Chapter 5: A Heart Set Free (or Broken)

"But we’ve troubled Carter long enough. Riley should go home now," my mom said, changing the subject. Her voice was gentle, but there was a firmness to it.

Carter’s smile faded a little, but he remained polite, looking down at his coffee and saying no more. My dad changed the topic to family matters, launching into a story about Uncle Henry’s latest escapade. Carter responded perfunctorily, nodding, offering the occasional “Mm-hmm.”

Left aside, I whispered to Quinn, nudging her, lowering my voice. "What’s going on?" I asked quietly. She leaned in, glancing around to make sure no one was listening.

Quinn whispered back, "Professor Simmons recently divined that, although you aren’t the destined Queen, you’re still a lucky star. Being with you increases fortune." She looked at me, eyes wide. “You’re the town’s new good luck charm!”

I looked at the oldest and second boys at the door. They hovered in the hallway, peeking in with hopeful expressions. No wonder they chased me—wanting to use my status again.

I rolled my eyes. Some things never change. Thinking of recent events, I realized why so many people came to Carter’s house with gifts. They wanted a piece of my supposed luck. It was almost flattering.

Then my parents started discussing my marriage. I groaned inwardly. Here we go again. My mom had recently picked out a guy for me in the family. She’d shown me his picture, listing all his good qualities. Not flashy, but with great looks and character—reliable for the family. She said he’d make a good husband, steady and dependable.

Hearing this, Carter finally spoke: "Riley." He cleared his throat, looking at me with unreadable eyes. I was fretting about how to refuse my mom’s offer, thinking Carter would help me, but he said, "If that’s the case, you should head home and get married soon. Don’t let your mom down."

My jaw dropped. Was he really siding with them? I froze. Time seemed to stand still. I stared at him, searching for a hint of a joke.

I stared wide-eyed at Carter. My eyes filled with tears, but I refused to let them fall. He was actually sending me back to get married? The words echoed in my head, sharp and cold.

Somehow, my eyes turned red, and big tears fell. I tried to blink them away, but they spilled over anyway.

"Carter, don’t regret this." My voice shook, but I forced myself to sound strong.

Carter met my eyes. Seeing my tears, he only paused for a second, then said calmly, "Of course not." He looked away, face unreadable.

Fine, stay aloof. I bit my lip, anger and hurt swirling inside me. Ignoring my parents and Quinn’s attempts to stop me, I ran off in anger, bolting down the hall, slamming the door behind me.