Max (A Carter Brother series Book 4) (30 page)

“It’s you that doesn’t want to move. This is the only other option you have. There will be rules. No staying out late. No loud music. And you’ll have restrictions on your computer games. I know how much they cost to run.’’

“Fixing a house up actually seems like a fun idea,’’ I add quickly, smiling.

“So it’s settled,’’ Joan claps excitedly. “We haven’t told Malik and Harlow the good news yet. We’re meeting with them later. We wanted to run it by you three first.’’

“We won’t say anything. I know Malik will be thrilled having not to worry about where to live. He’s been bending over backwards to raise money. His talk of dropping out of college is really pissing me off,’’ Maverick tells us as my phone starts ringing.

Seeing Lake’s number flashing on the screen has my heart skipping a beat. I haven’t spoken to her since Sunday morning after our argument. Should I answer it? What would I say?

“Are you going to answer that?’’ Myles snaps groaning. Poor lad. He hasn’t gotten over his hangover from last week.

“Um, yeah,’’ I stutter, getting up from the chair. I move out of the room, leaving the four of them to talk about arrangements. “Hello?’’

“Max?’’

“Antonio?’’ I answer surprised. What the fuck is he doing with Lake’s phone?

“Yeah. Lake is...’’

“Is she hurt?’’

“What? No!’’

“Oh my God, has some lad tried it on with her. I’m telling you now, if he so much as lays a finger on my girl, I’ll knock his teeth down his throat.’’

“No, Max,’’ he says sounding frustrated.

“What then? You’re killing me,’’ I growl.

“Well, she’s um, she’s drunk. I think you’d better come and get her. She won’t leave,’’ he says, sounding sad. I know he cares deeply for Lake. They’ve built a relationship over the time they’ve known each other. Can’t say I blame him. Everyone has mentioned more than once that she’s been acting differently.

“I’ll be there in fifteen,’’ I tell him before ending the call. “Fuck,’’ I hiss, wondering what the fuck I’m going to tell her. She needs to know what I found out. There’s no way I can’t tell her. She’ll hate me forever if I don’t and for some reason my chest hurts just imagining her hating me.

Walking into the bar I spot Lake immediately. She’s hunched over the bar with her hand waving an empty glass in the air.

Shaking my head I make my way over. Antonio walks out of the kitchen just as I’m coming up behind Lake.

“Max, what a surprise,’’ he smiles but it doesn’t reach his eyes as his gaze reaches Lake.

She spins around on her stool with a wide smile on her face. But it doesn’t match the sadness swimming in her eyes.

“Max,’’ she shouts, causing a few people sitting at nearby tables to turn and look. “Heard you’re like a stallion in bed,’’ she giggles, confusing me.

“That I am,’’ I chuckle dryly.

“I know!’’ she huffs loudly. “Christie told me all about it. How you were with her on Tuesday night. How magical it was for you and how much you were meant to be together,’’ she sings like she’s reciting poetry.

“Who the fuck is Christie?’’ I ask confused. I went with Liam to a party on Tuesday but left after a few minutes of arriving. The place just wasn’t my scene anymore. I wanted to be at home with Lake, curled up in bed watching some lame ass movie.

“Don’t worry. She still wants you, she’s over there,’’ she giggles looking at something behind me.

I turn around looking in the direction she’s pointing in and find Christie Harold sitting with a few of her mates. Her brother is the biggest dickhead I know. We went to school together and never got on. I had won captain on the football team at school and found out that Brad was taking drugs. The P.E teacher found out before I could tell him and all hell broke loose. He blamed me ever since. Like I give a fuck. I never even corrected him when he thought it was me who grassed him up.

As for Brad’s sister, I’ve never even talked to the bitch. She’s a year younger than me, that’s all I know.

“Wait here,’’ I growl and prowl over to their table. Christie’s head pops up and her eyes widen when she sees me. I’m pretty sure the angry pissed off look I’ve got going on is telling her the reason I’m here.

“Why the fuck are you telling people we slept together?’’ I growl, my voice raised.

“Because we did,’’ she smiles sweetly, her cheeks turning pink.

“No, we didn’t,’’ I growl, sounding pissed.

“Max, you don’t need to lie anymore. It happened,’’ she tells me and I can’t believe the little cow is lying right to my face.

Her friends all giggle, whispering to each other as they look on curiously. An idea forms and I smile sweetly at Christie. Her expression immediately becomes wary and I smirk.

“You’re right,’’ I smile, gaining the full attention of her friends. Now that they’re all ears I smirk evilly, watching Christie take a huge gulp. “I just didn’t think you’d want everyone to know that you screamed your brother’s name when I made you come. You said you felt ashamed and didn’t want people to know about your incest activities.’’

Her friends gasp in shock; their eyes locking on their friend. Christie stands up, her face scrunching up in anger.

“What? No. He’s lying,’’ she tells her friends quickly before turning her glare towards me.

“Now, now, Christie. You don’t need to be ashamed. It was an okay night,’’ I shrug.

“We didn’t even sleep together,’’ she shouts, throwing her hands up in the air.

Her friends gasp again. Christie looks down at the table looking ashamed.

“My work here is done,’’ I smirk. “Ladies,’’ I nod to her friends before walking off.

“You’re a prick. Who would want to sleep with you anyway?’’ she shouts at my retreating back.

I ignore her bitchiness and carry on walking towards the bar where Lake is sitting open mouthed.

“Now that that’s settled, how about you tell me why you’re here getting drunk out of your mind?’’

“I wanted to have some fun,’’ she tells me defensively.

“Liar,’’ I whisper, leaning in close. The smell of her strawberry shampoo has me wanting to pull her closer. I love her scent. She always smells good.

“Taxi is outside,’’ Antonio tells us, interrupting mine and Lake’s stare off.

“Thanks, man. Come on piss head. Let’s get you home.’’

“I don’t have a home,’’ she moans. I pull her into my arms and her arms wrap around my neck with no hesitation before shoving her face into my neck. “I want another drink. I love Malibu. It’s yummy,’’ she giggles.

“We’ll see in the morning if it’s still ‘yummy,’’’ I chuckle.

“I will. I really, really will,’’ she tells me. The feel of her lips against my neck and the feel of her breath whispering across my skin is sending chills down my spine. I have to bite back a groan when my dick twitches.

Not now, Big Max. Not now.

“In you get,’’ I tell her as I set her in the taxi. I walked here but didn’t want to risk an accident on the way back if I let her walk in the state she’s in. It would probably be better if I let her walk the alcohol off but I just want to get her back home.

“No, you get in,’’ she pouts, looking cute when I put her back down on her feet.

“Well, I will when you get in. Ladies first,’’ I smirk.

“Then by all means, I’ll get in,’’ she huffs, her back straightening. She doesn’t even make it a step inside the taxi before she’s tripping over her own shadow.

“Easy there,’’ I chuckle, grabbing her hips. Her body melts against me causing me to tighten my hold against her. Once she’s steady I lift her by her hips and help her into the waiting taxi.

“Not easy,’’ she mumbles, then looks to the taxi driver with a stern expression. “I’m not. I’m definitely not easy. He’s easy. A girl only has to say you, me, and he’s on it like a car bonnet.’’

I laugh when I notice the old man driving blush, not answering the drunken fool. I ignore her, giving the poor bloke my address.

“Easy there, tiger. We’re not in Gone In 60 Seconds,’’ Lake giggles. “SIXTY SECONDS,’’ she bursts out. “That’s how long you last, isn’t it, Max?’’

My head whips around to her, my amusement washed away by her words. “No, I fucking do not. I’ll have you know I can last a long time,’’ I defend myself.

“What? It’s like
4,3,2,1
in bed with you,’’ she giggles, using another movie quote.

“Hardy hah,’’ I mutter, then notice the taxi driver grinning in the rearview mirror. “I last longer, I swear. I can call around and prove it.’’

“He could. He’s been around the block,’’ Lake snorts.

“No, I haven’t. I’ve just had a few... more than a few relations.’’

“Relations?’’ she snorts again, a hiccup escaping her, making her sound cute.

“Well, I can’t say fucked. My Granddad and Joan would have my balls if they knew I had spoken like that to someone their own age.’’

“You do have ‘Monster Balls’,’’ she giggles, throwing her head back like she’s been told the funniest joke.

“What is with the movie quotes?’’ I grumble, hating that the taxi driver is laughing quietly. Probably at my
monster
balls. And the fact he thinks I only last sixty seconds.

“Why do we do anything? Why tomorrow? Why today? Why yesterday?’’

“Now what are you talking about?’’ I ask, feeling as lost as ever. The sad look on her face as she eyes me causes my chest to ache. She looks so fucking lost and it’s not even me talking crap. I want to reach out and hold her but I have a feeling she’ll either pull away and it will kill me or she’ll pounce on me and we’ll fuck, for longer than sixty seconds, and she’ll end up regretting it in the morning. Either way I don’t fucking win.

“Life sucks. It really sucks. Me and Malibu came to the conclusion that life isn’t for me. I should have ended everything when my life turned to shit.’’

“Don’t say that,’’ I snap, feeling angry towards the long haired beauty for the first time. “Never fucking say that.’’

“Why? Because it’s wrong? Because there are people out there who would love a chance for another day with loved ones? Why? Because right now I’d happily take one of their places, give them the life I lost.’’

“SHUT UP!” I roar, gaining her attention. Her back straightens and a sobering look crosses her face.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that. I’m being selfish and ungrateful. I just... What am I going to do?’’ she asks, her eyes watering.

“First, you’re going to talk to me,’’ I tell her softly, taking her hand in mine. She doesn’t pull away and I relax, letting out of the breath I didn’t realise I had been holding in. “We’re here.’’

She doesn’t say anything as she waits for me to pay for the taxi. Thankfully Maverick left his wallet out for me this morning in the kitchen: unattended. It was begging to be taken. I wanted to go get a new computer game but ended up at Liam’s instead.

Helping her out of the taxi, I’m glad she lets me guide her to mine instead of back to Joan’s. I need her to talk to me. Something has being haunting her from the very moment I met her but I knew deep down she didn’t need saving, she just needed someone,
anyone
to make her feel less lonely.

“Do you want a glass of water?’’

“Do you have anything stronger?’’ she sighs, still wearing that lost look in her eyes.

“Water it is, you rebel,’’ I smirk.

Once I have her drink poured, we head upstairs to my room for some privacy. I’m not expecting Maverick back until morning and Myles said he was sleeping at Kayla’s.

“Do you want a t-shirt?’’ I ask her, knowing she hates sleeping in her clothes.

“Please,’’ she tells me softly.

I hand her the first t-shirt my hands touch in my drawer and watch her leave to get changed. I make quick work of stripping my clothes off and grabbing a pair of shorts. I turn the television on, leaving the volume low.

When Lake walks back in wearing my t-shirt my mouth falls open. I’ll never get tired of seeing her in my clothes. It falls loosely to her thighs. She looks like she’s being swallowed. I give her a small smile hoping to ease some of her nerves. Her hands are visibly shaking and her face has turned a shade paler.

“Are you okay?’’ I ask gently.

“No, I’m really not okay. I’ve lived for so long believing that a miserable life is what I’m worth but I can’t live like this anymore. I need to pay for what I did,’’ she sighs, looking down at her feet. She still hasn’t moved away from the door and I badly want to get up and take her in my arms. The vibe she’s giving off, though, has me staying sitting on the bed.

Then her words replay in my head.
I need to pay for what I did.
This is about her brother. I need to tell her. Maybe then she can finally move forward.

I stand up ready to take a step towards her but a choking sound leaves her throat and she looks up at me, her eyes pleading and her hand held out in front of her for me to stay where I am.

I do what she wants, although every instinct in my body is screaming at me to move, to open my mouth, to tell her.

“Lake, I have so-”

“NO! No, I need to say this, I need to get it out before I finally lose my mind. You’ve drove me insane from the minute I saw you. You’ve gotten under my skin. You’re like a rash I can’t get rid of.’’

“Thanks?’’

“What I’m trying to say is; before you I didn’t let anyone in,’’ she breathes.

“You let Kayla and Joan in,’’ I remind her, not wanting to be put this high on a pedestal. I hate heights.

“Not like I let you in. I’ve told you more than I’ve told anyone I know. But there’s something you need to know,’’ she tells me taking large gulp.

I take another step forward, my gut not able to handle seeing her struggle this much. It’s killing her and she hasn’t even told me anything.

“I know everything,’’ I tell her, wanting, no, needing her to know.

“No, you don’t know anything. I killed my brother,’’ she blurts out, tears falling from her cheeks. “I killed my brother,’’ she sobs and falls to the floor. My legs move before my brain even registers and I have her in my arms and across the room back to my bed. I tuck her against me, her head in my shoulder. Hearing her sobs rake through my body are like torture. I can’t take much more.

“Baby,’’ I whisper soothingly.

With each sharp intake of breath and each sob escaping her body, the more I realise just how much she needed to get this out. Whatever I have to tell her can wait until after. It’s clear whatever I tell her now she isn’t going to believe anyway. Not when she really believes she killed her brother.

“I had been so wrapped up in my new boyfriend that I didn’t realise until it was too late. I had been one of the popular kids at school but even that status could never get the attention of Darren Young. He never dated anyone from school. If it wasn’t for the fact he was seen dating college chicks we would have thought he was gay,’’ she starts.

Hearing her mention another man in her life has my fists clenching at my sides. I’m so caught off guard that I miss what she says.

“What?’’ I ask. “Sorry, I’m still processing you having a boyfriend,’’ I tell her honestly.

She chuckles dryly. “Do you want to hear it? It’s not pretty?’’ she whispers.