Max (A Carter Brother series Book 4)

by Lisa Helen Gray

  “Morning sickness! Though, I’m strongly thinking about writing to whoever deals with this shit to change the name. It can’t be morning sickness if it lasts all day and night. None of my classes registered today because I was too busy running in and out of them being sick.’’

  “Oh no. Did anyone say anything?’’ I ask, knowing she’s worried.

  “Yeah, my main tutor did. She pulled me aside after my last class and asked me if everything was all right. I explained everything, even about having twins, and she was really good about it. Said if I needed an extension on any of the coursework until the sickness subsides then she’ll be happy to do that.’’

  “That’s good. She seems really nice.’’

  “She is,’’ Harlow smiles but loses it just as quickly. She jumps out of her chair with her hand covering her mouth and takes off for the stairs.

  I’m still looking to where she left when Joan interrupts. “I hated morning sickness. Never forget being pregnant with her mom. I was ill with morning sickness up until I was seven months pregnant. With Harlow having twins I won’t be surprised if hers lasts that long.’’

  “I thought it was only meant to be for the first trimester?’’ I ask worriedly. I don’t think being sick that long during a pregnancy can be good for the mother or the baby, surely.

  Joan must read my thoughts because she pats my hands gently. “It is but in some cases, no. They do say that morning sickness is your body’s way of telling you everything is okay, but that’s just some mother’s myth.’’

  “Hope she feels better soon, though. I know Denny and Kayla have been helping her rearrange some of the hen party plans.’’

  “Oh my, I never even thought about that. I know they’re planning on bringing the wedding forward. Denny’s worried Harlow won’t fit into her dress but, thankfully, we spoke to the designer into making the waist stretchy. It won’t be the same as the original but there’s no saying how much weight she’ll have put on by then.’’

  “I didn’t know they were bringing the wedding forward,’’ I tell her surprised. Denny has gone bridezilla on everyone’s ass and hates, with a capital H, change. Her Nan, who I met briefly not too long ago, mentioned having a chocolate fountain and Denny went mental. I’ve never seen anything like it. I bet she’s not enjoying this at all. She will have to rearrange everything.

  “They agreed last night after much discussion. So the hen party is going ahead as usual but the wedding is being brought forward. I think Denny caved and is finally letting her Nan hire someone to arrange everything.’’

  I giggle. “I bet she’s hating that.’’

  “She is,’’ Joan giggles.

  Malik walks in with a bright red face, carrying the heavy weight. Holy fucking shit balls. How the fuck has he managed that? His arm muscles are bulging and his neck is straining. He looks hot as fuck. He’s even got the smaller weight stacked on top.

  Oh my!

  “What on earth! You’ll break your back,’’ Joan scolds, narrowing her eyes on Malik.

  “Fucking Max! I’m going to kill him for leaving this shit outside the door. Anything could have happened. What if Harlow tried to move them?’’

  Shit. I didn’t think about that.

  I feel Joan’s eyes on mine, but I don’t look to make sure. Malik opens his mouth to say something more when Harlow steps around him, still looking green.

  “No, I wouldn’t have, I’m not stupid so stop overreacting, and go take them back before Max has a heart attack when he finds out his weights have gone. Heaven forbid that boy doesn’t get a workout,’’ she scoffs, sitting back down in her seat.

  Malik grunts, his face a mixture of anger and sheer determination not to drop the weight on his feet.

  I’d laugh if I didn’t feel so guilty.

  When he turns and leaves through the back door I finally look up. I was right. Joan is standing at the table staring at me with a curious expression.

  “I could have sworn I saw them outside your door when I dropped by earlier,’’ she muses.

  My body stiffens when all eyes come to me. Mark looks amused, so does Joan, and I don’t look to Harlow to read her reaction.

  “Nope. Not by my door,’’ I lie, shrugging my shoulders. Joan giggles, Mark chuckles and Harlow keeps quiet. Too quiet. I turn to her to find her staring at me and not with an amused expression. “What?’’ I snap a little harshly. That gets a reaction. She grins at me, shaking her head.

  “Is Max trying to ask you out?’’ she laughs.

  I groan, slamming my head on the table.

  “Holy hell, he is. I knew it by the way he’s always looking at you. And the weights is something he’d do. Did he give them as a present or something?’’ she laughs.

  I lift my head up and look to her. “No, he used them to ask me out. He wrote a note on them. The heaviest said, ‘no’ and the lightest said, ‘yes’ then the note in the middle said to bring one back as an answer. The question being, ‘will you go out with me?’’’

  Her face is blank for a couple of seconds before it softens and she giggles. “That is so freaking cute, I don’t even know what to say. What did you reply?’’

  My eyebrows draw together and I give her a deadpan expression. “Did you not see Malik busting his ass taking them both back over?’’

  Harlow bursts out laughing, clutching her stomach tightly. “Oh my God, I’m getting baby brain already. As if you moved them. I took one look at them and stepped over them. Even if I wasn’t pregnant you wouldn’t get me trying to move them.’’

  I can’t help it, I laugh. She has the right idea. If it wasn’t for wanting them moved I wouldn’t have moved them. Hell, the lightest was hard work for me on its own.

  “This is going to be so much fun. I can’t wait to see what he will do next,’’ she laughs and that’s when I lose all laughter. I turn, narrowing my eyes at her and giving her the best glare I can muster.

  “How dare you jinx me,’’ I snap seriously, which only causes her, Joan and Mark to laugh harder. I shake my head before slamming it back down on the table. What have I gotten myself into?

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  LAKE

  Monday rolls around and we’re all summoned to the Carter house on the night to discuss the plans of the hen and stag parties. With Harlow now expecting, Malik wants to make sure he knows her every move and that she won’t be in some busy club where she could get knocked around. Sucks for Denny, but no one can argue, what he’s doing is for the best and he’s making sure Harlow and the babies are safe.

  “Does anyone have a problem with that?’’ Mason asks when he finishes explaining why they need to know what’s going on, and to change any plans that involved any clubs.

  Harlow sighs next to me. She doesn’t look happy at all about anything that Mason just discussed.

  “Turn that frown upside down, sister of mine,’’ Max sings, chucking a crisp in Harlow’s direction. She looks up, snatching the crisp and crunching it in her mouth. Max laughs but the rest of us look on with concern.

  “What?’’ Malik asks, looking ready for a fight. It’s like he knows Harlow’s about to blow.

  “I just hate that all the hen party plans will have to change while you boys get to do what you want. I don’t think it’s fair. I’m not disabled. I can take care of myself,’’ she whines crossing her arms over her chest.

  “We’re not asking you to not go out, just to keep away from any busy clubs. It only takes one person to bang into you,’’ Malik tells her out straight.

  “Don’t stop you banging into her,’’ Max grins, earning glares from all around the room. Max’s eyes reach mine and when he does he winks, sending a flutter to my heart.

  Damn him. I’ve successfully avoided him all weekend. Even Saturday at work we were separated for the first time since he started. Joan had placed me with a new volunteer who wanted some experience on his college applications.

  What experience he wanted I will never know. I refused profusely
to work with him again to Joan after he spent the whole day making strong advances, crude comments and acted like he was God’s gift to women. A bit like how Max acts but sleazy.

  Then, Sunday, Max had to help out for the church again. They wanted him to help with the mini football league that they run for kids who are members at the church. By the time he got back I’d already gone to bed not feeling too good.

  “What do you think, Lake?’’ Harlow nudges, bringing me into the conversation. Being so lost in my thoughts over Max I didn’t hear what they asked. I look around embarrassed, narrowing my eyes when Max gives me a knowing look.

  “Sorry, what did you ask?’’ I ask, giving her an apologetic smile.

  She smiles back softly. “I asked if you were okay with the new plans.’’

  “Yeah, yeah, sure,’’ I agree, not having the giddiest idea what she is on about.

  Max laughs loudly while Harlow giggles, looking back down at her lap. Looking around the room everyone’s eyes are on me and they’re amused; Mason and Maverick both looking like they’re ready to burst into laughter and pee their pants.

  “What?’’ I ask slowly, looking to each of them closely.

  “We will be meeting the boys at the strip club at the end of the night instead of finishing at Jump, the new nightclub that’s opened,’’ Denny answers me, grinning.

  “Oh, I really don’t mind,’’ I shrug her off.

  “I wouldn’t mind you giving me a lap dance,’’ Max mentions and I look to him to find him looking at me all lusty, making me want to slap him up the face again.

  “Shut up,’’ I bite out, but end up smiling anyway. I’m losing the freaking plot.

  “Okay, so now that it’s sorted, can we please go out?’’ Harlow whines.

  “Yeah,’’ Malik grins, helping her up.

  “See you later,’’ Harlow waves, walking out the door with Malik. We all shout our goodbyes back.

  “Who have you invited to the hen party again? I know you didn’t want anything big?’’ Kayla asks. Her voice sounds off like she’s been practicing the line all night and has been trying to fit it in the conversation.

  “Yeah, it’s just going to be me, you, Harlow, Lake, my brother’s wife, Kennedy, and Nay and Stace from school.’’

  “Thought you were inviting that chick with the big hair?’’ Mason asks.

  “Mandy? Nah! She’s not someone I really speak to anymore. It’s usually a text here and there but that’s it. I’d rather keep it simple. Nay and Stace have been friends since nursery. I know we don’t spend a lot of time together, but they’ve always been there when I’ve needed them.’’

  Mason nods and I listen on as everyone else starts to talk about different things. Max jumps up from the floor in front of the fire and flops himself down on the bed next to me. I grunt in annoyance but, in all honesty, it’s good to be near him. I’ve missed him.

  “Hey,’’ he smiles coolly.

  “Hey back atcha,’’ I grin, nudging his shoulder with mine.

  “When these losers go, wanna watch a film?’’

  “We always watch movies; are there even any movies we’ve not seen?’’ I giggle.

  “We’ve never watched 101 Dalmatians,’’ he adds helpfully.

  I grin. “True.’’

  “A friend lent me this movie called No Escape; thought we could watch it together.’’

  “What’s it about?’’ I ask, sounding indifferent when really I couldn’t care less if it was actually 101 Dalmatians that he wanted to watch. I just want to spend some time with him.

  “A family move to China or Hong Kong, I don’t know, but basically they move out there and a riot starts or something. I watched the trailer on YouTube and it looks mint to be fair.’’

  “Sounds like a plan,’’ I smile.

  “We’re going. We need to get Hope to bed. Lake, you want to go shopping for outfits for the hen party tomorrow?’’

  “NO!’’ Kayla shouts, shocking everyone. Myles snaps his head to her looking surprised.

  “Indoor voice,’’ Max whispers loudly, making me giggle.

  “Sorry,’’ she winces, looking red faced. “Leave the outfit. Harlow mentioned getting you this perfect dress, so you can’t ruin it.’’

  Straight off I can tell Kayla is lying. Her face gives her away big time and I know Myles has cottoned on because he gives her a questionable look on the sly. When Kayla shakes her head he nods, relaxing, and I know that’s a silent communication saying she’ll tell him later.

  “Really?’’ Denny asks, looking giddy.

  “You don’t even need a new dress,’’ Mason moans.

  “True dat,’’ Max grunts, making me wonder what that’s all about.

  Denny narrows her eyes on Max, shutting him up before looking back at Mason and smiling. You know that smile you do when you know you’re going to get your own way?

  “It’s my hen party. I’m only ever going to have one, so I need to have a new outfit. And I don’t have loads of dresses,’’ she scoffs.

  Max makes this girly screechy noise at the back of his throat before ending up in a coughing fit. I tap his back hard and he waves his hand around, holding his index finger up to give him a minute. Everyone’s attention is on Max, waiting to hear what he has to say. Maverick and Myles are the only ones that look amused.

  Once he finishes he straightens and looks directly at Denny. She must know what’s coming because she juts her hips out and smacks her hand on her hip.

  “Let me get this right. Did you, Denny Smith, soon to be Carter, just say you don’t have loads of dresses?’’ he asks, his eyes bugging out of their sockets.

  “That’s right,’’ Denny replies, giving him a death glare.

  Max bursts out laughing, falling to the floor where he continues to roll around looking like a two year old. Not able to hold it in, I laugh with him, even though I find nothing funny other than Max. Maverick and Myles join but Mason, seeming to know something I don’t, quietly chuckles instead. He soon shuts up when Denny turns her narrowed eyes on him.

  Max gets up off the floor still laughing and holding his stomach. “Denny Smith, soon to be Carter, I do love you but you need to learn the meaning of a little and a lot. You have more dresses in your closet than every girl on this estate has put together.’’

  “I do not,’’ she snaps.

  “Babe,’’ Mason grins, looking at her.

  “I don’t,’’ she argues, looking confronted.

  “Babe, you’ve got more dresses in your wardrobe right now than I’ve had outfits my whole life.’’

  “No one should have that many clothes. There’s only seven days in a week and they weigh a fucking ton, I should know,’’ Max laughs, sitting back down.

  “Whatever!’’ she snaps, making everyone laugh. She stamps her foot before heading towards the back door. Once there Mason rushes over and lifts her over his shoulder before hauling her out of the door, her laughter fading as they move away.

  “I need to get to work,’’ Maverick frowns down at his phone, his features tight. He doesn’t wait for anyone to answer before he’s off, leaving through the front door.

  That leaves me, Max, Kayla and Myles sitting in the front room. “Want to go bowling?’’ Myles asks.

  Please say no. Please say no. I hate bowling. I can’t bowl worth a shit. I always end up hurting someone. My dad got rushed to hospital the last time we went as a family. The ball flew out of my hand, conking him right in the head. It was bad. Knocked him clean out.

  “We’ve got plans but good luck,’’ Max tells Myles warily, stepping back a little from Kayla. Kayla giggles, noticing, yet, doesn’t seem bothered. She must read my confused expression because she turns to me.

  “I’m a hazard to anything sporty,’’ she answers my silent question.

  “Me too,’’ I laugh. It’s a lie, though. It’s just bowling that I’m crap at, though, I’m not mentioning that to them; Max would likely have me out the door and to a bowlin
g alley in a second if he knew just so he could take the mick out of me.

  “Alright, we’ll catch up with you later,’’ Myles tells him, grabbing his coat off the back of the chair. Kayla follows but stops shorts when she gets to me, pulling me into a hug, surprising me.

  “See you later,’’ she tells me, pulling away.

  That was sweet.

  I’ve felt like an outsider to everyone but Max, but that one simple gesture made me feel like part of the gang. They’re all so tight-knit, so loyal to one another. It’s hard to be the new girl, the one who has to learn everything new, fit in and be accepted.

  “Want a drink?’’ Max asks once the door shuts behind Myles and Kayla.

  “Sure. You got any popcorn?’’ I ask him, walking into the kitchen.

  “Do I have popcorn? I always have popcorn. I need it on tap with all the drama that happens around here,’’ he laughs. “It’s in the cupboard up there,’’ he points and I follow his directions and open the cupboard. I laugh loudly when I find several packets of different flavoured popcorn lining the shelves.

  “Is toffee okay?’’

  “Yeah, sure. Um, want a can? We have Fosters, Carling… Oh, we have some WKD left over that Harlow drinks. Want some?’’

  I consider it for a minute and then think to myself; why not. I’m not really a big drinker; I reckon one can of beer will have me feeling merry. Let’s just hope I don’t get pissed. I remember drinking a glass of wine at some dinner party I went to with my family. I didn’t even finish the glass and I was pissed. I’d been so drunk that night it had taken me a week to fully recover.

  “Fuck it; why not? I’ll have a can of Fosters,’’ I tell him, smiling whilst taking the blue can out of his hand.

  “Such a rebel,’’ he teases, grabbing two cans for himself.

  We head upstairs to his room and the second I enter, I begin to feel nervous. Not sure where it’s coming from I try to ignore it, not wanting to make things awkward.

  Max puts the cans down on the side of his bed while I keep mine clutched in my hand along with the popcorn. When he bends his head a little, grabbing the neck of his tee before pulling it over his head, I nearly pass out. His back muscles ripple and flex with each movement and I find it hard to breathe. Only wearing a pair of loose jogging bottoms, he flops himself on his back on the bed, his hands tucked behind his head.