grandma gasped again. “Jim, do we have bed bugs? Do bed bugs even bite?” She rubbed her finger over the hickey, which I could only imagine was making it even more visible. “It would have to suckreallyhard to make a spot like that.” She sighed loudly. “You really need to have that looked at. I don’t want it to get infected. And Jim, we need to call an exterminator.”
“We don’t need to call an exterminator,” my grandpa said sternly.
Great. He’s pissed. My grandpa is going to hate me all because I couldn’t keep my hormones under control for one night.
“Why not?” my grandma asked.
Poor, naive, grandma.
My grandpa dropped his fork, and it clinked against his plate. “Just drop it, okay?”
I jumped from my seat. I didn’t know where I was going, but I knew I had to get out of there. I mumbled something about going to the bathroom before running out of the kitchen. I didn’t stop until I was back upstairs in my mama’s old room.
I had no idea how much time passed before there was a knock on the open bedroom door. When I looked over, Jax was standing in the doorway with a sheepish grin on her face.
“Carter, I can’t tell you how sorry I am,” she said as she walked into the room and sat next to me on the bed.
“Why are you sorry? I literally remember telling you, and I quote, Ididn’t fucking careif you left a mark.”
“Yes. I seem to remember that too.”
I’m not sure which of us cracked first, but soon, both of us were laughing. I put my face in my hands. “I still can’t believe that happened.”
“Yeah, probably not the best way for your family to find out, huh?” Jax asked between giggles.
“I just hope Olivia doesn’t kill us.” I didn’t mean to kill the silly mood, but that reminder seemed to sober us both.
“What should we-”
Jax’s question was interrupted by another knock at the door. This time it was Uncle Ethan standing in the doorway.
He took two steps into the room, then stopped. “I’m really sorry to interrupt, but Jax, if you want to ride to the cafe with me, we need to leave now.”
Jax looked from my uncle to me. “If you want me to stay, I will. Seriously. I’m not going to leave you to fend for yourself.”
I shook my head. There was no way I was going to take this opportunity away from Jax. “This weekend is about you. Don’t worry about me. I’ll sort this out.”
Jax didn’t budge. Instead, she continued to stare at me. “Are you sure?”
“I’m positive.” I playfully pushed her away. “Now go.”
Jax gave me a hug before standing from the bed to join my Uncle Ethan. Uncle Ethan put his arm around Jax’s shoulder. “Careful, Carter. If I have my way, I’m going to convince this one to take over the cafe from me. God knows Finn has no interest in following in his old man’s footsteps.” He dropped his arm and gave me a sweet smile. “By the way, don’t worry about what happened down there. You’re not the first person who has fallen victim to your grandma’s big mouth. Just ask your moms.” He winked at me before walking out of the room.
What the hell is that supposed to mean?
