Chapter 9 Lying to yourself
Just when Carter was about to lay down on his bed to relax, he heard the doorbell ring. He furrowed his brows and looked at the time on his wristwatch.
It was just 5.p.m, and Arthur would never come back home that early on a weekday.
Heaving a tired sigh, Carter got out of bed and headed to the living room to get the door. Looking through the peephole, his eyes widened as he saw Derick at the door.
‘What is he doing here?’ He thought as he went ahead to open the door.
“Mr. Derick.” Carter called, stepping aside so he could come in.
“Hi Carter. I’ve always told you to just call me Derick.” He retorted, shutting the door behind himself.
“Ummm… Yes.” Carter answered, bowing his head slightly. “Are you here to see Mr. Arthur? He’s yet to return from work.” He added, and Derick nodded, walking to the couch and taking his seat.
“Yes, I’m aware. I didn’t come to see him. I came to see you.” He answered with a grin, locking his gaze with Carter’s.
“Oh…” Carter answered, unsure of what else to say to him. “What should I get you? Juice? Wine?…”
Before he could finish talking, Derick cut him short by tapping the couch he was sitting on.
“Please sit, Carter. That’s what I want.” He muttered, causing Carter to swallow hard. He nodded softly as he settled next to Derick on the couch.
“I’ve missed you so much, Carter. I came back to town this early because I wanted to see your face again” He uttered, reaching for Carter’s hand, but Carter slowly moved away, preventing him from touching his hand.
Derick gulped hard and nodded, lowering his head. “I know I hurt you, Carter, and I’m sorry. I truly am.”
Carter shook his head and answered; “You don’t have to be sorry. It’s a long time ago. Let’s just forget about it.” He stood up and put on a feeble smile.
“No, Carter. Let’s not forget it. I must confess I was stupid and unsure about what I wanted. But now, I know that I want you, Carter.” Derick added, also approaching Carter.
“It’s not that easy, Derick. We were in a relationship and you left me for a woman. I don’t blame you. You’re Bi, and I’m Gay, but you should have respected me and told me about it. It wasn’t nice finding out about it.
“And trust me, we are both adults now. We don’t have to do this.”
“No, but I want to! I was young and stupid back then, okay? But now anymore. I want you back, Carter, and I’ll do anything to win you back. Please. Give me another chance.” Derick insisted, finally getting the chance to hold his hands.
“You are Thirty, Derick. Your parents are waiting for you to bring home a wife and start a family. You come from a homophobic family, there’s no way this is going to work, okay? I’m old enough to avoid any more problems.” Carter answered, about to snatch his hand from him, but Derick held unto him firmly.
“I don’t care. Like you said, I’m thirty, and I can make my own decisions now. Please, let me make it up to us.” Derick begged, closing the gap between them.
Their gazes became heated up, and Carter’s eyes fell on Derick’s lips.
He missed those plump lips so much. But he wasn’t going to make it easy for him, not after he shattered his heart into uncountable pieces seven years ago.
“Carter?!” They heard Aurora call, causing Carter to hastily move away from Derick. They looked up and saw Aurora standing in front of the stairs, staring at them with a grin on her face.
“You’re here, Mr. Derick.” She uttered with a grin.
“Yes. But he was just leaving.” Carter answered, walking to where Aurora stood.
Derick let out a wide smile and nodded. “I was just leaving. How are you today? I hope you’re enjoying yourself here.” He answered, and Aurora scoffed.
“You know I am not.” She responded, walking to the couch and sitting on it.
“Can I spend a few minutes talking to Aurora before I leave?” Derick asked, looking at Carter and waiting for his permission.
He heaved a sigh and nodded. “I’ll get you juice.” He responded, walking away.
“I’m sorry for Arthur’s behavior. I know he can be unbearable sometimes.”
“Not sometimes. Everytime, Derick.” Aurora answered, shaking her head.
“True, but I want you to understand that it’s because of his past. He has been through some things that made him so cold. So things he and only him can share.” Derick further explained, but Aurora shrugged.
“I don’t care, Derick. I just can’t wait to leave this place.”
“And you will, okay? I’m sorry.”
“Enough of talking about Arthur. Let’s talk about you and Carter. I have noticed some things between you two. Are you two together?” Aurora asked in excitement, making Derick to chuckle.
“I wish. We were once together… seven years ago. But I ruined it and now, I regret it.” He explained with his head lowered in sadness.
“You ruined it?” Aurora retorted emotionally, and Derick nodded, raising his head to look at her again.
“I cheated on him with a girl. I was Bisexual, but I kept it from him. We were so in love, but because I was young and was scared about the future, I hurt him.” He told, lowering his head in regret again.
“Aww… Carter is like the sweetest man ever! I mean, sometimes I wish he was the one I was being a surrogate for. It would have crushed him.” Aurora responded, and Derick nodded.
“I want him back, but I don’t know what to do. I don’t even know how to convince him that I love him and I want to spend the rest of my life with him. It’s been three years since I have been wanting to get back together with him, but he’s not letting me at all.”
Aurora kept quiet for a few minutes, staring at Derick as he spoke.
‘How is his friend so passionate about someone, and he’s as cold as ice?’ She wondered, feeling sorry for Derick.
“Can you please help me talk to him, Aurora? I swear, I won’t hurt him anymore.” He added, and just then, Carter walked back to the living room with a tray in his hand. On the tray were two glasses of juice.
Placing the glasses on the center table, he turned to leave, but Derick hastily grabbed his hand, causing him to lock his gaze with him again.
“I love you, Carter, and I’m ready to fight to have you by my side again. I will do whatever it takes to make you fall in love with me again.” He uttered, and without hesitation, he planted a kiss on Carter’s hand.
Carter looked at Aurora in embarrassment, but Aurora smiled sweetly at him.
“You’re so cute together.” She whispered, making Carter roll his eyes and smile. He withdrew his hand from Derick and smiled feebly.
“I’ll leave you two now.” He answered, walking away. After he was out of sight, Derick and Aurora exchanged looks.
“That’s a good start. Don’t worry. He’ll fall in love with you again.” Aurora assured him, and Derick nodded with a chuckle.
They kept talking about his love for Carter and how challenging yet beautiful their relationship was. They talked about many other things until Arthur returned from the office.
As soon as he entered and saw Aurora, she stood up and moved closer to Derick.
“I’ll be in my room. It was so nice talking to you, Derick. I hope you get what you want.” She whispered, planting a soft kiss on his forehead before walking away.
This caught both Derick and Arthur off guard.
“What was that?” Arthur asked, furrowing his brows. Derick quickly shook off his surprised expression and smiled widely.
“She kissed me. Wasn’t that clear enough?” Derick asked, placing one of his legs on the other.
“I know what she did. But why was she kissing you?” He further interrogated. He seemed pretty invested in this conversation, and this made Derick excited.
“Why can’t she kiss me? She is not your girlfriend. Or are you jealous?” Derick teased.
Arthur scoffed and shook his head. “You wish. Stay away from her, okay?” He retorted, slamming into the couch.
“Why?!”
“Because I don’t want her to start thinking she has a place here because she now knows my friend.” He answered, pulling off his tie.
“Not everything is about you. You say that to me all the time. Are you sure this is the only reason why you’re so mad at me right now?” Derick further teased, causing Arthur to clench his jaws.
“Yes! Okay?!” He answered angrily, causing Derick to burst into laughter.
“You can keep lying to yourself. Not me, Arthur.”