My Boyfriend Faked His Death, So I Married Someone Else Chapter 07
I thought I’d never see Carter again.
Then two weeks later, I was picking out groceries at the supermarket, and there he was.
“Buying chicken wings? Gonna make honey BBQ chicken wings?” Carter glanced into my cart.
He smirked. “Avery, after all these years, that’s still the only thing you know how to make.”
When we were dating, he said he wanted me to cook for him.
I knew nothing about cooking. But I didn’t want to let him down.
So I picked a supposedly easy recipe. Learned it on the fly.
Burned a whole bag of wings before I got it right. Gave myself a blister on the back of my hand from hot oil.
Young Carter held my hand gently, put ointment on it.
He said my honey BBQ wings were amazing. Better than any restaurant. But he didn’t want me in the kitchen anymore.
“You should do something easier. Something that matters. You love art, right?” He’d hugged me, buried his face in my shoulder. “You should go abroad for an art degree. Open a gallery. Be a curator.”
“Live a beautiful, comfortable life. Make everyone jealous. Wake up to fresh lilies on your nightstand.”
I don’t remember how I reacted. Happy? Shy?
Doesn’t matter.
Years later, I’ve learned a lot of recipes. And I found someone who says everything I make is delicious.
I put the wings in my cart and turned to leave. Carter blocked me.
“What do you see in Dylan? He used to be so fat. How is he better than me?”
Maybe because no one else was around, Carter let his feelings show. “I still don’t get it. Why did you break up with me back then?”
“What did I do wrong? How did I mess up?” He stepped closer.
I looked up calmly. “Dylan treats me well.”
“I treated you well! Avery!” Carter’s forehead veins bulged.
He hadn’t changed much.
For a second, the man in front of me blurred with the high school boy in his uniform.
Yeah, young Carter treated me well too.
So well I thought we’d get married for sure.
Build a happy family.
“But Dylan believes me when I say.” I looked at his face, no longer young.
Too much time and emotion between us. Carter felt like a stranger.
“When did I not believe you?! When?!” Carter’s voice was fierce.
“The Kendra thing,” I said with a small smile.
Carter frowned. Took a long time to remember.
That little thing he thought didn’t matter.
But even today, even with scarred me standing in front of him, across all that time…
Carter still didn’t take my side.
Again.
He frowned, almost confused. “Avery, are you sure you’re not just biased against her?”
I smiled.
There was nothing left to say.