Unedited

"Why do we always fall in love with our best friends" - Unknown

"I guess all I can really say is it's been a long day. I've been stressed out of my mind over something so dumb. Something with my mother and Clara. I'm just ready for it to be over. My competitive drive is too much for me sometimes and it's really kicking my ass. I was on this awful date earlier today with this man who god knows what his name was. He kept asking me questions just assuming I wasn't capable of owning a business. I was too young and dumb for everything. I hate when people just assume that. He brought up the fact that my father should have given the shop to my mother. It made me so mad. I'm so distracted though I haven't been able to give these guys a serious chance on these dates I've been going on." The words flew and flew out of my mouth.

"Doesn't sound like he deserved the time of day." Carter had switched from wine to beer. He wasn't really a fancy drink kind of guy. He used to only drink the wine because it was the only thing I would drink with him. Now that I was 22 I had branched out quite a bit, but that was hard to do when drinking was illegal.

"I'm just ready for the next couple of weeks to be over."

"So about the time I leave, wow Erin. You are so rude." My heart instantly sank because that wasn't what I meant. It was the exact opposite.

"Carter you get what I mean." I thought for a moment. I should shut up. I was a little buzzed from the alcohol. "I honestly wish you would never leave." I slammed my lips closed as soon as I said it.

"I don't want to leave. Erin, I really don't. I want to stay here with my family." He smiled. He reached his hand over and placed it on my thigh. It caught me off guard. Why did he do that?

I looked forward staring off towards the wall. I wasn't sure what to say. My mind was drawing blanks. I really should stop drinking but I didn't want to. It felt good to loosen up a little. Carter finished the beer in his hand, crushing it he placed it back on the table and grabbed another one out of the basket. My eyes followed his movements.

"What is stressing you out so much with your mother and Clara?" I could tell he was really confused about that part of my spill. I knew I shouldn't tell him, but I've had enough alcohol that it didn't really matter anymore. I was going to tell him whatever he wanted to know if he knew what questions to ask.

"You're going to think I'm dumb if I tell you." I giggled like a little school girl. My hair fell in my face and I couldn't bother myself to pull it out of the way. Carter lifted my head up pushing my hair back for me. I closed my eyes smiling. The alcohol really starting to hit me.

"Erin I know you're dumb." I smacked his chest jokingly.

"You are the actually rude one."

"Oh come on just tell me what's bothering you."

I let out a huff of air before I finally settled on what to say. "The three of us made a bet that I couldn't find a boyfriend in two months. Mostly because I wasn't actively trying to date. Dating wasn't even in my vocabulary. I'm pretty sure you were there on my last date in high school before I wrote it off for good. Or what I thought was good." I was mumbling and my words were slightly slurred.

"How do they expect you to get a boyfriend in two months?"

I pretended to act offended. "You saying I'm not attractive enough to find myself a boyfriend?" Giving him a side look.

"No, definitely not. I think you are stunning. I just mean if you're not actively trying then how are you supposed to just up and get one?" His hand ran tiny circles on my shoulder, his touch and complement left tingles in my stomach. I wasn't sure if they were butterflies or if I was going to throw up.

"I have a tinder." I laughed again. I realized how dumb this entire thing was. I hadn't really thought into it too much. This was so stupid. I couldn't believe I had been letting something so ridiculous frustrate me so greatly.

"Who are you?" Carter turned towards me. I could feel his breath on my skin. Goosebumps covered my body.

"I'm Erin Rose." I smiled again before laughing. I couldn't take it anymore. I placed my hands on Carter's face. His green eyes looking directly into mine. I wasn't sure what had taken over me. Actually, I knew exactly was making me act so crazy. The wine.

I lost control of my body and what happened next I would have never expected. My heart slowed down, the beats growing deeper. My mind focused for a moment just long enough for Carter to come into clear focus. His face centimeters away from mine. I leaned forward, my eyelids growing heavy. Erin, what are you doing? I thought to myself. I didn't realize my thoughts weren't actually mine. It's what Carter was asking me. I hadn't noticed he was talking because my mind was drowning in a sea of green. I leaned forward finally closing the distance.

His lips were soft.

~*~

If you asked me if my head hurt and I had said no, I would be lying. My head was throbbing from the night before and I honestly didn't really remember what had happened. I woke up as I normally did. I remembered Carter hanging out and we were drinking but after that, it was a blur. When I stepped into the living room this morning he was sound asleep on the couch.

I got ready for work as quietly as I could not really wanting to wake Carter. I trusted him. Anyone else I would have been pushing out of my apartment. I wasn't sure my brain was functioning enough that I could even really talk to him at this moment.

I got to the office a little late. Clara and my mother were already there running the morning meeting. I apologized as I walked in. Today was Wednesday which meant we needed to go through all of the racks and pull dresses that were going on sale. I had to place my order for our next shipment.

On days like this Clara, my mother, and I would all basically lock ourselves in the dress storage and just start on one side of the wall. Hopefully, by lunch, we would be halfway through all of the white material. Dresses that were in the shop eventually were pulled and placed on the sales rack at a discounted price and we mark down that we are not ordering that dress again.

I take a sip of the coffee I had purchased on my way to work. I didn't want to make any this morning. I was scared Carter would wake up to the brewing noises and smell. It was a bitter taste but it was enough to wake me up. My mother finished the meeting off. I watched as the consultants dispersed. Clara and My mother walked over to where I was standing.

"Are you guys ready to get started." I tried to smile. Digging through my purse I decided today would be a lot less miserable if I just took some Advil. My mother watched me quizzically. When I found the tiny pills I grabbed my coffee pulling it up to my lips. Popping the pills in my mouth before taking a sip of my coffee.

"What's wrong with you?" Leave it to Clara to be the first to question something I did. I chuckled the pain throbbing slightly in my head.

"Carter came over last night and I drank a little more than I had thought I did. He must have as well because he was still there when I woke up." I led the way to the dress storage. There was a clipboard hung up on the wall. People were supposed to write down the dress number whenever they sold one. This was one way for us to speed up the ordering process. Sometimes it didn't help. Many consultants and appointments go slightly over their time. Usually, consultants are rushing from one appointment to another and it can be hard to remember to head back and write down the numbers. Especially when a bride buys more than one dress.

Clara's mouth nearly dropped when I told her Carter has slept over at my house. I'd instantly realized I had given out way too much information. I wanted to hide suddenly because I knew this was the fuel my mother and friend needed.

"Are you telling me you and Carter slept together?" Clara whispered pulling my mother and myself closer to her. I shook my head rapidly. I could feel my face getting hot. It didn't matter how close I was with my mother I didn't really want to be discussing sex with her either way.

"I did not sleep with Carter!" I whispered back. My teeth were clenched, my palms were getting sweaty and my heart was beating quickly. Technically I didn't know what had happened last night. I don't think Carter would have been asleep on the couch if we had had sex. Would he have been in bed with me, right?

"Oh dear lordy." My mother winced at the response I had given. Obviously, she didn't want to talk about sex either. "Can we have a more work appropriate conversation please?" She grabbed the first dress writing the numbers on the clipboard.

"Yeah Clara, clean it up." I teased only taking after my mother's lead. Clara was not too fond of this response. She stuck her tongue out at me before reading some numbers off to my mother.

"No seriously though, why else would he sleepover at your house though?" Clara began to question. I shrugged my shoulders. Though my headache was going away I still wasn't quite sure what had happened last night. The last thing I remember was Carter asking me why I was so stressed out.

"I really don't know. I just think he probably drank too much too and didn't want to drive or try walking home intoxicated." I paused for a moment. "Carter's always been really responsible like that."

"That's a valid point, Erin," My mother popped in.

"What did you guys talk about then?" Clara just really couldn't drop the fact that Carter had slept at my house. When we were in high school my mother used to let him sleep over all the time. We never had sex then.

Carter knew the schedule so I shouldn't have been so shocked when he walked straight to the dress storage room. The look on Clara's face when her jaw dropped told me that something was a little off. I turned around and Carter held a bouquet of flowers in his hand. I was so confused.

"What are you doing?" I couldn't believe I was even able to say the words. My heart was beating so fast. My eyes wouldn't leave the flowers. They were so beautiful.

"I came here to see you, and help you guys with your inventory." Carter put such a sweet smile on his face. My heart melted with his words. I really was getting used to having him back around. I made a mental note to remind myself to thank my mother earlier.

"You are so sweet thank you. We can really use your help." My mother said. She had a smile just as big as mine. Carter put his hand out, offering me the flowers.

"Oh, these are for me?" I questioned. I wanted to smack myself in the face. That was a silly question, who else could they be for.

"Yeah, they are for you. I felt bad for crashing at your place last night. I didn't mean to fall asleep on your couch." He ran his hands through his hair. He was obviously nervous about something. I grabbed the flowers from him. I looked around the room not really sure where to put them. I found a vase with fake flowers in it. Pulling the fake flowers out I used my water bottle to provide some water for the flowers new found home.

"Well let's get to work." I turned around looking at the other people in the room. I could feel how hot my face was. The color must have been so bright.

~*~

By lunchtime, we have more than half of the dresses marked down. With Carter's help, we had really sped through the racks. We all stopped at nearly the same time. Clara plopped down on the floor, her body sprawled out like she had been shot. I couldn't help but laugh at her.

"You a little hungry?" I questioned. Her finger snapped up in the air before she shot off the floor. Placing the petite appendage on my chest she stuck her face real close to mine.

"Starving."

I pushed her back.

"You are so dramatic. Go get some food." She shot out of the room. My mother closed the distance between us before giving me a hug.

"I'm going to go too. I'm really hungry as well." She smiles while giving Carter a sideways glance. My heart skipped a beat my face filling with embarrassment. The room grew quiet.

"So are you leaving too or do you want to continue working?" Carter grabbed another dress. His green eyes searched the tag looking for the correct numbers he needed. I wrote them down as he repeated them to me. He placed the dress back down on the rack and walked over to me. His arms found their way around me pulling me close to his chest. I was shocked but pleased at the same time. His arms felt like home to me. The smell of his cologne wrapped around me and warmed me from the inside.

"Let's go get something to eat." I smiled, looking up at my old best friend.