Second Thoughts by Cara Bertrand Read Free Book Online Page B

sometimes too?” I asked. I already knew the answer, but ithelped to hear out loud that your usually confident roommate had her moments of doubt too.
    â€œAlex doesn’t want
Caleb,”
she replied but then got serious. “Of course. Once in a while. Who doesn’t worry sometimes? But then he doesn’t…anyway. Yeah, sometimes I worry, but not very much.” I was about to ask her what she hadn’t finished saying when she got up and started to change out of her suit. I assumed she was getting ready for bed, but instead of pajamas, she pulled jeans and a sweater out of her dresser. After months last semester of spending at least one night a week in our room by myself, you’d think I’d have expected it, but somehow I never did.
    â€œSpeaking of Caleb…I guess you’re not staying here?”
    She winked. “Not until the sun comes up anyway.” It was well known around campus how easy it was to sneak in and out of someone’s room, but that you had to do it all before sunrise.
    I blurted out, “But your parents are here!” and then blushed at how foolish it sounded.
    Amy, as usual, laughed at my innocence. “Well, yeah, but it’s not like they’re sleeping in either of our rooms! I don’t think they’ll catch us from their hotel in Brattleboro.”
    The heat slowly dissipated from my face. “You’re right. Well, don’t wake me up when you come back.”
    â€œI never do.” She hesitated then, glancing at me several times while packing a few things into her bag. I should have known what it was about, because though she loved to tell me about her sex life, she knew I
didn’t
like to talk about mine, or the lack thereof. I also suddenly knew what she’d started to say earlier, something about how Caleb didn’t have many reasons to be tempted by other girls. It went
without
saying that Carter did have one big reason, one he’d enthusiastically pursued before meeting me, and one that, if not Alexis, any number of girls would be glad to pursue with him again.
    â€œLane,” she finally started but I interrupted her.
    â€œIf he’s waited this long, he’s not going anywhere.”
    She nodded emphatically. “I know that. I wasn’t saying he was. But…well, I see you together and I know how in love you are—really, it’s nauseating sometimes—so I just can’t figure it out. What
are
you still waiting for?”
    Good question. I looked at her for a long time before I finally gave the answer I’d wondered about myself.
    â€œA year,” I replied. “I’m waiting for a year.”

Chapter Five
    C arter was in an especially good mood throughout the weekend, between the store filled with customers and Senator Astor’s presence. He, more than anyone, looked forward to his uncle’s visits. Dan had been the one to teach Carter how to control his Thought Mover abilities and Carter looked up to him as almost another father-figure, different from his own father, or from Jeff Revell. Maybe more like another Jesus, if I was honest with myself. Carter didn’t just look up to him; he practically worshiped him.
    Saturday night found us at a very private table in a historic, upscale restaurant in Vermont that I didn’t even know existed. Usually students weren’t allowed to go so far off-campus, not without a parent or guardian, but I
was
with Senator Astor, so my permission from Headmaster Stewart had been instantaneous. I think she wished she’d been invited too.
    â€œI’m sorry your aunt couldn’t join us, Lainey,” Dan said shortly after we’d been seated.
    â€œMe too,” I told him, though I only half meant it. I did want to spend as much time with her as I could, but I didn’t really want her in the vicinity of the senator—my real uncle—any more than necessaryor she was bound to say something. “She wanted