Chapter 22

After Cole left, Carter stepped out from the tent's shadow and approached Maya. "Maya, I'm sorry." She raised her gaze to look at him. "I heard you. Please leave." "No, you didn't," he blurted, his eyes damp with tears. "Maya, you don't know. I've liked you from the very first second I saw you. But you were Cole's girlfriend. I—" "So you pretended to be Cole and slept with me, then lied and hurt me. Is that what you call liking me?" she asked, her expression clouded with anger. "It isn't like that. I..." Words failed him. He pressed his lips together, unable to defend himself because there was no defense. "I just..." he said hoarsely, struggling to go on. "I kept pushing my feelings down. I kept lying to myself. Every time we were together, I wondered who you thought I was. I..." He choked on it. Maya let out a cold laugh. "Carter, every single time, I thought you were Cole. In my view, there was only Cole. "Who are you to me? You are just his brother who flew back a week befo