Sophie & Carter Read Online Free Page A

friends, or whatever. But tonight I decide to do something unusual. I know, even before I move, that I might scare him back into his house. But I don’t care.
    I reach over and put my hand on his.
    Not seductively.
    Without expectations.
    He turns his hand over to grasp mine.
    And we sit, silent and connected at the hand, for long minutes, staring at the dark street.
    I’m happy.

CARTER
     
     
    I’m not sure what to do with Sophie. What to say or how to act. I know she cares about me, and that’s more than I deserve. So I hold her hand.
    If that’s what she’ll share with me, then I’ll take it. She is incredible and I’m lucky to have her in my life. Her hand is cold and small, and fits perfectly in mine. I look down at our hands for a moment.
    I know I should go back home and let her get some sleep. I will.
    I’m stalling, though, because I’m too tired to face the picture of my mom out cold and drooling on the couch. But also because I’m so warm and content on the swing with Sophie. She smells like apples and makes me forget about the junk in my life.
    “It gets better, it has to.” Sophie’s talking about life, in general. I envy her positivity and wish I could think the way she does.
    “It will, Sophie. You will have a wonderful life.” I mean it. She’s amazing and will find a way to make her life beautiful.
    She looks at me and this time I look back at her. She’s so pretty it breaks my heart. Her nose is small and round and her eyelashes are long and dark, feathering against her little girl face. I softly squeeze her cool hand and feel her fingers against my skin.
    Touching her makes me realize just how very small she is.
    When I watch her throughout the day she seems so…strong…so capable and independent.
    Sometimes I forget she’s just a girl. Just a girl with tiny hands and big responsibilities.
    I look at her closely and my chest hurts. Everything about her is small and delicate. How could a mother abandon this girl?
    The man who is my father told me what Sophie’s mom was when I was eleven, but I didn’t understand what that meant back then.
    The reality of Sophie’s situation didn’t kick in until I was thirteen. The man who is my father had just beat the crap out of me with a two-by-four and I was trying not to cry in my room when I heard Sophie scream.
    Looking out my window I saw a big, unfamiliar man standing in Sophie’s room, looking like King Kong, while her mom flittered about in front of him trying to shield Sophie.
    I noticed Sophie’s window was open so I cracked mine to eavesdrop.
    “I already paid you! Now, move and I’ll give you double for the girl.” King Kong’s voice was booming and full of spit.
    “Back off! You got what you came for so leave!” Sophie’s mom’s voice was shaking.
    “I’ll leave when I please! Now move!” King Kong took a step toward Sophie, who shrieked in response.
    I was ready to jump out of my window and run over to Sophie’s. I didn’t know how I was going to protect her, but I was gonna try.
    “Get out of my house or I’ll call Pete and have the boys maim you!” Sophie’s mom looked like an ant compared to the giant man.
    Sophie was crying.
    I was terrified.
    King Kong said nasty things and lunged for Sophie, grabbing her by the hair. Sophie’s mom disappeared and returned with a gun, aimed and ready to shoot, so King Kong dropped Sophie and stormed out.
    Sophie’s mom said sorry, or some other insufficient nonsense, and left the room too. I watched Sophie stay tucked into the corner of her bed, with three blankets over her head, and shake for hours.
    That was the night I decided Sophie needed protecting. And if I couldn’t protect my mom, then I was going to protect the girl next door.
    Sophie’s voice brings me back to the swing. “We will both have wonderful lives, Carter.”
    I nod because she wants me to and because I want to believe her. I wish I had money or power or affluence, so I could make her dreams come