I woke up to an empty bed.

I yawned as I stretched, feeling a tiny ache between my thighs. I crawled over the bed, wincing a bit at the pain, before pulling my underwear back on. I was already wearing Carter's big t-shirt and I only pulled on a pair of his sweatpants because I didn't know if Bryce was here.

I cracked the door open and stuck my head out. Peering down the hall. Suddenly feeling nervous.

It wasn't like we talked a lot after the act. In fact it was quiet. And I couldn't tell if that was a good or bad thing.

I walked down the hallway, with Carter's long ass sweats trailing behind me on the floor.

When I hit the kitchen Carter was shirtless. Forearms pressed into the counter, like he was deep in thought.

I didn't really know what he was doing so I waited for him to acknowledge me. Standing there and leaning against the wall.

Eventually his head came up and he lifted and extended his arms a little wider as he focused on me.

And like the lovesick fool I was becoming, I couldn't deny him. I moved towards him, shoving my face against his chest, my arms wrapping around his waist.

He gripped my hair before I felt his chest move in time with his words.

"You okay Spencer?" he asked softly.

I nodded as I breathed him in. "I'm okay."

"You promise?"

"I promise," I whispered.

I felt tension slide away from his body at that. And the pit in my stomach only hollowed.

***

Carter took me to lunch since we had slept in. I went to this lunch in his clothes since I didn't want to wear the halloween costume in broad daylight.

I wore a baggy sweatshirt and sweatpants that had been rolled up so many times I looked like a child. I almost ordered Carter to take me home so I could change but he liked it. And of course he would. They were his clothes.

I was also wearing his slides that were 5 sizes too big. I looked dumb as fuck and yet I trailed along behind him like a puppy. Too far gone to even care at this point.

We went to Lucy's and I got a milkshake and a huge chicken sandwich. Now I was and had always been a girl who could put it away but after last night I was really putting it away.

Carter didn't seem to mind. Probably because if he liked my body, this was the only way to keep it.

My phone was flipped up on the table when it started ringing.

I slid it into my hand and my dad's FaceTime profile picture filled the screen.

I groaned as I started to slide it in my pocket.

Knowing he was most likely going to chew me out, I'd decided to call him back later.

"You're ignoring your dad?" Carter asked.

I shook my head. "No... I'm ignoring his lecture about not calling home enough," I told him.

He smiled at that as I continued. "Plus I'm pretty sure my dad knows who you are. He's a basketball guy. And if he saw you he would either be a fan or start interrogating you. Maybe both. Two things you don't want."

"Parents love me. It's cool," he said.

I squinted my eyes at him. Carter not realizing what he just gave away.

He was lucky I wasn't the jealous type because I knew once basketball season started it would only get crazier.

"I'm not introducing you to my parents unless we're more defined, Bozo," I told him as I took another huge bite of my sandwich.

Carter started coughing at that, looking at me sideways as he reached for his water.

Feeling myself warm, I backtracked. "I mean, I'm not asking for you to like marry me or something," I laughed nervously. "I was kidding and-"

"Do you want more defined Spencer?" He asked harshly, cutting off my stupid rambling.

And I paused. I didn't know what I wanted.

I wanted to do the right thing. And I knew what the right thing to do was. I knew how to fix this. How to make things right again. Realign the world. Make it so he'd find his way back to his universe and I'd circle back to mine.

But the selfish part of me wanted something else.

I felt my mouth opening and closing in a panic. My brain wasn't computing and I must have taken too long because Carter got there before me.

"Spencer, I want more. I want you to be mine. But I make one move and you're scared as hell. Literally, I see it all over you," he told me, sounding serious. "We're going slow because I think you need that, but I don't want to be undefined with you. I just want you."

And then I felt it again. Fuck. There it was. The dreaded tingle. Nagging at my ribs, intertwined with hope. And it was so strong I couldn't deny it. That incessant longing.

So when I turned to Carter and made the second biggest mistake of my life at least I could say I was happy doing it.

***

I was currently sitting on our now old and misshapen rug at my apartment. Watching Lena run around me in circles as I laughed. Knees to my chest laughter.

"Like what is this a movie? No one's ever beat up a guy for me, carried me away, only to bring me to his place where we have sex." Lena cried once I finished giving them the lowdown. "Seriously, how romantic."

I scratched my head at that. I wasn't sure if that was my idea of romance. Carter pulled it off but that was because I liked him. Anyone else and it would have gone horribly wrong.

"I wish my first time was that interesting. I just cried," Carson said from next to me.

"You did?" I asked.

"Yeah. It hurt like a bitch."

I shrugged at that. Knowing I could relate.

Lena jumped off the couch again, her excitement still bouncing off the walls. "Spencer, I can't believe your magic pussy landed you a boyfriend. Teach me your ways."

I snorted as I shoved her off me. "You're so fucking annoying."

"I don't think you get it. I'm living through you. This is the most exciting thing that's happened in months," she exclaimed.

I could even feel Carson's excitement radiating off her as well. And she was the calmer one of the two.

"You guys are acting like it's shocking."

"Well you are locked up tight Spence. We're just happy for you. That you're letting someone in. And that he's not an asshole. Most college athletes are Spence, trust me I'd know."

Curious to see if that was really how she felt, I asked, "so... does that mean you're finally done with Foster?"

Her face screwed up. "I said I'm done, that means we're done."

I made a face in return and my eyes caught Lena's on the way back.

"I'm serious. I got stuck but I'm not now. We just aren't a good match. And maybe..." She said trailing off. "Maybe at first we were but now... I mean just by looking at you with Carter and hearing you talk, I know I haven't felt like that about him for a while."

I put my hand to her back. Agreeing softly.

"Carter's got some cute friends. And I'm going to a game of his in a few days so maybe I can introduce you guys to some of them," I told them to lighten the mood.

"Perfect," Lena said. "I'm not really a basketball girl but if they're cute I'll make an exception. Plus it's been a while for me."

Carson tilted her head at that. Making another face.

"Okay fuck you, it's been a like half a year," Lena retorted as I got off the floor, shaking my head.

I had to pee and these two could argue for hours about nothing.

"It's been a month," Carson said.

"So I miscounted, not a big deal."

I heard their voices trail off in the distance and I slammed the door behind me hoping they would shut up.

Knowing them though, they wouldn't. They were like kids, the two of them. Usually I just let them go until they burnt out.