Free Playing With Fire by Ashley Piscitelli Page B

them have turned out really well. Even Anthony, although sometimes I wanna
    duct tape his mouth closed.” I had to laugh at that. ”He really cares a lot about you.”
    “I care about him a lot, too, probably more than you know.”
    “That’s good to hear.”
    I heard the bathroom door and Carter yelled out to me that he was done. “Well, I’m going to go get in the shower. Thank you again for everything, I really had a great time here.”
    “You're welcome here anytime, honey.”
    I couldn’t resist it. I went over and gave his dad a hug. “Good night.”
    “Good night, sweetheart, and happy birthday again.”
    “Thank you.”
    When I got out of the shower and went into the room, Carter was already in bed. I climbed in and snuggled up to him. “Did you have a good birthday?”
    “I had the best birthday I have ever had. Truthfully, it has probably been the best day of my life.”
    “Good, I’m glad.” He leaned down and gave me a kiss.
    A few minutes passed and I thought maybe now might be a good time to talk about Chris. I hadn’t wanted to do it at dinner earlier. I still wasn’t ready to tell Carter everything, but I needed to let him in; he deserved it. “Carter, did you still want to talk”
    No answer.
    “Carter?”
    I looked up at him and he was asleep.
    “Good night, Carter...I love you.”
    . . . .
    I woke up the next morning feeling out of it. This was just great. I was getting sick. I slept most of the ride back to campus. Carter walked me to my room, and only agreed to leave because Nicole was there.
    I usually loved how Carter always wanted to be around me, but not when I’m sick. I know he was waiting for me to bring up Chris, too. He gets back tomorrow afternoon, and I am dreading that conversation.
    I barely made it through all my classes Monday. I was so sick, all I wanted to do was sleep. Chris called when he got back into town but once he knew I was sick, he said he was staying away from me. However, Carter was regularly dropping off tea and soup to me. He made me so unbelievably happy. By Wednesday, I was feeling better and asked Chris if he would come over to talk to me after my classes. Carter had work tonight and tomorrow night, and Nicole had gotten me a part time-job and my first shift was tomorrow.
    Chris met me outside my last class and we walked to my room together. Nicole said she would stay out till later tonight.
    “So, what was so important that you needed me to come over, Madison?”
    I was so scared; I wish Carter could have been here with me. I knew that would have made it so much worse, though. “Chris I…I just…I don’t want to do this anymore.”
    His head snapped up and he glared at me. “Do what exactly?”
    “Us. I want to break-up.” There, I said it.
    He walked over to me and stood in front of me. “Does this have something to do with Carter James?”
    “I’m sorry, Chris, but yes.” He slapped me across my face. That was going to leave a mark.
    ”You are not going to leave me, Madison.” He pushed me onto the ground.
    “This is not what is going to happen!”
    Kick in the ribs.
    ”Especially not for someone like Carter.”
    Kick in the back.
    He leaned down and wrapped his hands around my throat. “I already told my parents you were coming home with me for winter break. You will not make a fool out of me. Do you understand?”
    I could only nod my head. I was starting to get lightheaded and I felt like I was going to pass out. He took his hands off of my neck and I struggled to be able to breathe normally.
    “Now, you are going to talk to that asshole on Friday and tell him that you chose me, right?” I nodded again. “If you think about trying to trick me, Madison, just remember that I now have a license to carry. In Carter’s case, that means I have a license to kill.”
    No! I won’t let him hurt Carter. I’m not sure how I’m going to do this to him, but I have to. It was easy avoiding Carter; I pretended I was still sick, and he