It took us ages to choose a film because Denny originally picked up The Hills Have Eyes, but when I looked it up online I found out it has a really bad rape scene in it. I told them there was no way I was watching it, especially when I read one of the most descriptive reviews that was very detailed about what happened. It’s making me feel sick just thinking about it.
So instead, they’ve decided on an oldie called Smiley. The cover looks really freaking scary and I swear, if I woke up with that looking down on me I’d die of a heart attack. No questions. I even told Denny and Harlow that and they both agreed laughing.
“Yes, food is here,’’ Denny groans, walking back into the room. The front door opens and Mason walks in with Myles, Malik, Max and Maverick trailing behind him. “Seriously, Mason?’’
“Sorry, we smelled pizza,’’ he shrugs and my face heats when I feel Myles’ gaze on me.
“Hey,’’ he smiles and I give him a small smile in return, feeling flushed that his brothers are all dominating the room. They’re all big men, and in Denny’s small front room they look like giants.
“I’ve got you a couple of pizzas too, they’re in the kitchen. Now go away. And where the hell is Hope?’’ she screeches once she realises no one has a hold of her.
“Granddad has her. Joan went to bingo with a group of friends,’’ he smiles, reassuring her.
“Good,’’ she says relaxing. “Now go get your pizza and fuck off.’’
“Jesus, who pissed on your cornflakes this morning,’’ Max grumbles, walking away to get the pizza from kitchen with Mason.
“Hey, Kayla,’’ Maverick, the older brother waves smiling and I’m completely startled at first. We’ve never really spoken to each so for him to call me out, by name, is just surprising.
“Hi,’’ I shyly wave, earning a grin from him and Myles. I shake my head not meeting their eyes and pull the blanket further over my legs. It’s gotten hot in the room and with all the blankets it’s getting worse, but there is no way I’m removing it with these all the room.
“Boys, she got us meat feast, hot and spicy, and even got Max his pussy margarita pizza,’’ Mason shouts, walking back into the room with three pizza boxes, four boxes of chips and another box of chicken wings.
“It’s not a pussy pizza,’’ Max groans carrying two bottles of pop.
“Yeah, bro, it is,’’ Maverick laughs, along with Myles and the rest of us.
“Fuck-sake, it’s not, okay? I just don’t like spicy food, goddamn it.’’
“Max, you could have ham and pineapple, but you don’t, you even moan over that,’’ Myles laughs.
“I like cheese pizza, so sue me,’’ he shouts, stomping out.
“See you later, babe,’’ Mason grins, bending over to give her another kiss on the lips.
Denny kisses him back, then steps away to put our pizzas on the floor when Myles speaks up. “What pizza did you three get?’’
“Pepperoni, and a meat feast.’’
“Are you going to eat all of that?’’ Maverick asks wide eyed.
“Probably not, we have garlic bread, chips and barbecue wings, but I promise to call once we’ve consumed what we want,’’ she smiles sitting down in the middle of me and Harlow.
Malik shakes his head. “I wouldn’t promise anything just yet, Harlow could eat you out of house,’’ he chuckles, earning a glare from Harlow.
“Are you calling me fat?’’ she asks deadly calm.
“No babe, I like that you like your food. I’ll see you later,’’ he tells her, bending down to give her a kiss, and my heart constricts seeing Denny and Harlow both happy with their boyfriends. I wish I could have that. My eyes flicker to Myles to find him watching me with a strange expression. It’s like he can read my thoughts. Before I can think any more about it, I hear Malik whisper to Harlow. “Make sure you call me first, these boys will demolish it otherwise.’’
Denny and I laugh as we’re the only ones that heard what he said and his brothers look at him suspiciously. He just shrugs, gives Harlow another kiss before pushing his brothers out the door. Once they’ve gone, Denny turns to me with a sly grin on her face.
“Are you sure there is nothing going on between you and Myles?’’
“What do you mean?’’ I ask her, confused. My cheeks flush, but I don’t let my gaze falter.
“It means he couldn’t keep his eyes off you.’’
I’m about to deny it when Harlow speaks up. “She’s right. He couldn’t keep his eyes off you. I think he likes you,’’ she teases and my face heats up farther.
“Shut up and eat your food,’’ I snap lightly making them both laugh.
“Whatever you say,’’ Denny laughs then clicks play on the remote.
The pizza is gone long before the film ends. Now, Denny, Harlow and I are looking through bridal magazines. Harlow has a clip board taking notes and ticking off her check list. As maid of honour she has the privilege of helping Denny organise the wedding. It’s actually been pretty easy thanks to Denny’s dad paying for it, no expense spared. My dad would most likely give me a budget, and with the way Denny loves her clothes and shoes, you’d think her dad would have had some sense in doing that too. In all fairness though, Denny hasn’t booked anything extravagant as of yet. She’s kept everything elegant and simple.
“What colour are the bridesmaids going to be?’’ I ask, flicking through one of the wedding gown books.
“I liked navy blue, but then I saw these coral dresses in one of the boutiques in town and have chosen them. You’ll have to make sure your free over the next few months for a dress fitting,’’ Denny tells me before typing away on the internet. “Dammit, I’m going to have ta’ book the pick-a-mix stand and the photo booth separate. Party Fusion isn’t open anymore, it’s closed down.’’
“Um, first, why would I need to book time in for a dress fitting? And secondly, why the hell are you having a photo booth?’’ I laugh.
“One,’’ she says in a snotty tone, throwing my words back at me. “Is that you’re a bridesmaid, you really should have known that already,’’ she tells me, giving me a ‘duh’ look before typing something onto the laptop again. “And secondly, everyone needs a photo booth in their lives at least once. We had one once at one of the school functions, but the queues always took forever because of the lads jumping the line to go again. They were amazing though and you’ll be surprised how many bridal parties book them. Plus, I love sweets. Why wouldn’t anyone want a pick-a-mix stand at their wedding?’’
“It might as well be a party for Hope,’’ Harlow laughs, while my face is frozen on Denny.
Bridesmaid.
She wants me, yes, freaking me, to be bridesmaid.
That is so cool!
“You really want me to be bridesmaid? I ask, my voice not hiding the shock.
“Well, yeah, duh,’’ Denny laughs looking at me like I’ve grown two heads.
I squeal before throwing myself over to her, my arms reaching around her and bringing her into a tight hug. No one has ever asked me to do something so special. This is just… it’s freaking amazing and I’m so honoured she’s asked me.
Denny laughs and I giggle too, knowing this is so out of character for me. Before I know it Harlow is laughing along with us and throwing her arms around us both too. We all end up rolling to the side, Harlow and I rolling on top of Denny.
“Now THIS is what I like to see,’’ a voice booms with laughter, making me screech.
Harlow and I jump off Denny. Harlow is laughing on the floor at Max, while my eyes are wide, and my hands are shaking. I never heard him come in. My breathing picks up until my vision begins to blur. I should have heard him come in. I should have sensed him, but I didn’t.
“Hey you okay?’’ I hear Myles’ relaxing voice by the side of me. I hold my hand up not able to talk as I try to control my breathing, but it’s not working. My lungs feel tight and I have to close my eyes tightly to try and push the dizziness away.
&nbs
p; Strong arms wrap around me, pulling me onto their lap, and the minute I smell his strong, spicy scent, my body begins to relax. I shove my face into the crook of his neck, my lips lightly brushing against his warm skin. His hands start moving, brushing lightly up and down my back. The gesture is sweet and soothing, and I begin to feel lax in his arms. It doesn’t last long, as soon as I remember where I am, and that I just freaked out for no reason other than Max scaring the hell out of us, I start to feel ashamed. Why can’t I act normal around these guys?
“So you don’t like people watching either, Kayla? It’s okay. I get stage fright too,’’ Max tells me from close by. I close my eyes tighter, fighting the urge to giggle, especially when I hear a hard slap against skin and then Max howl in pain. “Seriously brother, you have a child in your arms,’’ Max hisses on a whisper, to who I presume is Mason.
“I’m so sorry,’’ I whisper against Myles. He holds onto me tighter and I’d be lying if I said this didn’t feel good because it does.
“It’s okay, babe.’’
I sit up not moving from off his lap and look to the others. Max and Mason are having a heated discussion over using violence in front of a minor, while Denny and Harlow are sending me worried glances.
“I’m fine. I just didn’t hear them come in, and I got scared. I’m sorry,’’ I tell them, feeling embarrassed.
“It’s fine chick, you just scared us is all,’’ Harlow says softly, then jumps when the front door opens.
“Babe? Babe?’’ Malik shouts walking into the house.
“Seriously, MALIK! There is a child trying to sleep in here, keep it the fuc-fudge down,’’ Max hisses.
Mason rolls his eyes and Malik just stares at him dryly before turning his attention to Harlow.
“Come on, we’re going home,’’ he says, and from the look in his eyes, something tells me she’s not going home to sleep.
“But we haven’t finished the next film. We got A Little Bit Of Heaven left to watch,’’ she moans, folding her arms over her chest in a huff.
“Babe,’’ he warns with a smirk on his lips before stepping over the magazines, the left over pizza box we forgot to call them about, and all of the other bits and bobs lying around. Once he reaches Harlow he picks her up. She squeals loudly as he throws her over his shoulder and she shouts giggling at him to stop. I can’t stop the smile spreading across my face at seeing the both of them so happy. I’ve known Malik a long time, he was in the same year as me at school when I first went there, and he was always so angry, getting into fights, and moody, but seeing him with Harlow it’s like seeing a whole new person.
He slaps her ass telling her to be quiet. “Quiet, before Max has a hissy fit and calls the police for waking Hope up,’’ Malik growls amused, then walks out the door. Once her squeals have disappeared we all burst out laughing, and I end up shoving my face into Myles’ neck when I let out a snort.
“Angel, you ready for bed?’’ Mason asks Denny sweetly, a twinkle in his eye and she grins nodding her head.
She gets up and walks over to him grabbing his hand, the one not currently supporting Hope who is sleeping soundly in his arms, her head tucked snugly in his shoulder.
“Hey, don’t you need your blanket?’’ I ask her, looking around the room at the three dozen blankets.
She waves me off with a smile. “I bought them especially for tonight, so it’s no worries. Don’t worry about cleaning up, I’ll do it in the morning,’’ she smiles. “Goodnight.’’
“Goodnight,’’ I wave back smiling shaking my head.
“She bought all this just for tonight?’’ Max asks, eating some of the jelly tots we started to munch on earlier.
“It’s Denny, do you really need to ask?’’ Myles laughs, snatching the jelly tots off Max who scowls back at him.
It’s silent for a few minutes; the only noise in the room is coming from the television. My hands start to become sweaty and when I realise I’m still sat on Myles, I gently slide myself off, my face blushing red.
“God, this is more awkward then that time I looked for Narnia in my wardrobe,’’ Max mutters standing up. “I’m out.’’ With that, he turns and struts out whistling a tune. I try hard to cover up my giggles, but it’s hard, so when I find Myles staring down at me, it only causes me to laugh harder. After a few seconds of watching me, he laughs too, his head falling back against the sofa just as a full belly laugh erupts from his mouth.
“I swear, sometimes I wonder if we’re really twins,’’ he chuckles, once he’s calmed down.
I shake my head still smiling at him. Then he reaches over to the pile of magazines and grunts. When I realise he’s packing it all away, I reach out and stop him.
“It’s okay, I can clean this up,’’ I tell him softly.
“I know baby, but I want to help,’’ he smiles and my belly does a summersault at hearing him call me ‘baby’. I love it when he calls me that, it makes my heart flutter.
I nod my head and help him clear away all the rubbish, bowls, and pile the laptop and the magazines in a pile, dumping them on the sofa. There’s no point in me sleeping on there, with all the blankets piled on the floor it’s soft enough for me to sleep on.
“Do you want me to go, or would you like to watch another film?’’ Myles asks when he walks back in with fresh glass of pop.
“As long as it’s not another scary movie then I don’t mind,’’ I smile, loving the fact I’m going to get to spend some more time with him. I love being around him.
“God no! I don’t mind horror movies, but I prefer an action, thriller, comedy, or hell, even a romance,’’ he laughs.
“Well, if it’s okay with you I brought Ninja Turtles if you want to watch that with me. Denny and Harlow don’t seem like girls who would enjoy it,’’ I giggle and he chuckles.
“You’ll be surprised what they like, baby. Denny surprised us all when we found out she’s a huge fan of horror movies, and Harlow when we found out she listens and watches anything that interests her. She doesn’t have specific taste. So, if you’d have asked them, you would have been surprised that they would have most likely liked to watch it with you.’’
I run over his words in my head, and now listening to him say it like that I feel like shit. I judged them. Seeing how beautiful they are, how girly and well dressed they always are, I never stopped to even ask them what movies they liked.
I look to Myles and give him a small smile. “I’ll remember that for the next time we have a girl’s night.’’
“Maybe you shouldn’t,’’ he mutters under his breath, but I hear him clear as day as he starts the DVD up.
“Why?’’ I blurt out, wanting, no, needing to know why he said that.
“Because if you had watched this with the girls then I wouldn’t be sitting here watching it with you,’’ he says softly, his eyes boring into mine and I feel myself start to burn up, a blush rising in my cheeks. How can he look as good as he does, be a manly lad, a popular kid, and still be the kindest, sweetest, and most sensitive lad I know. Most lads his age would say shit like that just to get into their girl’s knickers, but I know when I hear things like that coming from Myles, he truly means them. It makes me like him that much more and I’m starting to feel like I could quite easily fall for him and his charming ways.
Not knowing what to say, I keep quiet. My eyes flicker over to Myles every so often to find his eyes are fixated on the television, but every so often he’ll catch me staring, his lips twitching when I look away quickly, and it makes my heart race.
I don’t know how long into the movie we get before I start to feel my eyes droop. My head falls to the side and in doing so falling onto Myles shoulder. He pulls me into him, his arm around my shoulders with his fingers rubbing slow circles on my bare shoulder. A few seconds of that and I can myself close down, my eyes closing, my heart rate slowing, and my mind clearing.
Chapter Ten
KAYLA
The rest of the weekend goes off without a
hitch, and on Monday morning, waking up, alone, I wish I could rewind back to Sunday morning when I woke up wrapped up in a warm embrace against a hard body.
Of course, I’d skip the part where Denny was standing in the doorway with a huge smirk on her lips. That, I didn’t need to see first thing in the morning, especially when seconds later, Mason, Max and Maverick walk in wearing only track bottoms, or in Max’s case, boxers. They all took one look at me and Myles, and pounced on us. And I’m talking in the literal sense too. Their hard bodies took seconds to squash my small delicate one, and Myles’ hard one. I’m sure he took most of the brunt too considering he had Maverick’s weight and Mason’s. I’m also pretty sure the hand that belonged to Max that “accidently’’ copped a feel wasn’t an accident; the jury is still out on that one.
We all ate breakfast together, and that’s when I got roped into going to a theme park that is a seven hour drive away. With all of the brothers looking at me with puppy dog eyes, Myles’ pleading glance, there was just no way I could say no to them.
The rest of the day at school passes quickly, Myles and Max keeping me company in most lessons and lunch.
Leaving early for my therapist appointment, other students give me curious glances. The only person, apart from the teacher, who knows where I’m going, is Myles. Not even Max has had the luxury of knowing where I’m going today, and he’s tried relentlessly to find out.
The bus stop is empty when I get there for which I’m thankful for. I need time to gather my thoughts, not concentrate on movements of others around me.
I’m glad my mother can’t make it to today’s session; she called my dad last night and told him she had an interview she needed to go to. More likely she had some rich schmuck taking her out for a date and she doesn’t want to blow him off. The schmuck will never know just how thankful I am. I hate it when she comes with me to my appointments. She fills the therapists head with shit and I end up set back in my recovery because of it.
My dad is waiting in the reception area when I arrive at the therapist’s office five minutes early.
Myles (Carter Brother#3) Page 11
