Chapter Seventeen

"How could you do this to me?!" Carson yelled at Cole.

He was still upset with Cole for not inviting him to Wyatt's lake house. He was not particularly fond of the guy, but he had to be there. No, he needed to be present. How else could he know Wyatt was keeping his hands to himself? Respecting Savannah's space, which he knows she will want. He knew he needed to do the right thing and not show his ass. But it was just him and Cole now. He had no problem expressing his feelings in front of him.

Carson felt like the entire situation was stacked against him. Cole knew how he felt about any guy pursuing Savannah. Why would they invite her to spend the entire weekend with one of them? Carson saw this as the ultimate sign of betrayal, despite his willingness to forgive him almost immediately. Cole was his brother, but he was also his best friend. Carson could never be mad at someone for long. Especially since Cole consistently used logic against him.

Cole chuckled. "Oh, don't be dramatic," he said as they made their way back to the house.

"I'm being dramatic!" Carson yelled. "You're sending Savannah to a dog."

Cole shook his head. "Wyatt isn't like that you dipshit and Savannah seems to enjoy his company as well."

"Duh, that's the problem," Carson whined. "She shouldn't be enjoying his company." His voice softened.

He shouldn't be making a big deal about this, but he couldn't help it. The prospect of sharing her with anyone else was daunting. Was it selfish of him to want Savannah for himself? Maybe, but he could not resist. She was his first, and Wyatt was attempting to swoop in with his flashy cars and family-owned clubs. How was he supposed to be Savannah's friend when Wyatt was right there?

Cole sighed. "None of this would happen if you just man the fuck up," he told Carson.

He sneered. "You're ridiculous," he said rolling his eyes.

"It's true. You're afraid of something that you so desperately seek," Cole explained. "Your potential is limitless, but you fail to see it."

"You're only saying that cuz you're my brother."

"And because I believe in you," Cole explained.

Cole's perception of his potential was false. There was nothing he could give Savannah that she could not get from anyone else. Carson felt he could not offer her anything special or worth her time. He was only good for what he gave her on occasion. That she appeared to appreciate.

Cole was correct in saying that he needed to man up and stop being a baby. It was just so hard. Carson has always struggled with everything. If he ever found the courage, would she be able to deal with him and the other facets he tried to hide from others? When he was at his peak, he was high. But when things were bad, oh, he was so down. Will Savannah be able to handle it while treating him the same? It was a toss-up, but Carson did not want to risk losing someone so important to him.

Regardless, he would never accept Savannah's decision to choose Wyatt. He was such a dud, and he will never know Savannah in the same way that he does now. Carson thought she needed someone fun and adventurous. Not some guy who owns everything through nepotism. He did not have to lift a finger or work a menial part-time job. Everything in life that helps to shape one's character. Maybe this is why Carson found him so boring.

"Just look out for her, will you?" Carson asked. More along the lines of demand.

Cole laughed at his brother's trepidation. "Bro, she's an adult. I'm sure she's not going to let Wyatt do anything she's not okay with."

He rolled his eyes because Cole did not understand the concept of reassurance. "You should say 'I got it, bro,' not that she can handle herself." Cole seemed to ignore all of his requests. First and foremost, he does not invite him on the trip. He now ignores his worry. Carson was beginning to suspect they were not truly brothers.

"If it helps you sleep at night then I'll watch out for her," Cole caved.

Carson smiled, not believing anything he was saying. Regardless, knowing Savannah was not the type to be taken advantage of provided some comfort. If she did not like you, she would say so without hesitation. Carson was aware of this, but he could also tell that Wyatt piqued her interest. From the cars to the club, Wyatt had made an impression on her. Carson departed and returned with nothing to show for it. How pitiful.

Who did look impressed with him was the very girl he was going to be alone with for a whole weekend. What could they possibly be up to that was not sexual? Maeve was difficult to manage when she was around other people. Carson could only imagine what she would be like alone. She may even try something Carson was unwilling to accept.

His fingers ran through his hair as he imagined being alone with Maeve for the weekend. "Do you realize you are leaving me alone with a sexual deviant?" He asked Cole because he wanted him to control the situation, but he couldn't.

“Yeah that did cross my mind,” Cole admitted with a sigh. “But you’re a big boy. You have more resolve.” He remained confident in his brother before looking at him. “You didn’t keep things sexual between you and Savannah right?”

Carson gave a nervous smile and scratched the back of his neck. “Well….”

"Carson, you fucking idiot," Cole said, annoyed.

“What do you want me to do? I can’t help that she’s attractive and so good in bed.” He smirked.

Cole grimaced. “Please stop talking about my friend like that. It’s as if you’re describing sex with my sister.” He feigned gagged.

Carson laughed. "Then she would be my sister as well, which is strange," he explained. “And it’s not like you hesitated to ask out Violet, you hypocrite.”

Carson knew he had Cole the moment he saw his cheeks turn red. Cole's crush on Violet lasted as long as he could remember. Surprisingly, he had not communicated with her while they were away. However, Cole, like Carson, felt that the distance would make it too difficult and refrained from reaching out. Now he was taking her to a lake house as if it were a double date. Why couldn’t Carson be that confident?

“That’s different. I’m not sleeping with her,” Cole argued. “And I’m not afraid to admit my feelings to myself.”

Carson scoffed. "Whatever. Just say you enjoy adding labels to your relationship and move on."

Cole chuckled as they made their way up. “It’s not about the labels Car,” he said with a sigh. “It’s not even about committing. I simply embrace my feelings for Violet openly."

“So, you’re saying I don’t do that with Savannah?” Carson questioned as he attempted to illustrate the difference.

“Exactly.”

Carson couldn’t argue with him because he realized that may be true. Any time he refers to Savannah it’s always as his best friend. He never considered admitting that there is more to it. He does not regard Savannah solely as a friend or confidant. There were numerous other underlying emotions at play. She was much more than Carson let on. It’s always been that way so why couldn’t he admit it?

Every time he thinks about it, his chest tightens and his mind fills with ridiculous questions. Like, could he be a good partner? Was he to meet Savannah's every need? What if he fails to please her romantically? Could their potential failure jeopardize their relationship? Will he be able to trust himself enough to keep his focus solely on her?

These were the thoughts that plagued his mind whenever he considered feeling something more for Savannah. So, rather than dwelling on it, he would push them aside, telling himself that they were just friends, and that was enough for him. But what if this is not enough?

Nonetheless, Carson maintained his stance because he did not want to face the worst. “You’re wrong. Our friendship is as strong as it has always been, and it will remain that way." He reassured himself more than Cole.

Cole, of course, did not believe that. “Do you think that’s how she wants things to stay?” He asked him honestly. He didn’t want to reveal too much. This was simply a test to see how his brother was thinking.

Carson, on the other hand, never considered the situation in that light. He never thought to ask her if she had any feelings for him other than friendship. Assuming she was willing to sleep with him so frequently, she may have had other feelings about him. Was this Cole's way of telling him to talk about it? There is also a chance he was playing him, and Carson did not want to look stupid for falling for the bait.

"Yes. She…she doesn’t feel that way,” Carson brushed off. “Does she?” His curiosity could not be suppressed.

Cole laughed, not wanting to give anything away. “It was a rhetorical question don’t sweat.” He managed to calm him down. "But if she did, which is a big if, what would you do?"

He looked at Cole, disliking the hypothetical scenario. What would he do if Savannah came to him and expressed her desire to date him? He could not possibly reject her, but he did not know what to say. He has never had to deal with anything like this before. Carson feared that if he could not even admit anything to himself, he would screw everything up with his words alone.

“Well shit Cole, I don’t know.” He became slightly agitated. "Can we not do this hypothetical bullshit? I still have a weekend to figure out.”

Cole rolled his eyes. “You’re so hopeless sometimes.” He remarked. “Just keep your dick in your pants and everything will be fine.”

"Easy for you to say. She’s not coming on to you,” he said plopping down in a chair. “I can’t just ignore her advances but I know Savannah would be upset if she found out.”

Cole looked at him with disbelief. "You knew she would be upset, but never considered why?" Was Carson really this slow? He wondered.

Carson shrugged his shoulders. “I just assumed it was the same way I felt. I don’t want to lose my friend.” He was honest. “Especially not to that pompous asshole.”

Cole laughed at his idiotic brother. “You barely know the guy and yet you judge him based on him coming from a little money.”

He laughed because Wyatt did not just come from money. The guy was wealthy. His family was far too wealthy to live where they did, and it was evident in everything the guy owned. Carson could not look at Wyatt without thinking he was a show-off. Or perhaps his mind was clouded by the prospect of him going after Savannah. He had not competed for her attention since the Inglewood guy asked to kiss her. Even so, he swooped in and gave her the first kiss she desired. He has always been a jerk who is jealous.

“A little money? The guy rides around in a Rolls Royce,” Carson embellished. “That’s more than a little money.”

Cole shook his head with defeat. “Either way you can’t be jealous nor can you sleep with Maeve.”

“What can I do exactly?” Carson wondered.

Cole rested his hand on his shoulder as he passed by him. “Be a good boy.”

Carson smirked as he watched Cole walk down the hall toward his room. “No promises!” He yelled at him, eliciting a laugh.

Carson would try to be good, but with Maeve, anything was possible.