“Carter,” Indi snaps from behind me. “What in the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“Trying to teach this moron some manners,” I answer turning to face her. Thank fuck she showed up. I don’t know how much longer I could’ve lasted. I blink a few times to try and moisten my dried up eyeballs.

Sweet Jesus. I inhale a sharp breath as my eyes take her in. She looks gorgeous in that sexy-as-hell red dress.

She still takes my breath away after all this time. I hear her dick boyfriend open his car door from behind me. “Get back in the car,” I say through gritted teeth without even looking his way. I can’t, because my eyes are glued to her. When I hear his door close, I smirk to myself. Just what I thought—coward. She deserves so much better. So much fucking better. My smile widens when I hear her growl at me with disdain. She’s so fucking adorable when she’s pissed off.

“Look, Indi,” the wanker says from within the car. “How about we give tonight a miss?”

“What? No.” She frowns, pursing her lips at me before turning her attention back to him. “I’ve just spent the last hour getting ready, Mark.” I can tell. She looks stunning. I have to stop myself from licking my lips as I drink her in. What I wouldn’t give for a taste of grown up Indi.

Before he gets a chance to reply, I turn my head and glare at him. Silently warning him not to change his mind. His eyes dart from me to her as he swallows nervously.

“Carter,” she snaps. “How could you?” She places her palms on my chest and pushes me. I have to hold back my smile. She’s so damn cute. “You’re only back a day and you’re already trying to make my life miserable,” she sneers, pushing me again. Christ I’ve missed her smart mouth.

“You’re glad to have me back,” I say smugly. She falters for a second before answering, making me think whatever she’s going to say is the opposite of how she really feels.

“No, I’m not.” Bingo. She’s fucking glad. I knew it.

“Don’t tell me you haven’t missed me,” I say so only she can hear as I take a step closer. I’m so close now her perky little tits are almost brushing against my chest. Her scent envelopes me, making my dick come to life. I could drown in her smell, in her. I’m tempted to move in even closer, but I don’t. Even after all this time I remember exactly what her soft, warm body feels like pressed against mine. When her eyes widen and I hear her breath hitch, I know damn well I’m right. She’s missed me just as much as I’ve missed her.

I saw how content she was in my arms earlier today. If this wanker holds her heart, there’s no way she would’ve been so comfortable letting me hold her. For some reason it gives me hope. Maybe all is not lost.

Her hands come up giving me another shove. She’s pretty strong for a squirt. “Didn’t you learn your lesson the other day?” she scoffs, cocking one of her eyebrows. Shit. I take a step back as my hands instinctively cover my crotch. My fucking boys are still paying for my little prank with the sponge. I’m pretty sure they couldn’t survive another blow like that.

The determined look on her face has me retreating another step. I hold up one of my hands in defeat, while my other hand protects my nuts. If I had a white flag I’d be waving that fucker with a vengeance right now. What is it with her? When did she become a ball-busting warrior? I wonder if pretty boy has ever been introduced to her knee. Scratch that. I just witnessed him in action. He doesn’t have any balls.

“Okay. I get the message loud and clear. Please don’t go all ninja on my nuts again,” I plead. Her face relaxes slightly and I see a small smile play on those luscious lips of hers.

“Good. Now stay the hell away from me,” she says as she walks around me and gets into the car. My heart sinks as the car reverses out of the driveway. That prick gives me a smug look and I have to hold myself back. Indiana’s eyes lock with mine briefly before she turns her head and looks out the passenger side window. Fuck. My damn heart hurts.

Stupid fucker.

Once the car is out of sight, I head back into the house. I need a fucking drink. Opening the fridge I grab a beer before shoving it back on the shelf. I’m not drinking anything that belonged to Fuckwit. Besides, the mood I’m in calls for something stronger. Heading back into my room, I grab my car keys. Time to get shitfaced.

••••

A few hours later, I’m halfway through my bottle of Jack when I hear a car pull up next door. I’m not sure if it’s Indi and her boyfriend, or Ross. I drag my drunken arse off the bed and head to the window to look. It’s Indiana.

I’ll admit I’m pleased that she isn’t spending the night with him, but I feel a pang in my heart when I see her lean over the centre console and lock lips with him. I remember all too well what a spectacular kisser she is. When his hand comes up and threads into her hair, pulling her in closer, I have to look away.

I’m not sure if it’s the alcohol running through my veins or not, but I want to jump out of this window and drag that cocksucker out of the car and away from her. I’m blaming the alcohol. Coming back here was a mistake. I think I was better off not knowing what she’s been up to.

Flopping back down on my bed, I reach for my bottle of Jack and take a swig. It burns like a motherfucker on its way down, but I welcome it. I need to be numb, so I take another gulp. I’ve only ever drunk straight from the bottle once before, and that was a few days after I left here all those years ago.

I see her bedroom light come on from where I sit. Everything in me wants to go over there, but what good would that do? She’s moved on. I suppose I can’t really blame her. In all honesty, I had no intentions of coming back. Even though I did entertain the thought a million times over the years.

I watch as she heads towards her drawers and retrieves what I presume is a pair of pyjamas. Her gaze moves towards my window as she stares into the darkness of my bedroom. I’m tempted to switch on my bedside lamp so she can see me, but I don’t.

She turns suddenly and heads back out of her room. A few seconds later I see the bathroom light come on. She’s probably going to have a shower. That thought makes my dick twitch. It pisses me off. I push the thoughts of her naked and rubbing soap all over her delicious body out of my mind. I’m only torturing myself if I don’t.

CHAPTER FOUR

Indiana

My thoughts stray to Carter again as I let the hot water wash over my body. I was supposed to be spending the night at Mark’s, but after dinner I asked him to bring me home instead. I feel bad that I let Carter get in the way of our plans tonight, but my head is pounding.

Fuck him and his bullying tactics. Who in the hell does he think he is? Poor Mark was so intimidated by him. They’re worlds apart when it comes to personalities. Mark is so timid, Carter not so much.

After drying myself and dressing in my PJ’s, I grab a few headache pills out of the medicine cabinet and pop them in my mouth. I need to lie down.

Walking back into my bedroom, my traitorous eyes land on Carter’s bedroom window again. His lights are out so he must be asleep. I feel bad for the way I left things between us earlier, but he can’t butt into my life like that. He’s the one who walked away, not me.

“I’m not in my room,” I hear a male voice slur, almost making me jump out of my skin.

“What the fuck, Carter?” I screech when I see him sprawled out on my bed. “Get the fuck out of my room.”

“Can’t do that, sweetheart,” he says clumsily sitting up. Is he drunk? I take the few steps towards my bed and reach for his arm, tugging on it.

“You can’t be in here,” I growl. He looks up at me, and smiles. One of those panty-melting smiles that he used to give me all those years ago. I hate that he still makes me feel things after all this time. “You need to go.”