I was whipping through Target. Carter was pushing the cart and I had no choice but to almost jog behind him.

When I had finally had enough I whined. "Why are we moving so fast?" I asked out of breath.

He turned to me, looking down at my almost running to keep up with him pace.

"We aren't moving fast. You're slow."

I shoved him in the shoulder. Cause if he wasn't careful there was going to be a brawl in aisle 3.

He grinned. "Not slow mentally. Slow physically."

Like that helped.

I shoved him again. "I'm not slow. You're just tall. And you have longer legs so when you walk normally I've gotta run behind you."

"Huh," he muttered like this was news to him. Which only made me glare.

"It's funny," he said as I pointed at him to get the linguini pasta from up above.

"What's funny?"

"Watching you trail after me."

"So you're admitting you've been aware of this and just decided not to slow down?" I asked, thinking then that I might hack up a little something in his food.

"Yep."

"Why," I asked, my voice getting loud.

"Because," he said, hooking his arm around my side and yanking me towards him. "It's funny."

***

I was in the kitchen. Swatting away Carter's hands as he reached for my ass and telling him to go sit down and leave me alone.

I had pasta boiling as I was making the sauce and grilling chicken.

Lena and Carson decided not to stay when I told them that I was making Carter dinner. They were invited obviously but they had this insane idea that I needed to bang Carter every second of the day so they wanted to give us privacy.

I started plating the food and setting it on the table, Carter getting up from whatever crime show he was watching to come help.

After we sat down to eat I made him try it. Leaning forward to stare at him intently.

"Hey Spencer," he called, looking like he was going to start laughing before putting the first bite in his mouth. "I'd appreciate it if you didn't do that."

"Do what?"

"Look at me like that. It's weird."

"Sorry," I said as I continued to stare, not giving a fuck.

"Spencer," he said laughing.

"Just try it. I want to know if you like it."

He shook his head like I was being cute before finally eating it.

He chewed like he existed in slow motion. Probably because he was just trying to be annoying.

When he reached for his water his lips were twitching with hilarity as I waited. Rolling my hands back and forth.

I wanted him to like it. I knew I'd be really embarrassed if he didn't.

"Well..." I prodded eventually. Curiosity getting the better of me.

But because Carter was just such an asshole his only response was to stick another bite in his mouth and lift up a finger like he was deep in thought.

I scowled at him then and he just started laughing. So fucking annoying.

"It's good Spencer, I wouldn't eat something I didn't like. No matter how much I like you," he said, shoulders still shaking in hilarity.

I pursed my lips, annoyed with his antics. "Well, I spit in it," I told him as I started to eat.

His eyes cut to me and he shook his head. He then just put more noodles on his fork and continued eating.

"I hacked it up. Not a little bit of spit, the good stuff deep down," I said, not giving up, as he ignored me.

His only response was to eat more.

I flicked his fingers. "You're sick and twisted, you know that?"

"That's what makes me special."

And at that I shoved my face in my hands and groaned. I couldn't believe I had feelings for this man. Like I was doomed.

***

The cold was finally catching up with us. It was 6:30 and I had a thick thermal long sleeve on with one of Carter's jerseys layered on top. I had tons of jewelry on as well and once I pulled off my big black puffer jacket you could actually see it.

I was sitting next to Carson and Lena who were eating candy and drinking soda. Carter had got us almost courtside seats so we had a great view. Of the cameras, the lights, everything.

The team was currently running up and down the halfcourt, warming up and shooting free throws. Carson and Lena were gabbing on about something, but I was just flushed with excited energy, so I watched the men on the floor. And perved on Carter a bit.

Suddenly, Lena tugged my arm and I re-entered the world around me.

"Spencer, stop staring at your boyfriend, he isn't even playing yet," Carson said, staring at her phone. "Instead, look at this and tell me if you think I should dye my hair this color."

I looked from the hair in the photo to her face and decided she would make a cute redhead.

Before I could speak however, a woman with big curly hair (almost like mine) who was sitting in the row in front of us turned around in such a way that all of us got distracted. Partly because she was beautiful, but more so because she seemed to be staring right at us.

"I don't mean to intrude," she said, after a beat of silence. And after we all turned to stare back. "But are you the Spencer that's dating Carter?"

I almost wondered how she knew, but I figured Carson was talking loud and we hadn't really been keeping it a secret.

When both Lena and Carson swung their heads around to look at me, I answered, hesitantly. "Yeah... I am," I admitted, unsure about where this was going.

I watched as her face split into a wide grin.

"Cool," she said excitedly. "I'm Charlotte. Carter's cooler, smarter older sister."

My mouth dropped open and I wondered how I missed it before. They looked so much alike.

"I'm Spencer," I said as I shook her hand, a bit too hard and laughed. Nervously.

"Nice to meet you," she spoke with her gorgeous, glamorous smile. "Carter won't stop talking about you. And I can see why."

I flushed.

"These are my friends. Lena and Carson."

She sent warm smiles to them as they sent their own in return.

When she turned back to me, she spoke with her hands, her wedding ring so beautiful it was almost blinding.

"My parents were supposed to come, but they volunteered to watch the baby so I could catch the game. Which is a good thing for you because my mom is crazy. She meddles."

Yikes, I thought. I didn't want to deal with a mama's boy situation.

I must have been making a face because she just laughed.

"No, not like that," she grinned. "More like she's already planning the wedding."

And I couldn't tell if that was better or worse.

Eventually though, I smiled at her, deciding it was better than the alternative.

My eyes flicked up to find Carter staring. To which I waved a dorky little wave which caused him to release a small smile. It only lingered for a moment before he got serious again, making an easy lay up.

I was being rude, getting distracted in the middle of a conversation.

But... not to defend my actions, it was an easy thing to do when your boyfriend looked like that.

I tried to re-focus on Carter's very nice older sister when a shadow fell over me. A man Carter's height, maybe taller, sat down next to Charlotte and slung his arm around her. My eyes traveled to his face and one look at him almost took my breath away. I swear, I even heard Lena and Carson taking their own indrawn breaths and I totally understood, because this guy was seriously attractive.

People were staring, so by putting two and two together, I knew this must have been Charlotte's husband. He handed Charlotte a pretzel and she kissed the side of his face before turning back to me.

"Jordan, this is Spencer," she told him as he turned to look towards me.

And just by the fact that my name meant something to him, I decided that Carter and I needed to have a talk. Because, just what the hell was he telling these people about me?

I waved at him awkwardly. And he smiled, which like everything else about him was scary attractive.

"You and Carter will have to come over for dinner sometime. I'm not the best cook but I swear I'm learning," she told me. "Right babe?"

By looking over at Jordan's face I could tell she had a long way to go with the cooking. Still he tipped his lips up at her while slightly shaking his head at me.

I stifled a laugh as she elbowed him in the side. "That sounds great."

"Perfect. I'll just get your number from Carter and we'll make it happen," Charlotte said giddily. "We'll leave you to it. Sorry for intruding. I can't help it, the meddling. I get it from my mom."

I grinned softly as she touched my knee and turned back around to eat her pretzel.

I slowly turned back to Lena and Carson who were both smiling at me with all of their teeth.

Lena was furiously texting in the groupchat, my phone buzzing in my hand.

"Not you getting into the family already!!!"

I couldn't help but laugh. Pinching her knee as she smirked.

"I call dibs on being maid of honor," Carson texted.

Lena looked up at that.

"No way, it has to be me," she said aloud.

"Why you? I met her first," Carson retorted.

"Only because you came to class a whole 2 minutes earlier than me."

"Sucks to suck."

Lena pouted.

I don't think either of them realized my little sister would hurt me bad if I didn't put her in the running. Besides, we weren't getting married. I was 20. And I didn't think I or Carter were anywhere near close to that.

"The both of you need to calm down. There is no wedding." I texted.

"Yet..." Carson responded.

I flicked her off.

Ignoring her snicker as my attention was recaptured, I started tuning into the announcer that had started booming. Causing an excited energy to fill the arena.

The next 2 hours were spent smiling like a loon, yelling at the referee, and shoving candy down my throat.

***

I was all jazzed up when I went to bed. I wasn't even the person who won but it was crazy the way I was willing to take credit.

I, like the little bitch I was turning into, sent Carter a congrats text on my way home. It was pretty lovey dovey but I couldn't help it.

Charlotte and Jordan said their goodbyes once the girls and I started walking to the apartment. And the whole way back Carson and Lena were ribbing me, making fun of how fast Carter and I were going.

They were kidding but they kinda sorta weren't wrong. The creeping feeling of getting a bit too close to the sun was starting to build but I wasn't that smart and I liked the warmth.

I laid in bed trying to catch up on some sleep but it wasn't coming. My eyes were wide open in the dark of the night. My mind too active. So when my phone started vibrating on my nightstand I turned to face it eagerly. Wanting the distraction.

And there was no one better to distract me than Carter.

I flipped on my nightstand light and slid my thumb across the screen before his face lit up my phone.

"Hey," I whispered, my voice scratchy from the lack of use.

"Hey," he said back lazily. Looking at me sleepily in a way that made me want to kiss him. "I haven't talked to you all day."

I beamed. I missed him too.

"I liked watching you today," I said, not ready to admit the vulnerable truth.

He laughed at that and I knew if he was here he would have hooked his arm around my neck and kissed the side of my head. But since he wasn't he settled on saying, "that's a scary line, you creep."

Since he was always ruining the moment I rolled my eyes and mocked his laugh. He was so fucking annoying.

"You're a real comedian, you know that?" I said dryly.

He shook his head, a smirk still on his face. "I saw you talking to my sister."

"Yeah," I said curiously. "Speaking of that, what the hell did you tell your family about me? And why is your mom planning our wedding?"

He snorted.

"I may have told them about you," he admitted.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "So what exactly did you say?"

"Well... I told them how annoying you are, how you're a slow walker-"

"I'm not a slow walker, you just have long strides."

Ignoring my comment, he continued. "I may have mentioned how you ran away from me after I made you come. How you can't keep your hands off me at all, which honestly I happen to get," he said oh so humbly. "I also told them that you're a bad dancer. Which I know you don't want to admit, but is true."

I scoffed. "Really? You told them all of that?"

"Yep."

"And your mom thought, man, she's perfect for my son?"

"Yep."

"Are you lying?"

"Yep," he replied. And I couldn't help but smile. "What she really said was that you sounded like a psycho and what you needed was some serious help. She also encouraged me to get my head checked for sticking by your side."

I hummed in the back of my throat, to cover up my threatening laugh. "So why are you with me again?"

"Well," he spoke through a sigh. "I pity you."

My amusement came free at that. "I could shake you right now."

"Spencer!" he admonished. "I can't believe you. We've been dating for a week and you want to get physical with me?"

I groaned as I bit my lip. "Yeah. There's something about your face that just brings it out in me."

He sighed and shook his head with fake disappointment.

"Fine," he said somberly. "If you really need to come over... to get physical? I'll be here. Waiting. In my bed."

"Aww," I grumped through a grin. "Fuck you."

He sighed again. "I just care about you Spencer. I want you to get what you need. And if what you need is to come over to my place, maybe sit on my-"

"Okay," I yelled through my surprised laugh, effectively cutting him off. "Don't worry about me, I know some people who can take care of my needs."

His eyebrow raised. "If you were here right now I'd spank your ass for that."

I stuck my tongue out like a child. In a na na na na boo boo sort of way.

"Good thing I'm not then."

"I'll remember this," he told me.

My body warmed. I hoped he did.

"Okay Carter, it's not like I'm not afraid of you."

He bit back a smile.

"Good," he said. "I don't think fear was the feeling I was going for. If you know what I mean."

I bit my lip, a tortured strangled noise escaping my throat. "God, you're insufferable."

"Only for you."