t get along. I've groused about him on s

when it comes to football, he's not good enough to turn pro. He loves it but doesn't live and breathe it the way some of t

und campus. Most guys are more than happy to boast about their prospects if they're heading to the NFL. But Carter isn't one of them. He's guarded and privat

st thing I need is to get my butt chewed out in front of Carter. He'd p

io and enjoying themselves in the pool. I smile while watching Uncle Craig flip burgers and hot dogs. He's broken out his blue Superman apron and is laughing with one of

ammates, Noah and Carter e

. When they glance back at her, she points to a couple of

aunt a kiss on the cheek. I love spending time with her. Sometimes I fee

n front of us. "Is there

, she always opts to make food for parties herself. By the looks of it, she's going to feed a small army. Or the BU football team. They ma

ounds lik

s them with a towel. As she does, her gaze lingers on my face. "How's every

force myself to inhale a breath and

Yes, I'm irritated with him for his antics the other night, but there's more to my unease than just

g to go by, Aunt Marnie doesn't be

quirements are out of the way, I was able to fill my schedule with art classes.

class together until now. I don't even know what he's majoring in

and tries to suss out the truth. "And liv

n't go

n't tell

from the humongous veggie platter and m

t. He's lucky he made himself scarce for the rest of that evening

rat boy yesterday to see if we could meet up and discuss my living situ

ch I'm pretty sure means that my

ow who I can

reaking

and crosses her arms over her chest. "

always do," I say wi

t exact

"Have you ever considered

her, and I straight

m some

. And I'm not one to throw

th of what Carter has said or done to me, she

yes. "Have you ever considered the possibility that if you got to know Carter

with total honesty that I have n

is reflexes are good and that he caught the remote control I thre

ng would tha

She must be legitimately crazy to offer up that idea. I've learned enough abou

more of

ve

stime. On top of that, he's an arrogant, womanizing, football-playing jerk who likes to get into fights. I haven't p

aphic tee and toss it onto one of the loungers scattered around the concrete patio.

and my heart pic

ing through a tunnel from a million miles away as sh

ter last stood. Under no circumstances do I want to watch him surface fr

an and try to pul

ven like

iously.

received the memo. I re

experiencing a hot flash and my legs have grown shaky. I'd like t

thread of our previous conversation, "you

. I'll take a hard p

a feeling that my disgruntled expre

someone beyond the kitchen window. She bites her lip

and wait for

back to me. "I k

e top of my head. Give me a few moments, and I could co

er eyes soften. "That's no

puzzled expression

, ignoring me, "is that Carter comes a

just another word

I've pushed her far enough. I promptly button my lip

d to put up a front to cover w

suggesting that Carter has reasons for acting the way he d

t the Carter you've gotten to

exactly the annoying guy I've always pegged him to be. In th

see what we want to. We don't take the time to scratch beneath the surface or dig deeper. Sometimes you just need to be patient and give people time to

given Carter enough chances to prove

ay have her hoodwinked, but he's not fooling me. I love my aunt and a

-u

," she urges, her hazel eyes

don't know," I mutter, glancing out the window.

h me when I realize he's