Chapter 4: Secrets and Speculation

06.

Lillian found out I’d forgiven Carter with just one line and planted her hands on her hips, exasperated: “Did he explain things with Natalie?”

I shook my head, guilt prickling: “I think they’re just friends, and Natalie has a boyfriend…”

“You know she has a boyfriend, so why wasn’t her boyfriend at the hospital with her?”

I hesitated, silent.

Lillian stomped her foot. “What kind of spell did he put on you? You’re going to get hurt.”

“He didn’t cast a spell. I just like him—a lot…”

Lillian gave up, rolling her eyes but looking a little less mad.

“You’ll regret it and end up crying, just wait.”

I get mad fast and forgive even faster. I took Carter off my block list.

Things changed between us in these tiny ways. The ice started to melt—he’d share more, talk about his day, even vent sometimes.

But he never actually said yes or no to my confession. Lillian said he was just keeping me on the hook, enjoying the attention. I disagreed—and chased after him even harder.

Carter became a campus legend at Franklin. His looks and off-the-charts SATs made him an instant star.

Every basketball game was packed. If I didn’t snag a seat early, I’d be left out in the hallway.

He was too popular. I saw plenty of gorgeous girls confess to him, but he shut them down, ice cold, every time.

We were in different majors. Every time I wanted to see him, I had to trek across campus.

He’d save me a library seat, explain calculus patiently while the smell of old books and the hum of laptop chargers filled the air.

Since I was always by his side, people whispered about us constantly.

One day, I overheard his roommate ask, “Hey Carter, is Aubrey from Computer Science your girlfriend?”

He just glanced up and said nothing. His roommate spotted me and called out, “Hey, sister-in-law!”

Carter neither confirmed nor denied it.

Secretly, I loved it.

Sometimes I’d walk with him across the quad, sunlight catching in his hair, and wonder if anyone else noticed how he’d carry my backpack or hand me his hoodie on chilly mornings. It felt like our secret—even though the whole campus was speculating.