**Chapter 7: Carter and Adrian's Bond**

As I watched Carter and Adrian interact, I couldn't help but feel like I was on the outside looking in. They were like two peas in a pod, their banter and jokes flowing easily as they worked on a project in Carter's garage. I had wandered into the garage, searching for a book I had left on the workbench, and found myself drawn into their conversation. Carter was holding court, regaling Adrian with a story about a construction mishap on one of his jobs. Adrian was laughing and making jokes, his eyes sparkling with amusement. I felt a pang of curiosity, wondering what it was like to be part of their inner circle. As I listened, I realized that Carter and Adrian's bond was more than just a friendship. They had a deep-seated trust and respect for each other, forged through their shared experiences on the construction site. Adrian had only been on the crew for a few weeks, but he had already earned Carter's respect. I remembered the first time I had seen Adrian, his tattoos and rough exterior making me nervous. But as I watched him now, I saw a different side of him. He was easy-going and quick-witted, able to hold his own against Carter's teasing. As I stood there, Carter caught sight of me and grinned. "Hey, cuz, what's up?" he asked, his voice loud and boisterous. I shrugged, feeling a little self-conscious. "Just looking for a book." Carter nodded, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Oh, yeah? Which one?" I hesitated, feeling a little uncertain. "Uh, the one with the red cover." Adrian looked up, his eyes meeting mine. "I think I saw it on the shelf over there," he said, his voice low and smooth. I felt a flutter in my chest as I met his gaze, quickly looking away as I made my way over to the shelf. As I retrieved the book, I couldn't help but feel like Adrian was watching me, his eyes on me. As I turned to leave, Carter called out to me. "Hey, cuz, you want to grab a snack with us?" I hesitated, feeling a little uncertain. But Adrian's eyes met mine, and he smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Yeah, come on," he said, his voice low and smooth. I felt a pang of excitement as I followed them into the house, feeling like I was being included in something special. As we sat down at the kitchen table, Adrian started teasing Carter about his cooking skills, and I found myself laughing along with them. For a moment, I felt like I was part of the group, like I belonged. But as the evening wore on, I realized that I was still on the outside looking in, watching Carter and Adrian's bond grow stronger with each passing day. As I finished my snack and excused myself, Adrian caught my eye, his gaze meeting mine. I felt a spark of connection, but quickly looked away, unsure of what to make of it. As I walked out of the kitchen, I couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to be part of their inner circle, to be included in their jokes and banter.