When the three, totally unpassionate seconds were up, Eliza started to pull away, and I—

Yup.

It was all me.

I take full responsibility for it.

It was a stupid reflex.

It.

I had to reach for her chin, as if to keep her there. The second my fingers brushed her skin, I realized what I was doing, and brought my hand quickly down.

Eliza pulled away, trying to look shocked. It didn’t matter. Because Carter wasn’t looking at her. He was looking at me.

All I could feel for her, even though it was the least interesting kiss ever, was total awe, and wanting to protect her, and all the l-o-v-e crap. And I couldn’t keep my feelings off my face.

“Aww,” Madison cooed. I braced. She turned towards Austin, who lounged like everything was totally normal, and said in a loud whisper, “That was cute. Do you think it was the first time they’ve done that? I think they look adorable together.”

At which point the more excited players of our game started hollering and whooping at me.

“Shut up, Madison,” said Eliza.

But I was the one who’d seen Carter’s first reaction, before he sat back, expressionless. No matter how we tried to play it, how Madison tried to play it, how Eliza tried to play it, the game was over.

I never thought it would be because of me.

RULE NUMBER 19

A bro shalt not punch another bro in his face. Anywhere else is okay. Just not the moneymaker.

The glare on Carter’s face could cut a person down to nothing.

For a second, I almost believed he’d let it go and all my anxiety had been a waste. Except that he stood up and stomped over, pushing my shoulder so hard I fell back against the scratchy carpet.

“Outside,” he said.

Jeff gasped. Our teammates closed their mouths, and I tensed.

“Carter,” said Eliza.

He thudded up the stairs.

“Nick,” said Eliza. I was already bouncing after him.

He waited on the Karvotskys’ deck. Rain splattered on his face.

The chilly night gave me quick goosebumps, exacerbated by the rain. We were lucky it wasn’t snowing, a real possibility this time of year. I slowly slid the screen door closed.

Carter was on the edge of the deck, facing me. “How long has this been going on?”

“Carter—”

“You got a lot of nerve,” he said.

This was it, the moment I’d been deliberately avoiding for weeks.

Carter wasn’t born yesterday, and intelligence definitely runs in the O’Connor family. He knew what I was doing with his sister. He saw it. He’d caught us right in the middle of everything, of maybe, possibly, falling hard for each other, and there wasn’t much else I could say.

“You lied to me.”

Only by omission.

“Didn’t.”

“How long?!” he shouted. “You selfish prick.”

My hands began to tremble. “About a month.”

Carter didn’t reply. I continued, “I didn’t follow your directions, Carter. That’s not. A. Lie.” I stepped to the side, creating some more distance between us.