Trapped with Carter Stone

The Deal That Changed Everything

HAILEY

"Hell no." I don't even think before the word flies out of my mouth. "No. Hell no," I say again, playing the whole traumatic scenario of dating Carter in my head. He ruined my life. I'm not about to give him more reasons to treat me like s**t.

Summoning some courage, I suck in a breath and say, "This is your problem, not mine. I don't care about whatever you do, so please, don't involve me."

"I shouldn't involve you?" He c***s a brow at me. "You're forgetting the fact that you dragged us into this." He lifts my chin with two fingers, his gaze piercing straight through me. "So as much as this affects me, it affects you too." His fingers press just a little harder. "I'll give you an hour to decide."

My lips part. "But-"

"No buts," he interrupts. "You have an hour, don't make me come looking for you, Hay bale." He pulls away from me, adjusts his crumpled tee, and walks off, leaving me pressed against the wall like some wall flower. On my way to my dorm, the whole scene of Carter pressing me against the wall replays in my head like it's stuck on a loop. My cheeks are burning hot. I think I look sick right now.

"Did you hear? He covered her pay when he found out she got fired." One of Carter's pals, Kaden, says out loud as he strides down the hallway. "She doesn't deserve that level of kindness, especially after she has completely ruined his reputation."

I freeze on the spot.

Kaden smirks at me. "Speak of the devil."

"She looks so pathetic." The lady with him sneers, dragging him away. "Come, we can't allow her to ruin you too."

My fingers tremble as I quickly reach for my phone. I wanted to tell them Carter wasn't the one who paid me, but a part of me felt like calling Jade first. Especially since I didn't call to thank her last night. She picks up on the first ring. "Hailey? Sweetie, I saw the news. You're so lucky the public is on your side."

That doesn't mean I still won't lose my scholarship. I inhale a deep breath. "Did you talk to Dane on my behalf last night? About my pay?"

"I didn't, but Carter was here this morning. The fact that you got fired was all over the news this morning, and-"

My heartbeat slows. "Why was he at the diner?"

Jade goes quiet, and I have to press harder before she finally blurts it out. "It's supposed to be a secret, but he asked to cover your pay since it was his fault you got fired. Dane doesn't even know about this."

My chest twists painfully, torn between gratitude and guilt and anger. How could he be this ... kind after humiliating me last night?

I don't want to hear more. I hang up and rush toward the rink, knowing he'll be right there, practicing at this hour. Pushing the large door open, I scan the rink, but there's no sight of him. Biting my lips hard, I turn quickly, then gasp when I bump into something.

No, someone.

Carter catches me before I can fall, his hand closing firmly around my waist. For half a second, neither of us move. His arm just stays there, the contact sending jolts of electricity through my stomach. My breath stutters before I can stop it, and he pulls away quickly, like he suddenly realized what he was doing.

"What are you doing here?" He asks as he clears his throat.

I circle my thumb over my index finger, nervous as hell. "I ... I ... I just found out it was you."

He frowns. "Me?"

"You sent the money." I lower my gaze as guilt floods me. "I ... I can't take it."

“Why?" "I just can't take it."

"Because it's from me? Someone you loathe so much?" There's a small hint of sarcasm in his voice, and I sincerely want to tell him I hate him. "Look, Hailey. I have to practice right now, if there's anything else you want to tell me, sus

"Yes." I blurt out, my voice shaky as I cut him off. "I'll .. fake date you, but I have rules."

I thought about the life I had at the country side-how I wake up by 4 a.m. to help at the farm before school, how I eagerly jump at hand-me-down sweaters each time I see them, and how I have to pretend I'm not starving just so my siblings can eat.

If I don't fake date Carter and help him restore his reputation, I'll lose my scholarship. I can't just return to that life with nothing. I worked so hard to get this scholarship, I won't just let it go.

"What are your rules?" His voice cuts through my thoughts. "I have a few too, but let me hear yours." "First, you'll allow me to return the money."

He smirks. "Seriously, Hay bale?"

"And you'll stop calling me that."

"Giving orders, aren't you, Hailey?" He asks with a hint of amusement. "If I don't call you hay bale-"

"I'm fine with Hailey."

"Fine, anything else?"

"You and your teammates will stop humiliating me. You won't touch me unless I consent to it, and you won't complain about my work in Pine ridge. Deal?"

He doesn't even blink. "Deal."

I press my lips together, thinking this through. "How long is this for?" "A month," he replies, tilting his head to stare at me, and I just nod.

"Now that I've heard your rules, listen to mine. If I reach for you, you won't flinch. You won't skip any of my games, you won't support any other team, and you'll always have to sit with me and my teammates."

It's too much for me to take in, and he doesn't even seem to be done.

"And if someone comes at you because of this, let me handle it. To everyone else, this is real, but to both of us .... "

"It's only a deal," I finish for him, and he nods. He sizes me up one last time before walking away, leaving me alone with my overwhelming thoughts. ------

The second I get back to my dorm, Chloe jumps like she's been expecting me, tucking her long hair behind her pierced ears as she stares. "So, what did Coach Mathews say?"

Last night I had narrated the whole thing that happened to her, and she had advised me to talk to the coach. She actually told me to lie to him and cook up something that would make him change his mind, but the situation was more severe than I imagined.

Tossing my tote bag on my bed, I scoop my hair and tie it up in a bun. "I'm still going."

Her face falls, then it brightens up again. "Sucks, but it's not completely bad, right? You get to spend some time with Carter Stone !! "

I glare at her. "You look pretty excited. How about we swap places?"

She grins. "We both know that's impossible." She approaches me and gives me a small hug. "Two weeks shouldn't be so hard, alright? Just focus on taking the best pictures and try your best to avoid him." Avoid? I nearly choke on my saliva. Well, that doesn't sound possible anymore when he's my fake boyfriend. I cringe at the thought, inwardly praying that this whole thing is some sort of dream. I just nod when she unwraps herself from me. "Thanks, Chloe."

She winks, placing both hands on each side of her waist. "So, let's get into packing."

I roll my eyes. "You're too excited about my misery," I groan, and she just laughs, proceeding to drag out my suitcase as a small smile finds its way to my lips. ----- Again, I barely slept last night. I kept turning and turning, and it's mostly because Carter and I are now a couple. No, a fake couple. While Chloe made sure I packed up like someone going to war, I tried preparing myself emotionally.

Keeping my head lowered as usual, I drag my suitcase over the pavement, adjusting my glasses each time it feels like they're about to fall. I see the whole Timberwolves team in their team uniform, a blue and white tee with numbers written at the back, and thankfully there's no sign of Carter. Yet.

But ... is that Madison?

His ex is coming with us? Oh no, no, no. I stiffen when she meets my gaze. She's dressed to the nines, her brunette hair flowing down her shoulders in soft waves as she smacks her lips together, probably applying some lipstick for the hundredth time. She smiles, but it doesn't reach her eyes.

"Slut," her loud voice draws everyone's attention toward me. "Are you going to keep standing there?"

I hear small cackles of laughter. Carter hasn't told them yet.

What was I expecting?

Ignoring the attention, I keep dragging my suitcase toward the people standing near the bus, perhaps waiting for the driver to take us to Pine Ridge.

"Why is your suitcase so big? Did you pack for an entire year?" Madison's voice reaches my ears again, and I grit my teeth, stumbling and nearly falling when I notice everyone's eyes on me.

"Careful, slut. There's no Prince Charming to sweep you off your feet." Someone's awful remark sends the whole team laughing, and that's when I sense him. Carter. He's approaching the bus-and the team-with a deep frown on his face. Rather than walking over to his teammates' side, he walks up to me, steadying my clumsy self. "What's going on here?"

His hands are still pressed on my shoulders, and my brain seems to shut down completely. "Oh, hey, Carter," Madison calls out softly, waving her hands in the air. I still don't understand why those two broke up last summer. "Hailey was just being her usual pathetic self."

Embarrassment flames up my cheeks.

"Take a look at her suitcase," she continues. "Who packs for a two-week trip like it's for a whole month?" She laughs. "Is she planning to stay longer than two weeks there? Perhaps loosen up and probably get laid?"

Madison starts laughing again, but no one joins her. Not even her girls. And that's when I feel something cold around my leg, brushing against it softly.

I flinch, lowering my head to see Carter checking a small bruise-I didn't even notice-on my leg. "You're bleeding," he says, then adds quietly. "Don't flinch."

He rises slowly, looks at me for a brief second before fixing his gaze on Madison. "I guess I should have told you," I feel his firm grip around my waist. "She's with me now," he then clears his throat. "Hailey here is my girlfriend." Madison's smile stiffens.