Carter (The Harlow Brothers Book 1) (20 page)

“Hey, Shel. Get your ass out here and stop ignoring me!” And the trance is broken by Caden. I roll my eyes and give Carter a smile before pushing myself off the frame and walk outside. I make my way over to Caden, and glare at him before slugging him in the arm. “Ouch! What was that for?”

He rubs the spot on his arm, and I chuckle as I say, “You know why.” And he does know why. He’s a pest and his usual self. Even as a kid he was the same way. I see some things never change.

“I really don’t, but I’ll let it slide this one time. Just remember, I’m a cop, and I can arrest you for that.”

“Oh really? I’d like to see you try. Plus you deserved it.”

“Look now, I’m an officer of the law. It’s my job to put cop beaters in jail.” I try to hold back my laughter. I really do, but I can’t. Caden is so serious, and I even hear Cason start laughing. “I don’t see what’s so funny. This is no laughing matter.”

“Caden you’re so full of shit,” Cason says in between laughing, then adjusts his hat. Caden shakes his head and walks inside. Once I get control over myself, I take a seat by Cason. I glance over at the blonde, and she’s in her own little world. She’s staring off into the yard, and I give Cason a knowing look. He shrugs his shoulders, and I know then she’s with Caden.

How Deep Is Your Love by Calvin Harris and Disciples starts playing, and I chuckle as Cason’s face turns into a grimace. I hear Caden call out, “This is my jam,” then proceeds to walk outside while singing, beer in hand, very loudly and off key. Cason groans, I laugh, and the blonde starts to bob her head, which in turn, makes me laugh louder. Caden starts to dance around the porch, and I wonder how many beers he’s had already. I see movement out of the corner of my eye, and turn seeing Carter standing by the back door staring right at me. My laughter slowly dies as I notice the look in his eyes. It’s a mixture of lust, desire, and dare I say love? I’m not entirely sure, but his gaze is making my heart beat faster than before. His eyes never leave mine as he comes closer to me, and I notice he’s holding a glass of wine in one hand and a beer in the other.

He takes the seat by me as he places my wine in front of me then he leans over to whisper, “Are your ears bleeding like mine?”

I wasn’t expecting that, but I recover quickly with, “I think it’s almost over.” As soon as the words leave my lips, Gotta Be Somebody by Nickelback comes on. Carter’s head drops and Cason groans again as Caden starts trying to sing. And I say try because Caden’s voice sounds like nails on a chalkboard. “Oh, God someone please make him stop,” I say to no one in particular.

“Carter, do you have any duct tape? I think that’ll shut him up,” Cason asks.

“Actually, I think I do. Caden, this is your warning. Either stop that screeching sound you call singing, or Cason and I are going to tape your mouth shut.” I snort before taking a drink of my wine. I know they’re serious. Carter and Cason did tape Caden’s mouth shut once when we were teenagers.

“I think you sound amazing, Caden.” Blonde pipes in. I almost spit out my wine at the look on Cason’s face and Carter just shakes his head.

“Don’t worry, Sugar. They’re just jealous because I was gifted with such a beautiful voice.”

“Again, you’re full of shit, Caden,” Cason points at him.

“Why is everyone ganging up on me tonight?” Caden clutches his chest, feigning to be hurt and he stumbles to his seat by Blondie.

I take another sip of my wine as I say, “You were always such a drama queen.”

“I second that,” Carter says. I lean up to set my glass on the table and when I sit back in my chair, Carter places an arm on the back of my seat. I try to act like the small gesture goes unnoticed, but it totally doesn’t. I’m very aware of his arm, so much so I can feel my entire body start to heat up. Carter carries on a conversation with his brothers, but I can’t focus on what they’re talking about. He’s been doing this a lot when we’re around each other, and I know what he’s doing. He thinks he’s slick, but I remember all too well he’s done the same thing once before. He’s trying to get me used to his touch, and his presence. Thing is, I’ll never get used to him. He’s just that one person that my body reacts differently with. Even if it’s just a small thing like now. I can’t seem to think straight around him when he does this. It should worry me that I’m still attuned to his every movement, but then again I knew when I saw him again that it would be this way. I had no idea I still cared so much for him even after not seeing him in thirteen years.

But love like ours doesn’t just go away.

I try once more to pay attention to what’s going around me, but Carter has placed his hand on my shoulder. I can feel the light rubbing of his fingers on my bare skin, and I lean into his touch more. It’s been a very long time since I’ve had someone touch me like this. Gently and without a hidden agenda. I grab my glass of wine off the table and take a big gulp. I don’t want to be reminded of Easton’s callous intentions when he touched me. I shiver thinking about the shameful things he would do when I would cave for him. Just for a simple touch, caress, or to feel like he loved me.

“Are you cold?” Carter mistakes my shiver, but I don’t correct him. Being that it’s August, nights aren’t cold enough for a jacket yet. I shake my head, and he says, “We’ll start the fire in a minute. I can get a jacket for you.”

I turn to him and say, “Always the gentlemen.” He grins, and I add, “I’m okay, but thank you.”

He pushes my hair off my shoulder as he says softly, “Okay, but you tell me if you need it.” I grin and look away before he can see my blush. Carter’s always been so caring, and I realize how much I’ve missed that about him.

“Can you two get a room already?”

“Dammit, Caden. Can you not stay out of anyone’s business?” I shake my head as Carter cusses under his breath.

“It’s kind of hard not to notice when you two are practically all over each other,” Caden says sarcastically. I watch as the blonde, whose name I still don’t know, beams when Caden puts his arm around her and pulls her closer.

“Would you leave them alone already? No one is saying anything about you trying to bust a nut later,” Cason adds.

I hold in my laugh as Caden shrugs, and he states, “Sometimes you feel like a nut, and other times you feel like fucking vodka!” Cason, Carter, and I burst into laughter as Caden leans down and grabs a vodka bottle. The blonde frowns, looking around at us, no doubt wondering what was so funny.

“I don’t get it. What’s so funny?” I totally called that, and it makes me laugh even harder. Poor girl. She really is clueless.

Caden looks at her with a disbelieving look and says, “Never mind. Here.” He hands her the vodka bottle. “Take a swig, Sugar.” I wonder if Caden even knows the blonde’s name. I’ve yet to hear him call her anything other than Sugar. I cringe as she takes a huge gulp of it and I can tell she instantly regrets that. She starts coughing and fanning her face. Caden rolls his eyes and says, “I told you a swig. Not chug the bottle!”

“Oh my God! It burns,” she says in between coughing, and I can’t help but feel a little sorry for her. Carter snickers beside me and Cason has a bored expression on his face.

Caden takes the bottle away from her and before he takes a drink he yells, “NO RAGRETS!”

I double over, holding my sides, hysterically laughing as Cason says, “I know you didn’t just quote We Are the Millers.”

Caden clears his throat and nods, saying, “I did. That movie is the best.”

“What’s We Are the Millers?” Blondie asks.

“I’ll let you handle that, Caden.” Cason gets out of his chair and walks inside. I tune out Caden trying to explain to the blonde what she doesn’t understand, and turn to face Carter.

He still has an arm around me, but he’s looking down at his phone. I watch him type out a message, but I can’t see who he’s talking to. Plus it wouldn’t be right of me to spy on him. I take another drink of my wine as I lean back in my seat watching him. He’s really interested in his phone, and I can’t help wanting to know who has him so distracted. I eventually pull my gaze away from him, and start listening to Caden and the blonde. I quickly lose interest, plus I’m not really paying attention. I’m getting lost in my thoughts again, and feel the familiar urge to run. It’s so frustrating when the feeling slowly starts. It begins as an uneasy feeling, then it builds into an absolute need. Imagine being around people, but feel totally out of place. It’s a sense of not belonging anywhere, and I shake my head trying to make the urge go away. I have no reason to feel like this. I know I’m welcome here, and that I’m a part of the Harlow family again. Granted it’s not as it was before, but it’s a start. I down the last of the wine hoping it’ll help turn my stupid flight response off even more.

I turn to Carter when he places his hand over mine and he asks, “Everything alright?” I give him a small smile, and it’s funny how he knows I’ve slipped back into old habits. His touch grounds me and the urge slowly dissipates. “Need a refill?” He asks as he points to my glass.

“Yeah, that would be great.”

He gets up out of his chair and says, “I’ll be right back.” I watch him walk into the house, and frown when he pulls out his phone again. I reluctantly turn my head away, wishing I wasn’t jealous of a damn cell phone. It does sting a bit, knowing he asked me over to spend time together, and he’s on his phone talking to God knows who.

I begin to wonder where he went to after a few moments pass. Come to think of it, Cason has been gone for a while too. Right before I get up to go find Carter, he reappears with Cason behind him. I smile when I see Carter holding another beer in one hand and my glass in the other. Cason is holding a bag full of wood, but my smile fades when I see Bethany walking behind Cason. I haven’t seen her since the night Cason and Caden brought me over to talk to Carter. Seeing her here and remembering how she spoke to me, well it’s not a pleasant feeling. I know she doesn’t care for me, and it still shows. Carter places my wine in front of me, and I turn away from her angry gaze. I don’t know what I’ve done for her to dislike me so much, but on the other hand, I’m starting not to give a shit about her or what she thinks of me. I’ve spent most of my adult life caring about what everyone thought of me, and being exactly who Easton wanted and expected me to be.

I won’t do that again.

If Bethany doesn’t want to get to know me and learn the truth, then fuck her. I’m done trying to please everyone else, and for once I’m doing what I want. I pick up my glass and watch as Carter pulls her off to the other side of the porch out of the corner of my eye. I try not to let my jealousy take hold, and I wish I could hear what they’re talking about. It does seem like a heated conversation. I take another hefty drink of my wine when I noticed Carter looking at me, and I turn my attention to watch Cason start the fire in the fire pit.

Once he gets the fire situated, I stare into the flames before I sense someone sit beside me. “What’s got your panties in a wad?” Caden asks, and I snicker at his choice of words.

“Why would you think that?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe because since someone showed up unannounced, you’ve been holding onto that glass like a lifeline.”

I shrug, not really wanting to talk about it. I finish off my wine before saying, “I’m going to need a lot more wine before I tell you all my darkest secrets.”

He takes my glass from me and says, “More wine coming up then.” I chuckle as he leaves and he returns moments later with my refill.

One bottle of wine and five shots of vodka later, I feel pretty damn good. I know I’m drunk. I probably should’ve stopped after I finished off the bottle of wine, but I just couldn’t seem to stop. It doesn’t help every time I look over at Carter sitting across from me, Bethany is touching him or laughing at something he’s said. Jealousy is a cruel bitch. Every time Carter would try to talk to me or even look my way, Bethany would ask him something. Pretty much anything to take his attention away from me, she did. I don’t want to feel second best, but I do. Which is another reason I’ve let myself have so much to drink. Not to mention Caden hasn’t helped me any tonight. He’s been right by my side the whole night since Bethany has shown up, and it’s as if he’s been reading my mind. It could be the fact he’s seen me clench my fists when I watch her touch Carter, and every time Caden would notice, he would pull out the vodka and tell me to drink.

The blonde is still here too, and she’s been hanging all over Caden. Once she gets up for a bathroom break and I lean over to Caden and ask, “Do you even know her name?”

Cason pipes in and adds, “Yeah Caden, what’s her name?”

Caden takes a drink of his beer before answering with, “The fuck if I remember.”

I laugh, knowing I was right. “Wait, you brought a chick here, and you have no idea what her name is?” I ask him, and Cason rolls his eyes.

“What’s wrong with that? She’s been messaging me on Facebook, and she wanted to hang out.”

I raise my eyebrows at his admission and Cason asks, “You met her on Facebook?”

“Yeah. So what? Something wrong with that?”

“It’s like I don’t even know you. Facebook is not a place to meet chicks. What if she’s a serial killer? Or worse. What if she’s like Summer?”

It doesn’t go unnoticed how another girl could be worse than a serial killer, and I definitely don’t miss Carter’s head falling back. “Who’s Summer?” I ask the twins.

Cason looks over to Carter, who by the way is letting Bethany lean on him, and says, “Sorry man.”

I frown, as Caden hands the vodka bottle and tells me, “Here, drink up.” I do as I’m told and feel the harsh burn of the clear liquid as I swallow. I hand him back the bottle as he explains who Summer is. “Carter you remember, Summer?” Carter nods and groans and I turn away when he glances at me. I don’t know if I can listen to his dating life. “Okay, Summer was this chick Carter met once. They went on one date and afterward, she started stalking him.” Cason chuckles as Bethany rolls her eyes. “Anyways, Summer had it in her head that her and Carter were going to get married, and have three kids.”

“I don’t think it went that far, Caden.” Carter states. I can only sit back and listen. My head starts to feel fuzzy hearing all this.