Chasing Destiny (5 page)

“Sam?”

“Yeah. I wasn’t really awake and I just answered without looking at the screen.” He sighed. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m completely over her, she just pisses me off and it’s too early to be pissed off alone.”

“How’d she get your number?”

He chuckled without humor and lay back on the bed, running his hand over his scruff. “Apparently she ran into some girl I’ve been with. When she figured out the girl knew me, she asked her for my number. Genius, actually.”

It really was smart, but I couldn’t help the bubble of anger that made its way to my chest. I hated Sam and I’d never met her. “So…you wanna go over to a frat house and wait for them to leave to throw snowballs at them?” I smirked and he barked out a real laugh.

“You are the craziest girl I’ve ever met.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

He got up and turned to face me. “Thanks for making me laugh. I knew you would. I’ll go make us some breakfast.”

“That’s what I’m here for.” He winked and left the room.

God, if I could find Sam and beat the shit out of her, I would. Carson and I had both been through bad breakups, but Adam was a much better person than Sam. He never meant to hurt me. Sam, on the other hand, got a kick out of toying with Carson.

I got up and threw on some pajama bottoms and an oversized sweatshirt for warmth. Glancing out the window, I noticed it had snowed quite a bit overnight. It made me shiver just looking at it.

I walked out of the room and down the hallway. “What are you making?” I asked as I entered the living room.

“Pancakes and sausage.”

“Sounds good,” I said as I walked into the kitchen to grab a pitcher of water. Carson looked deep in thought as he watched the food cook on the stove. “You okay?”

“Yeah. I just need to wake up.” I didn’t press. Carson didn’t like sharing his true feelings, and though I was kind of the same way, I wasn’t sure whether it was healthy or not. Only recently had I started opening up, so I wasn’t about to push when he wasn’t interested in divulging.

“Okay,” I replied. I filled up the pitcher then walked over to my plants in the living room and began watering them. Once I was done I repeated the process with the rest of the flowers in the other rooms.

“Finished?” Carson asked as he placed two plates on the coffee table.

“Yep, and it looks like I was right on time.” I set the pitcher on the kitchen counter then joined Carson on the couch. “Smells yummy.”

“It will be, I made it.” He smirked and forked a piece of sausage into his mouth.

“
Why are you eating pancakes? I thought they weren't healthy enough for you, Mr. Trainer Man.
”
 Carson was a personal trainer at a gym and was usually very strict with his diet—except for beer, of course.

“
Snow days are like a free pass to eat whatever you want.
”

After we ate our breakfast and I cleaned up the kitchen since Carson had cooked, he hollered, “I’ll be right back,” then walked out the door. The odd part was he wasn’t even wearing a jacket and it was freezing out.

A few minutes later, the door opened and Carson stepped inside carrying a big sled. “It’s fucking freezing!”

“What? I thought snow was hot. Why do you have a sled?” I walked around the kitchen counter into the living room.

“I bought it last night while I was at the store. I thought we could have some fun.”

“Have some fun? With that?”

Carson stepped toward me and pulled on my sweatshirt, bringing us inches apart. “I know something else we could do that would be fun.” His voice was husky and I couldn’t help the stutter in my breathing.

“Uh…sledding sounds fun.” He broke out into a laugh and I narrowed my eyes at him, knowing he had done it to be an ass. “You’re a jerk.”

“I know. Now, go get dressed so we can use this thing.”

I found my warmest clothes, rain boots—because I didn’t have any snow boots—and two jackets, plus a coat. Once I was satisfied I would be warm enough, I stepped into the living room. I didn’t want him to know it, but I was kind of excited about sledding.

Carson took one look at me and doubled over laughing. “Oh my God! You look like that kid in
A Christmas Story
.” He could barely spit it out he was laughing so hard.

“Fuck you!” I walked past him and opened the door. “Let’s go use that thing.”

“It’s a sled. And where is my fun flower girl this morning? You’re in a pissy mood.”

I couldn’t admit I was upset and ticked off for him about Sam calling. “I’m sorry. I guess I just got up too early.”

“Okay.”

We hiked to a small hill that wasn’t very far from the apartment complex and he put the sled on the ground.

“Get on,” he said.

I turned to look at him. “You go first.”

“Why? I’m a lot heavier than you.” He crossed his arms over his chest.

I mirrored his stance and stepped back a fraction. My boot slipped and I flailed my arms, trying for balance before I went ass over kettle. My legs were airborne and as soon as my back hit the ground, I began rolling. I rolled over and over again for what seemed like forever, my hair tangling with leaves and sticks as I got a face full of snow. Once I stopped, I lay there on my back and looked at the beautiful sky, sputtering the shit from my mouth.

I heard his steps before I saw him. “Are you okay? Please tell me you’re okay.” He sounded genuinely worried.

I took stock of my body parts. Nothing seemed to be hurting. “I think so.”

“Thank God because that was funny as shit!” He leaned down closer to me, but he was laughing so hard, he could barely control his breathing. I wanted to slap him.

“I’m so glad I could be your entertainment for today. Now, help me get the fuck up.”

“I’m sorry, it’s just…” he trailed off to laugh some more and then catch his breath. “It was just so funny watching you rolling down the hill. And you were trying to yell, but it kept getting muffled each time you rolled onto your face.”

I grabbed his hand and he helped me stand. “You’re a dickbag and I hate you, Carson Janson.”

“I think we both know that isn’t true.” He brushed some grass out of my hair. “Now, come get in the sled and try not to fall from being stubborn again.”

I rolled my eyes, but trekked up the hill and sat in the sled. He walked behind me and kissed the top of my head. “I’m sorry I laughed. If it makes you feel any better, you still looked beautiful even while rolling down the hill.”

Before I could answer, he pushed me and I was flying down the hill, the wind whipping in my face, feeling free for the first time in a long time.

Carson

My phone began ringing from my pocket, but I ignored it. I was beginning to have fun and didn’t need or want that to change. Sam had called and woken me up, putting me in a bad mood. It wasn’t as if my feelings for her were resurfacing; it was the fact that she couldn’t leave well enough alone. She liked to tell me I was the love of her life, but she needed to live first. That was why she always came back to me and then would break things off. What was really upsetting was I had been stupid enough to let her back in each time.

Sam hadn’t put me off women or anything—obviously—but she had taught me how to protect myself. Never let anyone in other than friends. That’s why I was able to still care about Miranda and Kristin. They were just friends—nothing more.

Kristin’s laughter broke me from my thoughts as she sailed down the hill. My mind flashed back to her rolling down the hill and I couldn’t help but chuckle. I was worried she was hurt at first, but as soon as she let me know she was okay, I couldn’t hold back the laughter. It was fucking hilarious.

I watched Kristin come to a stop then take the string on the sled to drag behind her as she began stomping back up the snow covered hill.
She’s beautiful,
I thought for the millionth time. Even bundled up from head to toe, looking like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, she could still knock the breath out of me.

“Hurry up,” I hollered from the top of the hill.

She stopped walking and placed a hand on her hip. “How about you just come get the damn thing yourself?”

I laughed. “Where’s the fun in that?”

I couldn’t see her clear enough from the distance, but I was sure she was rolling her eyes as she shook her head.

A short time later, Kristin made it to the top and I crawled into the sled. She placed her hands on my back to help get me going as I dropped my arms in the snow on either side of me and pushed off. I breezed down the hill, the bright sun in my face and all my earlier worries over Sam vanished. The one thing I was good at was letting go and living in the moment.

Kristin and I slid down the hill in the sled for over an hour. We were both cold, but I wasn’t done with her yet. She walked in front of me as I scooped down and grabbed a handful of snow. I quietly packed it into a ball, wound back, and aimed right for her incredible ass.

“What the hell?” she screamed as she turned around. “You are so dead!”

“I didn’t do anything,” I lied, cracking a grin, before breaking out into full-blown laughter as I scooped up more snow and began tossing it in her direction.

A very well packed snowball sailed into my face, just as my eyes lifted to see it coming—giving me no time to react. The cold stung my cheeks as I wiped off the excess. “You’re getting it now, flower girl!”

I raced after her as she ran into a small grove of trees, giggling the entire time. The sound made me laugh harder as my feet crunched the snow, closing the space between us. As soon as I reached her, I wrapped my arms around her torso and lifted, spinning her around in a circle a few times. Placing her back on the ground, I turned her around to face me. She wobbled and grabbed my arms to keep from falling. “Dizzy? Serves you right for hitting me in the face. I should tickle the shit out of you for that.”

“It was an accident! I have bad aim,” she exclaimed, but I could see the twinkle in her eye.

“Yeah, and I’m ugly.”

“So you agree I’m telling the truth?”

I narrowed my eyes as her lips stretched into a grin. She started to step backward, but I caught her by the arms. “Careful there, last time you took a step backward you rolled your cute little ass to the bottom.”

“I didn’t roll all the way to the bottom. I was only like halfway down the hill.”

“Okay,” I placated. “If that is what you want to believe. How about we head back to the apartment and get out of these wet clothes.”

She smiled and her gorgeous brown eyes lit up. “Sure. And we need to get some snow to make ice cream. There aren’t too many people out yet, so I bet we can find some that’s still clean.”

“Now you’re talking.” I took her hand and we began walking toward the apartment, grabbing the sled from where we had left it.

“Even though I am freezing my ass off, I’m glad you dragged me out here. I had a lot of fun, Carson.” She squeezed my hand.

“I’m glad.”

We walked the rest of the way to the apartment in silence. As we approached the door, a thought occurred to me. “What are you doing for Valentine’s Day?”

“Probably studying,” she said as she slid her key into the lock.

“How about I take you out? I’ll even take you home with me afterward.”

“Like a date?”

She opened the door and I walked in after her. I slipped my boots off in the entry before I answered her question, trying to think it over. “Yes,” I began, “like a date. I’ll take you out to dinner and everything. Only we won’t kiss—unless you can’t control yourself—and it’ll be fun. I’m sure the doodling shithead never knew how to have fun.”

She bit the inside of her lip as she took off the top layer of her clothes. “I think that sounds good.”

How many sweatshirts does she have on
, I thought as I leaned against the wall to gawk—Kristin was too gorgeous not to watch. “How many more layers until I get to see your bra?”

“What?” she exclaimed.

“I’m just wondering how many layers you have on. Odds are when you get down closer to the bottom layer, your shirt will ride up.”

“You are such a perv,” she stated, cracking a smile. “I may change my mind and turn your date down. Or maybe I’ll lead you on then ditch you.”

I chuckled as I walked to the cabinet and pulled out a bowl. “You won’t do that. You’ll want the opportunity to go out on a date with a guy as handsome as me.”

She snorted and shook her head. “Go get some snow and I’ll make us some hot chocolate.”

“Can we cuddle on the couch later? I know you love that.”

“Go,” she yelled, pointing to the door.

I left, a huge smile planted on my face. Once I filled the bowl, I returned to the apartment, feeling free and happy.

I opened the door as I heard Kristin say, “I guess I can. Are you sure you need me to go? Okay, fine I’ll go.” She looked in my direction as I stood on the opposite side of the counter. “Look, I’ve gotta go. I’ll see you Wednesday.”

She hit end on her screen, then placed her phone on the counter. “Hot chocolate is ready.”

I so badly wanted to ask who she had been talking to, but I wasn’t her boyfriend and it wasn’t my place. I just hoped it wasn’t her ex. “Sounds good. Let me make this first,” I said, gesturing to the bowl. “Before it melts.”

“Okay. I’ll find something for us to watch on Netflix.” She rounded the corner to walk into the living room and I watched her. She seemed very nervous all of a sudden—biting her thumbnail and darting her eyes around the room.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” She placed her mug of hot chocolate on a coaster and flopped onto the couch.

“If you say so.”

I stepped into the kitchen and began pulling out all the ingredients. I mixed it all together then scooped some into two bowls. Once I placed the remainder in the fridge, I grabbed the ice cream and walked into the living room. Kristin was scrolling through Netflix. “Can’t find anything?”

She didn’t reply, but I kept my gaze focused on her. We had shared things with each other in the past, so she knew she could talk to me. After a couple more seconds, she finally glanced in my direction, her breath catching. “What the hell are you doing? It’s weird to stare at people.”