He wanted her to stand up for them. To stand up now and argue with him. He could handle hours of arguments with her, because at least then she’d be present in the relationship. The two of them, fighting for what they both deserved.

But this silent Molly? That he couldn’t handle, because it meant she didn’t goddamn care enough to try and save what they had.

And if she didn’t, then neither did he.

“Have a good trip, Molly, and drive safe.”

Carter headed to the fridge and grabbed a beer. He heard the front door close and leaned his head against the refrigerator door, taking in a few deep breaths.

When he came back into the living room, the key he’d given Molly lay on his coffee table.

He picked it up, looked at it in his hand, then heaved it across the room.

Chapter 34

“YOU’VE BEEN ONE hell of a frequent flier here the past week,” Bash said as he passed Carter another beer.

“I’m a big fan of basketball. And hockey.” He took several swallows of beer, ignoring the hot blonde who took a seat next to him. After she tried to get his attention several times, she shrugged and moved on down the bar.

“You also have satellite and a big-screen TV at home. Plus a fridge filled with beer.”

“But I enjoy your company so much.” Carter grinned at Bash.

Bash laughed. “Are you flirting with me?”

Carter snorted, then grabbed a couple of pretzels and his beer and made his way over to the pool tables to shoot a couple of games with a few of the guys in the bar.

This had been his second home ever since that night two weeks ago when Molly had shown up at his place and then left. Since he couldn’t work twenty-four hours a day, and he figured out after the first few nights that he couldn’t sleep, he came here at night and drank for a few hours, then went home and passed out.

He’d missed a few nights at the gym, and Rhonda was feeling a little neglected, but he was getting the job done at work, and that’s all that mattered. He intended to focus on his job from now on. Just his job.

“You look like shit.”

He looked up from the table to see Luke standing next to him.

“We can’t all be pretty like you, my friend.”

Luke shook his head. “And you could stand to have a burger and fries at Bert’s. Care to join me?”

“You on duty?”

“Just got off and saw your truck in the lot, so I thought I’d drop in and see if you were hungry.”

“Not really. How about a beer?”

“From the way you smell, any more beers and I’ll have to park in the lot, then pull you over for a DUI when you leave. Come on, man, don’t make me do that. Besides, I’m starving. Give me a break.”

Heaving a sigh, he hung up the pool cue. “Fine. Let’s go get a burger.”

Carter waved to Bash, then headed out to his truck.

“How about I drive?” Luke asked. “I’ll bring you back to your truck after we eat.”

“Okay. Will you run the siren?”

“Funny.”

He had to admit, when they walked into Bert’s, the smell of food made his stomach rumble. And maybe he hadn’t been eating much, but hey, a guy could survive just fine on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, pretzels, and beer, couldn’t he?

“And what are you two fine gentlemen up to tonight?” Anita asked as she came over.

“We’re up to two strong cups of coffee, two waters, and two of your best loaded cheeseburgers, with fries,” Luke said.

Anita grinned. “Comin’ right up.”

“How did you know what I wanted?”

Luke shrugged. “I didn’t. Told you I was hungry.”

They talked work until the food arrived, and by then, Carter was ready to dig in. By the time he’d had two cups of coffee and devoured his cheeseburger, he felt a bit more human again.

“Better?” Luke asked, taking a sip of coffee.

“A lot. Thanks.”

“No problem.”

“Bash called you, didn’t he?”

“Yeah. He said you were starting to resemble a snarling werewolf.”

Carter laughed. “That bad, huh?”

“Yeah. So what are you going to do about it?”

“About what?” Carter took another long drink of his coffee.

“You know what. Molly.”

He shrugged. “Nothing. I’m not going to go chasing after a woman who’s not willing to stand her ground and give us a chance. She’s not worth it.”

“Isn’t she?” Luke gave him a look over the rim of his cup.

“No. She ran back then, and she ran again. Why would I even bother?”

“Because you’re obviously in love with her, or you wouldn’t look this bad.”

“Thanks.”

“No problem. And when you’re in love with a woman, you chase her down and make her listen to you. You tell her you love her every day until it either sinks in, or you realize it’s never going to happen.”

“Yeah, I’m not that much of a glutton for punishment, buddy. No thanks.”

“How hard did you try to convince her to stay when she told you she was leaving?”

He paused, set the cup down. “Not at all.”

Luke rolled his eyes. “And now you’re drowning your sorrows because she left you? That makes you a major dumbass, my friend. A woman has to feel like you’d move heaven and earth to have her, you know.”

“I do know that. I was just trying to get out of her way.” None of what he said made sense. “Well, shit. I didn’t try hard enough, did I?”

Luke gave him a clueless look. “How the hell should I know? She’s gone, so obviously not.”

Carter wiped his mouth with the napkin. “This is bullshit. I need to find her and force her to listen to me. I love her, goddammit and she’s going to keep hearing it until it sinks in. She belongs here—with me.”

Luke’s lips curved. “That sounds more like you. Sad, drunken werewolf is definitely not a good look on you.”

“Whatever. Take me back to my truck.”

THIS WASN’T WORKING.

Molly could have sworn she’d settle in after two weeks in Oklahoma City.

Typically when she moved to a new city, she was filled with excitement. A new place, a new job, new places to eat and explore.