Previously on Mysterious Attraction…

RECAP

*****

And this week…

While Lexie hashes it out with Reeves… Carter comes home to find Kelly has dinner cooking, and the table set for two.

Kelly enters the room in a slinky dress

Kelly: Hey, you’re home. (smiling brightly)

Carter: Yea…hey. (looks around confused)

Kelly comes over to him and kisses him

Carter: (pushing her away) Kelly…I can’t do this.

Kelly: Do what?

Carter: I can’t pretend anymore.

Kelly: Is it because of Lexie?

Carter: Why would you say that?

Kelly: I’m not stupid Carter, I saw the panic in your eyes when I showed up today. I saw how you looked at her.

Carter: Kelly I-

Kelly: And I heard you… I heard you tell her that you have to be with her.

Carter: Kelly….I’m sorry.

Kelly: You’re sorry?

Carter looks down

Kelly: How long?

Carter: Kelly?

Kelly: How long?

Carter: On and off for a year and a half.

Kelly: Oh my god. (doubling back, tearing up, gasping as she grabs her chest)

Carter: I didn’t want you to find out this way…

Kelly: Well…a year and a half…it seems like you didn’t want me to find out at all!

Carter: I didn’t want to have this conversation. I didn’t want to hurt you.

Kelly: That’s a bunch of bullshit, and you know it! I guess it was all a matter of time….before you retaliated. Silly me, I thought we actually moved past everything that happened between us.

Carter: Moved past what? Your betrayal? (glares at her) Come on Kell- you and I- we never should have gotten married. Only I was too stupid and blinded that I didn’t see it.

Kelly: See what?

Carter: (screams) That you never loved me!

Kelly: That’s not true! How can you say that!

Carter: It is true, it is. Deep down you know that it is.

Kelly: (crying) How could you possibly say that? After everything we’ve had together…after-

Carter: 5 MONTHS Kell…5 MONTHS of marriage and you couldn’t hack it.

Kelly: I understand I made a huge mistake. But it was just that…a mistake. I regretted it from the minute that it happened. And I’ve spent the last 3 years of my life trying to make it up to you…but you won’t let me in! And now I know why. You’ve been screwing your boss. I guess that’s how you pave a way for yourself, huh? She’s a classy board that Lexie….although I gotta say she lacks originality.

Carter: Don’t you dare. Leave her out of this.

Kelly: Oh I’m sorry are you offended by my insults of your mistress.

Carter: That’s funny…because she’s felt more like my wife then you ever have…

Kelly’s face drops and her face turns cold

Kelly: (dumbfounded and crying) I can’t believe you right now…who are you?

Carter: I’m the man who’s tired of being used as your punching bag…Besides your problem’s with me so like I said… leave her out of it.

Kelly: So what now…your just gonna leave me for her. What do you really think is gonna happen? I mean what do you really think you and New York City’s greatest mob princess are gonna get married and live happily ever. Carter, please if you were gonna cheat aim a little higher…

Carter: Oh you mean like you…when you nailed the first bartender you got your hands on.

Kelly glares at him

Carter: (paces the room) You have NO room to judge. You strayed first. This distance between us, you created it. So don’t you dare put that on me.

Kelly: You’re not exactly innocent here, Carter?

Carter: Who are you kidding here Kell- I fought for you. I fought like hell to put us back together. And against my better judgement against the feeling in my gutt, against my heart screaming to run…I stayed. And now I can’t figure out why. And in the grand scheme of things I can’t figure out why you wanted me to.

Kelly: Well I asked you to stay because I love you. And I thought you stayed because you love me. I thought we meant something to each other.

Carter: We did. And in a way I guess we still do. I do still love you Kell,  but-

Kelly: But what…why can’t we just put all this behind us and start over?

Carter: Because it’s not the same.

Kelly: But it can be…(reaches for him)

Carter: (moves away) No it can’t.

Kelly: Why not?

Carter: Because I’m in love with Lexie.

Kelly stops and looks up at him

Carter: I meant what I said to her…I have to be with her. Which means that we-

Kelly: Are you saying that you want a divorce?

Carter: I don’t see any other option at this point.

Kelly: I can’t believe this is happening, (hugs herself and sinks to the floor).

Carter: (kneeling down beside her) Kelly, I don’t want to hurt you. This wasn’t my intention. I didn’t seek Lexie out hoping to get back at you…meeting her was an accident and the attraction between us…it just…it just happened.

Kelly: I can’t hear this, (covers her ears).

Carter: I’m sorry, but I just…I think it was a sign that we’re better off apart. You weren’t the one for me, and I’m not the one for you.

Kelly: Speak for yourself.

Carter: Kelly…don’t do this ok? This is hard enough…

Kelly: But I love you…

Carter: No. I think you love the idea of me.

Kelly: No. I love you.

Carter: Well I’m sorry…but I just don’t feel it anymore.

Kelly: You don’t love me?

Carter: Like I said before we’ll always be linked in some way. But it’s not the same. So much has changed. I’ll always love you…but I’m just not…I’m just not-

Kelly: Just not what?

Carter: I’m just not in love with you anymore.

Kelly shuts her eyes tightly and buries her head in her knees as she sobs, sitting on the floor.

Kelly: (looking up at Carter) But you are in love with Lexie?

Carter: I am.

Kelly stands and walks away from Carter

Carter follows

Kelly:(turning back toward Carter)  And does she love you?

Carter: Yea, she does.

Kelly: She’s gonna break your heart.

Carter:(shaking his head) No she’s not.

Kelly: Yes she will. People like her…they only look out for themselves.

Carter: Well, then you don’t know Lexie.

Kelly: She’s gonna break your heart.

Carter: Well I don’t think so. But if by some chance she does, it’s a chance I’m willing to take.

Kelly: Why?

Carter: The risk is part of the reward. And I take my biggest risks when it comes to love. You should know that.

Kelly: I do (shakes her head in disbelief of Carter’s kind character) ….God if she thinks she’s getting you without a fight. She’s got another thing coming.

Carter: I don’t think you wanna go up against Lexie. She doesn’t like to lose.

Kelly: (smirking) Neither do I.

Carter: Kell- this isn’t a game, ok?

Kelly: Who’s laughing…

Carter: Kelly…

Kelly: In order for you to be granted a divorce, both parties have to want it, and well I don’t. I won’t sign the paperwork. I just won’t. (crosses her arms)

Carter: Kelly don’t go there. I don’t want this to get ugly. But it will, if it has to.

Kelly: (in a burst of anger) Well then you shouldn’t have cheated!

Carter: Neither should have you.

Kelly: (crying) Carter- please, please…I don’t want this. Please just give me one more chance.

Carter: Kelly it wouldn’t matter. We just- we don’t work anymore. It would just be like pouring salt in an old wound. It’d be more painful then anything. We’d be setting ourselves up for failure and I won’t do that to you or myself. I won’t give you false hope.

Kelly: But I don’t know what my life looks like without you.

Carter: Maybe that’s part of the problem. Instead of loving me, you leaned on me. Maybe it’s time you learn to depend on yourself.

Kelly: You’re the only man I ever loved.

Carter: Well maybe that just wasn’t enough…Look it’s getting late and I have someplace to be-

Kelly: Oh…I wonder where (laughs sarcastically)

Carter: I’ll have my lawyer draw up the papers…you’ll have them by tomorrow morning.

Kelly: (weeping) Carter?

Carter: Goodbye Kelly…I’m sorry… but trust me this is how it has to be. I have faith that one day you’ll be able to thank me.

Carter Exits

Kelly sinks to her couch, speechless, and crying.

*****************************************************************************

Lexie sits in her living room in front of her fireplace. She looks at her phone. No messages. She gets up and starts to pace the room.

Lexie’s Thoughts:

Ok deep breaths Lexie. He’s going to come back to you. He loves you. But she is still his wife and they have a lot to discuss. Oh god-What if she convinces him to stay with her again? What if you lose him? What if-

Carter: Hey-

Lexie’s snapped back into reality

Lexie: Hi, (smiles)

Carter: You ok?

Lexie: Yea.

Carter walks toward her and wraps his arms around her waist

Lexie: So how’d it go?

Carter: Hold that thought for a second, (kisses her).

Lexie smiles

Carter: It wasn’t the easiest thing I’ve ever done- but she’ll eventually learn why I did it. It was the best thing for the both of us.

Lexie nods

Carter: I called my lawyer he’s drawing up the papers as we speak, and we’ll both be faxed them by tomorrow morning.

Lexie: Wow. So this is really happening?

Carter: Yea it is…why? are you getting cold feet on me?

Lexie: Nope…Nice and toasty…I got my fuzzy slippers on (she smiles as they both laugh)

Carter: So…(he takes her hand and leads her over to the couch, sitting down and pulling her onto his lap) how was your talk with your dad?

Carter: Whoa. That’s progress…so what’d he think of you and me? Should I be watching my back for the rest of time?

Lexie: No. I’ll protect you. (Carter smiles at her) Besides I pretty much explained to him that as a grown woman making her own decisions…falling in love with you has been at the top of my list.

Carter: (smiles) Best decision you ever made.

Lexie: No argument here, (smiles and kisses him).

Stick with Mysterious Attraction…a lot more to come!

*I do not take any credit for any of the images used, all belong to their rightful owners!*

-<3-

***UPDATED***

There seems to have been a small glitch during posting, and the ending got cut off.  Full Chapter up now!

Sorry about that! 😀

Previously on Mysterious Attraction…

RECAP

And this week…

Reeves sits at his desk, his back to the door, he’s on the phone

Reeves: Yea well, make sure there’s no trace back to us, ok?…No I don’t care what you have to do, just get it done, and do it well.

Lexie stares in annoyance at his conversation

Reeves turns in his chair to find Lexie standing there, leaning against his door way

Lexie: Daily grind huh, dad? Ordering hits on people?

Reeves: (ignores her comment) It’s good to see you, princess.

Lexie: Don’t. You no longer have the right to call me that.

Reeves: I’m sorry. I was just trying to protect you.

Lexie: I do understand that. But your ways of protecting me are irrational, disgusting and suffocating. And I did not deserve that. Not from my father. I shouldn’t had to have feared for my life for no good reason.

Reeves: Lexie, I really truly am sorry. I would never intentionally hurt you. You know that right?

Lexie: I do. But it hurts either way dad. I just- I wish you would think for 5 seconds before you order your men to pull some stupid over-extravagant scheme.

Reeves: I know, I’m sorry you’re right, you’re absolutely right. I just wanted to get through to you. I wanted you to see the danger in all this.

Lexie: Yea well, mission accomplished.

Reeves: So I take it, I was right… Carter is Skully’s son?

Lexie: From what my people were able to dig up, yes.

Reeves: That son of a bitch! I’ll kill him! (paces the office in fury)

Lexie: (stops him) No. You won’t.

Reeves: What? Lexie…that bastard was using you…using you to get to me. No one uses my daughter!

Lexie: Dad. Dad! It wasn’t like that.

Reeves: Like hell it wasn’t! (screams with a venom hissed voice)

Lexie: It wasn’t! He didn’t know.

Reeves: And you’re seriously buying that? Lexie…come on…you know as well as I do that Skully’s next hit was only a matter of time. He’s been laying low for far too long! This is it! This is his retaliation!

Lexie: No. It isn’t … dad…Carter loves me.

Reeves: Lexie…of course he says that…your beautiful, and rich! It’s easy to lie about your feelings to  a beautiful girl! But what he doesn’t realize is that’s the last lie, he’ll ever tell. (about to leave his office in a rush)

Lexie: Dad stop! If you walk out that door…I swear to you…I won’t be around to watch as they haul you off to prison, but I will make sure that they do.

Reeves: (slowly turns around) Why are you protecting him? Is he threatening you? Blackmailing you?

Lexie: N0.

Reeves: Because if he is, you can tell me, we’ll fix it, whatever it is.

Lexie: No. I’m protecting him, because I love him. And because I know him. And because he didn’t know anything about Skully being his father. He had no clue.

Reeves: And you believe him?

Lexie: I believe him.

Reeves: I didn’t raise you to be naive, Lexie.

Lexie: No. But you did raise me to trust my gut. And my gut is telling me to follow my heart. And my heart is with him. So I am asking you, to back off. Let this go, and let me handle this.

Reeves: You know just because Carter doesn’t know, doesn’t mean Skully doesn’t.

Lexie: I really don’t think he does. I mean Carter’s mom is his biological mom, she must have been involved with Skully and didn’t want him to know about Carter. So she brought in another man to raise her son.

Reeves: Well just in case-

Lexie: Carter and I have it covered, we’ll look into things.

Reeves: Ok. But you promise me, promise me right now…that if you suspect anything…anything about anyone, if even the slightest detail doesn’t add up, promise that you’ll come to me, immediately.

Lexie: I will.

Reeves: Immediately Lexie. Don’t try and play the hero, don’t try to figure it out on your own. Just come to me, no questions asked, I will fix it.

Lexie: (hugs Reeves) I promise dad. But you don’t have to worry he loves me.

Reeves: For his sake, I truly hope he does.

Lexie: (sighs) Well…I should go.

Reeves: Lex?

Lexie: Yea?

Reeves: He still married?

Lexie: Not for long.

Reeves: And you’re ok…with breaking up a marriage?

Lexie: Really, dad?

Reeves: I’m just wondering. I mean I know you. You have a good heart, and this kinda thing can eat you up. The guilt…I can only imagine how much it’s killing you.

Lexie: It was.

Reeves: And what changed?

Lexie: Carter told me some things. Turned out his marriage wasn’t as perfect as he had claimed it to be.

Reeves: Meaning?

Lexie: Meaning…that Kelly…his wife…cheated a long time ago…their marriage hasn’t been the same since.

Reeves: So…you’re his way of getting back at her?

Lexie: No. (rolls her eyes, in frustration and offence)

Reeves: Lexie?

Lexie: Come on. I’m happy ok? I’m finally happy. And he’s the one making that possible. So please…just be happy for me? Don’t try and control this?

Reeves: Ok…but only because I trust you…I trust your heart and your gutt. But like I said-

Lexie: I know- I will call you if anything.

Reeves: (smiles) Ok…It was good to see you, I’m so glad you stopped by. I was beginning to think you’d never forgive me.

Lexie: Dad…let me make something clear. I understand you wanting to protect me, but that doesn’t mean I forgive you for it. This isn’t the first time you’ve done this. Your known for going too far. And with that being said the reason I’m really here is to tell you…that…I want out.

Reeves: (sighs in relief) It’s about time.

Lexie gives him a look of confusion

Reeves: I never wanted this life for you.

Lexie: I don’t understand, I thought you were grooming me to take over.

Reeves: No. I only let you into this business because I thought it was what you wanted. In some crazy way I thought it was what you needed to get past your grief. But I was wrong. The more responsibility you took on, the more it worried me. I’ve been waiting for the day you’d ask for an out. But I knew you had to come to that decision on your own.

Lexie: (laughs) Letting me come to a decision on my own…that’s a radical concept for you…well I’m glad you can at least grasp the concept. But to be honest it was Carter who geared me in the right direction.

Reeves: Well isn’t that convenient. He could be just trying to get you to step out, and weaken our man power.

Lexie: Dad.

Reeves: Or he could just be a good man.

Lexie: Thank you. And he is. So whataya say…you think there’s a career out there for me?

Reeves: Absolutely. Why do you think I made you head of the clothing store front. I knew fashion has always been something you were passionate about. My only hope was that you’d get more of a rush out of that side of the business, then this part of it.

Lexie: Yea well I guess at times we’re more alike than I realize. We thrive on danger and the adrenaline rush. But unlike you that rush isn’t something I’m comfortable living with. Because at the end of the day, it’s still dangerous and deadly.

Reeves: I couldn’t agree more. But I’ve made my bed, I’ve made my choices, and my enemies and now in order to protect my family, this is my life. And I need you to know I don’t enjoy it. But I’ll do what I have to, to protect you.

Lexie: Dad? I want you to know that none of this makes me love you less, I just don’t agree with any of it, and I can’t support it anymore. But I also don’t blame you for my choices. It was my choice to ask you to be apart of this war with Skully. It’s just when we lost mom…I didn’t want to feel that pain. I needed a way to cope…and I thought this was it. I wasn’t thinking clearly, and I don’t think I ever realized what all of this actually meant. I don’t want this.

Reeves: I don’t want this for you. I respected your drive to seek revenge, because I felt the same way. And I thought it would be hypocritical of me to exclude you, in this fight. Because you had hurt just as much as I did. But I never thought it would be permanent. This isn’t your life. So you do what’s best for you and I will support you 100%.

Lexie: Thank You.

Reeves: Lex, I want happiness for you…and I want you to know that anything that I have ever put you through or pressured you into involving this business, I am truly sorry for. For a long time I couldn’t even see straight. After losing your mother, I vowed to myself that I’d never let anything happen to you. So I guess keeping you apart of the business was my crazy way of keeping you safe. It was my way of keeping an eye on you. I have a lot of enemies and I worry about you. I am overjoyed that you want a better life for yourself. But I think that you may want to relocate all together.

Lexie: You really think that’s necessary?

Reeves: I do. Go, go somewhere you’ve never been, go start a fashion empire. I can fund everything. Which reminds me…(reaches into his inner suit jacket pocket) I think this belongs to you (hands her a wad of cash) I’m sorry my plan was unnecessarily out of line.

Lexie: (takes the money) Thank you. I appreciate this and the apology. But I think I’m going to stick around. I don’t think anyone is stupid enough to come after Reeves’ daughter. This is my home. Carter and I will figure out a safe way to live here.

Reeves: I hope so.

Lexie: Besides, even though you drive me crazy, and I usually end up screaming at you for your crazy antics. You’re my dad, and I love you. And I wouldn’t be happy living thousands of miles away from you.

Reeves: Love you princess, (he hugs her tightly)

Lexie: (smiles) Ok well I really better go now, Carter and I have a lot of things to discuss.

Reeves: Alright. Just be careful Lex, please.

Lexie: Don’t worry dad, (smiles and leaves, closing the door behind her)

Reeves: (Sighs…waiting a beat, he stands there and ponders, hands on hips, soon he takes out his cellphone) Hey yea, listen- do me a favor, pull up any information on Carter…I’m talking about everything you can find…I want to know every single detail of his life ….including everything there is to know about his parents. And one more thing Lexie is not to know a thing about this… ok? Ok thank you.

Reeves hangs up his phone and sighs, a picture of Lexie as a little girl sits on a nearby shelf. Reeves sighs

Reeves: (he whispers) Please forgive me, Princess.

STAY TUNED!…Chapter 6 continues next week…

Carter and Kelly finally have have the conversation you’ve been waiting for…

(*I do not take any credit for the actual images themselves, they all belong to their rightful owners*)

Happy Weekend!

-<3-

Previously on Mysterious Attraction…

RECAP

And this week…

Lexie settles into her office, and starts on some paperwork

A knock is heard at her door

Lexie: Come in.

Carter: Hey.

Lexie: Hi, (smiles getting up and walking toward him)

Carter: I noticed you rushed to get ready, you didn’t have time for your coffee…

Lexie: Ohhh you are a lifesaver…thank you, (takes the cup)

Carter: You’re welcome…besides I know you can’t function much without it so…I didn’t wanna subject the office to angry Lexie.

Lexie: Oh please angry Lexie is all they know at this point (laughs) But I am sure, they will thank you for putting me in such a good mood.

Carter: Yea well a little caffeine will do that.

Lexie: (laughs) I wasn’t talking about the coffee.

Carter: I know, I just wanted to hear you say it, (shrugs and smiles).

Lexie: Well…will you settle for me telling you how happy you make me?

Carter: That’s a start…(smiles..pulls her into a kiss)

Lexie: (pulls away and smiles) We have work to do.

Carter: I  am sure it can wait a few minutes… (tries to kiss her again)

Lexie: Carter…before this relationship goes any further….I need you to talk to Kelly. The more I fall for you, the worse I feel about this whole situation.

Carter: Trust me, I know the feeling. But I have to be with you.

Lexie: Hey I won’t argue, (laughs). But I just think that we should remain professional, until you sort things out.

Carter: Ok. I understand, and I respect that.

Lexie: Thank You.

Carter: Well look at us…we’re so grown up.

Lexie laughs.

Carter: So I’ll see you later?

Lexie: (nods with a smile) Absolutely.

Carter winks and opens the door to leave

Kelly stands there with a potted plant in her hands

Carter: Kelly?

Lexie’s face drops

Kelly: Carter.

Carter looks back at Lexie quickly, Lexie smiles nervously

Carter: What are you doing here?

Kelly: Well I just wanted to stop by to see Lexie…

Carter: Oh…I thought we said we’d do that someday soon.

Kelly: Yea but you said that last week, and you haven’t been home much lately so I figured I’d just drop by, myself.

Carter: Oh…

Carter looks at Lexie

Lexie: Umm, of course, please come in.  Would you like some coffee, or tea…water?

Kelly: No. I’m fine, thank you.

Lexie: So uh, what can I do for you?

Kelly: Oh nothing, I think you’ve done enough.

Lexie: I don’t understand what you mean?

Carter and Lexie exchange nervous glances

Kelly: You saved my life.

Lexie: Oh, (sighs with relief and laughs) I wish I could take all the credit but it was actually probably my fault that you were there in the first place…

Kelly: I don’t understand?

Lexie: It’s no secret that my family isn’t exactly known for their kindness. We have a lot of enemies, and because of some crazy misunderstanding, you were taken and I am so sorry for that…I’m sure Carter can fill you in…

Kelly: I’m sure he could, but he still hasn’t…which makes me worry he never will.

Lexie: Oh I think he will, won’t you Carter?

Carter: Yes, of course.

Kelly: You just…you haven’t been home much lately…

Lexie: I’m afraid that’s my fault, I um, I’ve been making everyone work overtime. I can be quite a workaholic… and I guess it doesn’t always dawn on me that not every employee of mine, feels the same.

Kelly: Oh don’t take all the blame, Carter doesn’t do anything he doesn’t want to (glances at her husband).

Carter coughs nervously

Lexie: Is there anything else I can do for you?

Kelly: Yea…you can take this (hands her the plant). I know it’s not much, I mean you save my life and I buy you a plant, it’s not exactly an even trade but-

Lexie: It’s beautiful. Unnecessary.  But beautiful, thank you.

Kelly: Well I just wanted to show my gratitude. I may not know why everything happened, and Carter does a lot to avoid me asking any questions about his work, but I do know that if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be here, so thank you.

Lexie: It was my pleasure.

Kelly smiles slightly and before she leaves she stops and looks at Carter

Kelly: Will you be home for dinner?

Carter: Of course.

Kelly: Ok good I’ll make your favorite, we can talk.

Carter: Sounds good, (forces a smile).

Kelly: Ok, I’ll see you later then, (leans over and kisses him).

Carter awkwardly kisses back and Lexie looks away

Kelly: Bye. Bye Lexie. Thanks again.

Lexie: No problem, (fakes a smile and a wave).

-Kelly exits-

Carter shuts the door behind her

Lexie and Carter both exhale in relief

Lexie: That was horrible…I literally thought I was going to stop breathing…

Carter: I’m so sorry, and I’m sorry I kissed her in front of you like that…I didn’t think that she’d show up here…

Lexie: It’s ok, she’s still your wife… it’s not your fault…do you think she heard anything…

Carter: I don’t think so.

Lexie: Really? I mean because some of the things she said-

Carter: Look, it’s gonna be ok, I’m gonna go home and I’m gonna tell her everything, and tomorrow, it’s gonna be a new beginning for us.

Lexie: I don’t think it’s going to be that easy Carter.

Carter: I know, but it’s all worth the fight.

Lexie: Is it?

Carter: Don’t Lexie. (starts pacing the room angrily)

Lexie: Look just hear me out ok?

Carter: No…you hear me out…hear me, when I say that we are happening. I don’t care what I have to do, who I have to hurt, it’s going to happen for us.

Lexie: So this is your ruthless side.

Carter: When it comes to love, I’ll be as ruthless as I can without completely losing who I am.

Lexie: I don’t want to be ruthless anymore. It’s not a life.

Carter: Neither is pretending to be in love with someone, when you aren’t.

Lexie: Did I ruin you? When we first met, you were so good.

Carter: Like you said, I thought I was, but I guess I’m not.

Lexie: No, I didn’t mean that. You are still good. I just think, I’ve corrupted you. I’ve made you think that our love can outweigh the love you had with Kelly and I think I may be wrong.

Carter: I don’t do anything I don’t want to, Lexie.

Lexie: Carter, if you do this. If you tell her. You may regret it. And I don’t want you to live a life with regret, trust me, it’s not fun.

Carter: So what are you saying, are you letting me go again? Because I have news for you, the pain of regret you feel for keeping us apart, isn’t going to even compare to any other regret you’ve ever felt before. We belong together.

Lexie: I realize that. But we can’t always get what we want. Sometimes it’s best to do the right thing. But I want you to be ok. I want you to be happy. And how can you ever be happy knowing you hurt the first woman you ever loved. I just think that what you have with Kelly is more than what we can ever have.

Carter: We won’t know until we try. Why are you so afraid that this relationship is gonna fail?

Lexie: Because it’s all I’ve ever known… every relationship in my entire life has failed. My own parents didn’t even stick around. I mean yea my father’s around still, but he and I lost whatever meaningful relationship we had, a long time ago.

Carter: Lexie, I’m not your parents, I’m not Joe, I’m not any other guy that walked out of your life, just because he could. I’m me, come on, you know me. You know my heart. And you know that it’s with you.

Lexie: Carter-I wanna be with you but-

Carter: Then be with me…stop trying to save me from myself, ok? I know what I’m doing.

Lexie: You’re gonna break her heart.

Carter: I know that, and trust me I’m not happy about how this has all played out, I don’t want to hurt her. But she and I both know, we aren’t working.

Lexie: You guys have had trouble in the past? You never told me that? I thought she was perfect…

Carter: No one is perfect. Don’t get me wrong, Kelly’s an amazing woman, and she once was an amazing wife. But something must have been missing, because after a few months of marriage, it didn’t take long for her to second guess me.

Lexie: What?

Carter: Kelly cheated on me 5 months after our wedding.

Lexie: (shocked) Oh my god… Carter I had no idea…

Carter: It was a long time ago.  And we got through it. But nothings ever been the same between us after that.

Lexie: How long ago was this?

Carter: About 3 years ago.

Lexie: Oh…

Carter: I want you to understand something…our relationship has nothing to do with that.

Lexie: How could it not? I mean your wife cheated, and then you did too. It’s tit for tat.

Carter: No. It wasn’t like that. I never had any intention of straying out of my marriage. Even after her infidelity, I fought like hell to make it work, because I grew up valuing marriage. I thought divorce wasn’t an option. And she begged for me to stay, so I stayed. But after countless apologies, screaming matches, and therapy you either learn to forgive and forget or get to a place of no return. And the night I saw you for the first time. Was the first time in my life, that I wished I had just let her go.

Lexie: You didn’t even know me.

Carter: No. But that didn’t matter, because I wanted to. And you weren’t some kind of payback, I swear. I just saw something in myself that I hadn’t in a long time. I felt alive, just watching you….  And that’s why I hated myself for it, because all the pain Kelly put me through had caused me to become numb and you changed all that with one small glance across a crowded room and then you smiled and I was a goner.

Lexie: You got all of that from one look and a smile?

Carter: It was a hell of a smile.

Lexie looks away confused

Carter: Lexie, look at me.

Lexie looks up

Carter: What happened between Kelly and I may have led me to you, but you are what made me stay. And you didn’t even have to ask.

Lexie: I get it. It’s like you said, the things that happened in our pasts shape who we are…but what I don’t understand is why you were so against our affair then? I mean you came up to me, you started the attraction-

Carter: It wasn’t about you. I was struggling with the idea that I was just as heartless as she had been. That as someone who went through being cheated on, that I could allow myself to impose that kind of pain on someone else, even if it was Kelly. That’s what scared me, it made me see myself as ruthless. It wasn’t about you, it wasn’t about your bossiness… to tell you the truth I kind of liked that part, (laughs). I just… the more you reminded me that I was married, the guiltier I felt, and the angrier I got at myself for feeling guilty. Because sure I had my values and I loved my wife and I thought I wanted to be committed to her and work things out, but she was the one who broke us. She got us here. And I was also angry because there I was falling in love with you, and you kept acting like it was just a fling. Which in turn made me pretend like that’s all it was. And that’s how this vicious circle we’ve created got so vicious.

Lexie: I’m sorry. I’m sorry that I made you think that we were ever just a fling. I’m sorry I ever made you think that I didn’t love you. But most importantly I’m sorry that you got your heart broken. Because it’s a really good one.

Carter: You think so?

Lexie: I know so.

Carter: Then will you please….just, be with me?

Lexie: Under one condition…

Carter: Anything…

Lexie: That  after you settle things between you and Kelly… that you and I have a complete conversation about all past, present and future experiences or mishaps, if you wanna get technical.

Carter: I think that’s a great idea. We may be a couple emotionally damaged people, but guess what those mishaps led us to each other so…maybe it was a blessing in disguise.

Lexie: Maybe. (smiles)

Carter: Ok, I have a condition of my own, if you don’t mind?

Lexie: By all means…

Carter: I want you to leave the business.

Lexie: Carter-

Carter: Lexie I can’t take this whole soap opera mob story anymore, it’s too dangerous and I can lose you in a heartbeat. And I wouldn’t be able to handle that.

Lexie: Carter…I don’t like what I do, in fact I hate it, and I hate that you’ve gotten wrapped up in it too. I hate that anyone has gotten wrapped up in this hell. But I made my choices and now I’m stuck with them.

Carter: That’s not true. Lexie you have so much to offer the world.

Lexie: Oh yea like what?

Carter: You’re a great business woman, I mean you can negotiate with the best of them. And you’re an incredibly talented designer. I mean I know this whole clothing line is just a front for all the mob business that goes on behind closed doors, but in case you haven’t noticed, people actually love your stuff. Just take the business and fashion side of this and you’ll be good to go.

Lexie: I appreciate your faith in me, I do. But people tremble in fear at the mere thought of my name…no one would ever work with me.

Carter: Lexie have you ever actually killed anyone?

Lexie: Yes.

Carter: Other then in self defense? Or because your father ordered you to?

Lexie looks away

Carter: You’re not your father. You’re not ruthless. I may have said so in the past. But that’s only because I was dealing with my own crap, and because I didn’t know you. You’re amazing. You risked your life to save my wife.

Lexie: Yea from my own father…

Carter: Yea but you didn’t know that at the time. Don’t sell yourself short. You didn’t worry about how you were going to get out of there, you just focused on saving her, and protecting me.

Lexie: Well, she’s your wife, and I saw how worried you were. And I love you, I did what any person who is  in love with someone would do, I found a way to help.

Carter: You’re selfless. And once I realized that, I knew that you and I could have something really amazing together. Despite how much you may have protested it, I knew deep down that you had to love me, I mean no one can fake that kind of love (smiles). So promise me…get out, just get out of the business and we will figure it all out together.

Lexie: (stares at him, contemplating) Ok.

STAY TUNED!

Chapter 6 starts Next Week! Crazy stuff coming up!

(*Although I’ve made my own edits in this post, I do not take credit for the images, and don’t worry one day

when I get a new computer and better programs, they will get better! lol.*)

Happy Weekend!

-<3-