looking up at him.
He wiped the water out of his face and put one hand on his hip, his green eyes boring into mine.
"Yes, it's true. I'm not going to lie to you. But, it's not who I am anymore," he said.
"What changed?"
"I met you."
"What?"
His eyes searched mine as he tried to come up with the right words.
"The night we met you did a number on me Lou. I knew I was never going to be the same again, even before we had sex. The next morning when you were gone, having figured out you were married, I knew that even if you weren't I had nothing to offer you. I was a college kid with no direction, a partier and womanizer... I didn't have my priorities in order, and I knew that if I was ever going to have a chance at making someone happy or supporting a family one day, that I needed to get my life on track. So that's what I did. I concentrated on finishing my degree and decided to come back to Savannah and work for the family business, make a name for myself, and do something worthwhile."
I really didn't know what to say to him after that. He'd changed his whole life around just so he'd be able to provide for someone some day, and have a family, and apparently I was the catalyst. I contemplated his admission quietly as we finished our shower and dried off.
When we finally made it back out to the party, Nick and Ben were working on setting up the fireworks on the bluff and Jack was manning the grill with Luke's dad as the sun descended over the trees.
"I'm going to go see if I can help the guys," Carson said, leaning in to kiss me on my temple. "You're fucking gorgeous, you know that?"
My insides melted at his words as he went towards the bluff. Watching him walk away I was hard pressed to peel my eyes from his incredible backside, but somehow I managed, and went to find his mother and Luke's in the kitchen to see if I could help with anything.
After the second meal of the day and listening to Luke, Nick, and Ben harass each other about who was a better football player in high school, it was finally time for the fireworks.
I settled onto a lawn chair between Anne Marie and Eva and was just getting comfortable when I felt a warm hand on my shoulder.
"Lean up for me," Carson said, and I did as he asked.
"Aren't you supposed to be down on the bluff helping the guys?"
"They've got it handled," he said, straddling the chair behind me and sitting down, pulling my back into his chest. "Plus, I'd rather be up here with you in my arms than down there in a cloud of smoke and chaos."
I snuggled into him, enjoying the scent of his skin and the warmth of his body cradling mine. I couldn't remember a time when I'd felt more content.
As the first pop and crackle began in the sky, I tilted my head to see Carson's profile, illuminated under the silvery glow of the fireworks. His eyes met mine and he squeezed me to him, kissing my temple.
"Honesty right?" he said in my ear.
"Complete and total," I said back.
He nuzzled my ear and whispered to me between the loud claps of the display overhead. "I'm so glad you're here in my arms. I never thought I'd get a chance to see you again, much less taste your sweet body and hold you close."
I exhaled a soft sigh, completely relaxing against him as he trailed soft kisses down my neck. "There's no place I'd rather be."
"You're mine now, Lou. From here on out, it's just you and me."
I stiffened momentarily, thinking about Carly. Carson deserved to know about her before things with us went any further. She was a big part of my life, and I couldn't keep her from him much longer.
I started to sit up so I could look him in the eyes, but just as I did I heard the sound of several fireworks shooting off, followed by bright lights and what sounded like cannon fire.
I leaned back into Carson deciding that exact moment might not be the best time, but knowing I would have to tell him soon.
Chapter 11
1 year ago
Lou
"What do you mean, you're 'getting a divorce'? Derek is your soul mate,
He wiped the water out of his face and put one hand on his hip, his green eyes boring into mine.
"Yes, it's true. I'm not going to lie to you. But, it's not who I am anymore," he said.
"What changed?"
"I met you."
"What?"
His eyes searched mine as he tried to come up with the right words.
"The night we met you did a number on me Lou. I knew I was never going to be the same again, even before we had sex. The next morning when you were gone, having figured out you were married, I knew that even if you weren't I had nothing to offer you. I was a college kid with no direction, a partier and womanizer... I didn't have my priorities in order, and I knew that if I was ever going to have a chance at making someone happy or supporting a family one day, that I needed to get my life on track. So that's what I did. I concentrated on finishing my degree and decided to come back to Savannah and work for the family business, make a name for myself, and do something worthwhile."
I really didn't know what to say to him after that. He'd changed his whole life around just so he'd be able to provide for someone some day, and have a family, and apparently I was the catalyst. I contemplated his admission quietly as we finished our shower and dried off.
When we finally made it back out to the party, Nick and Ben were working on setting up the fireworks on the bluff and Jack was manning the grill with Luke's dad as the sun descended over the trees.
"I'm going to go see if I can help the guys," Carson said, leaning in to kiss me on my temple. "You're fucking gorgeous, you know that?"
My insides melted at his words as he went towards the bluff. Watching him walk away I was hard pressed to peel my eyes from his incredible backside, but somehow I managed, and went to find his mother and Luke's in the kitchen to see if I could help with anything.
After the second meal of the day and listening to Luke, Nick, and Ben harass each other about who was a better football player in high school, it was finally time for the fireworks.
I settled onto a lawn chair between Anne Marie and Eva and was just getting comfortable when I felt a warm hand on my shoulder.
"Lean up for me," Carson said, and I did as he asked.
"Aren't you supposed to be down on the bluff helping the guys?"
"They've got it handled," he said, straddling the chair behind me and sitting down, pulling my back into his chest. "Plus, I'd rather be up here with you in my arms than down there in a cloud of smoke and chaos."
I snuggled into him, enjoying the scent of his skin and the warmth of his body cradling mine. I couldn't remember a time when I'd felt more content.
As the first pop and crackle began in the sky, I tilted my head to see Carson's profile, illuminated under the silvery glow of the fireworks. His eyes met mine and he squeezed me to him, kissing my temple.
"Honesty right?" he said in my ear.
"Complete and total," I said back.
He nuzzled my ear and whispered to me between the loud claps of the display overhead. "I'm so glad you're here in my arms. I never thought I'd get a chance to see you again, much less taste your sweet body and hold you close."
I exhaled a soft sigh, completely relaxing against him as he trailed soft kisses down my neck. "There's no place I'd rather be."
"You're mine now, Lou. From here on out, it's just you and me."
I stiffened momentarily, thinking about Carly. Carson deserved to know about her before things with us went any further. She was a big part of my life, and I couldn't keep her from him much longer.
I started to sit up so I could look him in the eyes, but just as I did I heard the sound of several fireworks shooting off, followed by bright lights and what sounded like cannon fire.
I leaned back into Carson deciding that exact moment might not be the best time, but knowing I would have to tell him soon.
Chapter 11
1 year ago
Lou
"What do you mean, you're 'getting a divorce'? Derek is your soul mate,
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