Max (A Carter Brother series Book 4) (10 page)

“Trust me, I remember the day clearly and there was nothing beautiful about how I got pregnant. I was still feeling ill, but we’d gone a week without touching each other and by the end of the week it built up, ya know. So everything happened quickly and ha-”

“I’m going to cut you off right there,’’ I jump in, covering my ears. “How about you calm down, and then tell Malik the news so you can both talk about it together? If it was me, I’d pretend to be furious and throw the pregnancy test at him,’’ I laugh, but neither Denny nor Harlow laugh with me. “What?’’

“I haven’t done a test,’’ Harlow admits sheepishly. When Denny and I give her a look she holds her hands up in defeat. “Hey, I was scared. I’d read all this shit on the internet and when I realised I missed two periods I began to panic. You can’t blame a girl for that.’’

“So you may not even be pregnant,’’ Denny breathes, shaking her head and if I’m not mistaken she looks kinda disappointed.

“Well, there’s only one way to find out,’’ I tell her, jumping to my feet. I help her up and shove her towards the door. “Go buy a test.’’

“Okay, come on.’’

“Oh, I’m going to watch a movie or something,’’ I wave her off, not used to hanging around with girls. Not that I hang around with boys but I’ve always found it easier to get along more with lads than girls. Girls can be bitches and fuckin’ ruthless when it comes to getting what they want and, oh my God, the lies they tell each other just to make themselves look good. It’s laughable and now I’m just babbling on.

“Oh no, you’re coming with us. You’re one of us now,’’ Denny grins, grabbing my arm.

“Brilliant,’’ I smile sourly, wondering what the hell I’ve gotten myself into.

**** **** ****

Half an hour later I’m sitting outside Harlow’s bathroom door with Denny. We’ve been waiting now for a good five minutes, long enough for her to have peed on a stick and gotten the results.

“Come on, Harlow. The suspense is killing me. Do I need to break down the door?’’ Denny shouts through the door. I stand up, my ass dead from the hard carpet. I’m not even fully standing when the door flies open, scaring the shit out of me. Harlow rushes out, tears streaming down her cheeks and makes her way down the stairs.

“Oh no,’’ I whisper and run after her along with Denny.

We call her name but it isn’t until she leaves the house and runs next door to Max’s house that I realise she must be looking for Malik.

Harlow slams open the door, rushing in and leaving it wide open. We follow seconds after, Denny shutting the door behind us.

Max and Myles are both sitting on the sofa playing Call Of Duty. It seems Max does a lot of that since he hasn’t decided if he wants to go to college or not. From what I’ve heard Mark say, Max doesn’t know what to do with his life. It sounded like he had been worried about it for a while too.

“Wow, where’s the fire?’’ Malik asks, looking at a panting Harlow. When he realises she’s crying he throws the remote control to the sofa, but before he can stand up, Harlow throws the pregnancy test at his chest.

She went with my idea, I’m so proud,
I grin.

“You asshole. You got me pregnant,’’ she cries.

“What? How? When?’’ he shouts, standing up, his face turning a shade lighter than pale.

“Now that is a mystery,’’ Max shouts out, interrupting. Denny and I turn giving him a warning glare to shut up. Harlow and Malik ignore us like we’re not even in the room and carry on having a domestic.

I watch behind the sofa as Max leaves the room, walking into the kitchen. I wonder if we should follow to give these two some space but the death grip Denny has on me isn’t letting me leave any time soon. When I shake her off, in the end doing it roughly, she winces and mouths, ‘sorry’.

“How? How? You stuck your penis in my vagina,’’ Harlow yells.

“But we, you... You’re on the pill. How could this have happened? What are we going to do? How can you have a baby with
me
?’’

“What?’’ Harlow asks, her voice calmer, but no less deadly. I freeze, wondering why the air in the room has shifted. The two stare at each other, the silence in the room choking.

Max walks in with what looks like a fruit bowl full of popcorn. “Really?’’ I mutter, narrowing my eyes.

He shrugs, sitting down on the sofa, already digging into the popcorn. Shrugging my shoulders I follow suit and sit down next to him. Digging into the pop corn, I watch in time for Malik to get his shit together. Somewhat, anyway.

“You know where I come from, what blood runs through my veins, Harlow. What if I end up like my parents?’’ he whispers, looking pained. My heart actually beats harder for him and I wonder if this has anything to do with what Max was trying to say last night about his parents not being good people.

Denny sits down, following suit and digging into the popcorn on Max’s lap; watching everything unfold in front of us. I’m still wondering if we should leave, give them some privacy, but I’m actually curious to know what’s going on.

“I give it ten seconds before Harlow cries her undying love for Malik,’’ Max whispers, taking another handful of popcorn.

“I give it fifteen,’’ Denny puts in.

“You two are just,’’ I start but the sharp look they both give me has my shoulders sagging. “I give it a few seconds; she’s on the verge of an emotional breakdown.’’

“And what if I end up like mine?’’ Harlow answers breathlessly.

“Huh? I thought your parents were golden?’’ Malik asks, a hard edge to his voice.

“My parents were the best but, Malik, they still left me.’’

“Babe,’’ he says like that answers everything. I look dumbfounded over it all. It’s like a live reality TV show.

“This baby, it’s a part of you, a part of me, and our love made her. I love her so much already and I’ve known about her for all of ten minutes. The thought of leaving her... It hurts, Malik, really fucking hurts. But knowing I’ve got you to share that with...’’

“Well, they do say, a baby isn’t just for Christmas, it’s for life,’’ Max butts in and we all look at him confused.

“Shut up,’’ I grumble under my breath.

“Jesus! I was just saying.’’

“Well, don’t,’’ Malik snaps before turning back to Harlow, his expression softening. “I don’t know what to say. Half of me is scared I’ll turn out like my parents, but the other half is over the fucking moon that we’ve been given this gift.’’

“But we’re so young,’’ she murmurs, moving closer to him.

“This is so romantic,’’ I whisper, grabbing another handful of popcorn.

“Jesus! Please! Do not cry on me,’’ Max says horrified.

“Well, my job here is done. Congratulations, yada yada yada, oh and Harlow, if you dare put on an ounce of weight before my wedding, I will kill you,’’ Denny warns, getting up.

Harlow nods, waving her off, but her eyes never leave Malik’s. It’s quite sickening really. In a loveable and adoring way.

Malik grins at Harlow, leaning down to whisper something in her ear, before he sweeps her off her feet, throwing her over his shoulder and carrying her out of the door.

“You’re welcome,’’ I shout after them, but the door has already slammed shut and her giggling begins to fade off.

“Want to play Call Of Duty?’’

“You got anything else?’’ I ask Max as I take my shoes off and tuck them under me.

“Grand Theft Auto?’’

“Oh my God, I
love
this game,’’ I tell him enthusiastically.

“We’re getting married,’’ he winks and my stomach does a summersault.

A few weeks later I’m walking round to Max’s house so we can walk to the food bank together. We usually carpool with Joan but she had to go in early due to an emergency, so it’s just us today.

Over the past few weeks everything has been hectic. Joan and Mark have been going bat-shit crazy over a newly expected arrival in the family and everyone has been arguing over the stag and hen parties for Mason and Denny. Mostly it’s been about the baby, about Harlow and what will happen when the baby is born. Joan is freaked out, saying she can’t build a house on her garden like Mark did. Harlow groaned, telling her they’ll find somewhere else to live, though, I’m positive Joan hates the idea.

Letting myself in I find Max playing Grand Theft Auto and I squeal with glee. “Ohhh, can I have a go before we leave?’’ I love this game. Since the first time we started playing it’s become more addictive.

“NO!’’ he shouts, getting up and turning the game off.

“Why not?’’ I demand, narrowing my eyes at him.

“Because.’’

“Because...?’’

“Because you stop at every bloody traffic light, even when the police are fucking chasing you. You have to find a parking spot before you leave the car and don’t even get me started on you running over prostitutes,’’ he barks out, looking pissed.

“Hey, it’s sexiest and really disgusting,’’ I shout back, outraged he’d bring it up. It’s completely demeaning, even if it is just a video game. “And you’re just jealous I got skills and will pass my actual driving test before you.’’

“Lake, don’t knock a man down. Even computer characters need to get a little nookie nookie, you should try it,’’ he barks and I rear back in shock. What an asshole! I wonder what’s gotten up his ass this morning.

“This isn’t about sex or my lack of it. This is about you dissin’ my driving skills.’’

“I can’t even argue about this right now, I just need to go,’’ he says, walking off. I follow, fuming, behind him and all the while wondering what the hell just happened.

“You’re an ass,’’ I snap, shoving past him.

“I’m surprised you have a problem with my ass with the amount of time you spend staring at it,’’ he snaps back.

I turn around and give him my middle finger before stomping off to the food bank, trying to ignore him following behind me.

We arrive at the food bank ten minutes early. I’m pissed at Max so when I push open the staffroom door I use more force than necessary. It bangs into the wall behind it with a loud crash and I wince at the sound.

“Well, good morning to you too,’’ Joan greets, not looking at me. She’s too busy staring inside a cardboard box.

“Please don’t tell me someone left something gruesome in a box again?’’ I stress, ignoring her earlier comment. Max slams into the back of me and I hiss at him; he ignores me, walking to the other side of the room to hang his coat up.

Moving out of the way of the door I make my way over to Joan and nearly squeal when I hear a cute little meow coming from inside the box. I’m jumping up and down like crazy when I reach the box, scaring the cute little kitten curled up in the corner. Its fluffy fur is pure grey all over, parts looking frazzled like he’s been electrocuted. It’s adorable.

“Where did you find him?’’ I whisper, not wanting to scare him again. My eyes light up with glee when he starts to get up, moving towards me with caution.

Seeing the little guy is another reminder of home. My cat, Tabatha, was everything to me; I loved her. I’d had her on my fourteenth birthday and she was still going strong the day I walked out on my life. I nearly took her with me but I knew I’d struggle to find places to sleep myself, let alone bringing an old aged cat along for the ride. I couldn’t put her through it. And I was certain I would stick out more. I mean, who can go unnoticed when they have a cat with them?

“She was outside. I’m certain now we need that sign put up, stating only food and clothes to be donated,’’ Joan mutters then looks up at me. Her doleful expression changes once she looks up in what has to my dreamy eyed expression. I don’t dwell on her sudden change, my mind is too occupied on the cute little things the kitten is doing. He’s purring, rubbing himself up my arm and rolling onto his back: loving the belly rub I’m giving him.

“I wish we could keep him? Do you think the vicar would mind?’’ I chirp, thinking how ace it would be to have a cat around the place. 

“The vicar would; he’s allergic.’’

“To one of God’s creatures?’’ I gasp, mocking outrage.

“Oh my God, is that a rat?’’ Max yells, cringing at the kitten inside the box. I punch his arm, pissed off that he’d call the kitten that.

“No, he’s a kitten you dipshit,’’ I snap and from the corner of my eye I notice Joan glancing curiously between us.

“Well, that’s settled then,’’ Joan declares, clapping her hands once, loudly.

“What is?’’ I ask, turning my back on Max.

“The kitten; he can stay with you,’’ she tells me and I stand with an open mouth, utterly shocked. No way? No fucking way? I want to squeal, jump up and down, but I don’t want to get my hopes up. This is just so fucking cool.

“Me?’’ I mutter, my index finger pointing at my chest.

“Yes, you,’’ she cackles.

“But... But, I don’t have a home,’’ I whisper, looking down at the cute little kitten. Even before Joan opens her mouth I already know I’m taking him home. Just looking down at him I know I’ll take good care of him. I’ll call him Thor.

“Yes, you do,’’ she tells me sharply, my attention focusing on her again in shock. “You have a home with me, with Mark, Harlow, Malik and the rest of them.’’

“I... Thank you.’’ I’m completely gobsmacked, speechless. She’s been so kind to bring me into her home and for her to call it my home as well, it’s overwhelming. I’d been treating the place like it was temporary and a part of me knows that’s all it can be. But then, looking back down at Thor, I don’t think I could leave another cat. Leaving Tabatha behind was nearly as hard as leaving everything else. She depended on me. She was always at my side.

“No need. But I do not clean out cat poop so make sure you are sure before taking on such a big responsibility.’’

“It’s a fucking rat not a dog,’’ Max barks and I turn to him sharply.

“What exactly do you have against Thor, Max? Is it because he’s sleeping in the corner and not sprawled out like a starfish? Or is this just another way for you to have a dig at me?’’ I demand and with each poke to his chest Max takes a step back looking taken back.

“Who the fuck is Thor?’’ he cries, throwing his hands up in the air like he’s the one that’s confused by
my
behaviour.

“I’ll leave you two to it. Oh, before I leave, we don’t need either of you today. The vicar needs the building for a function. I forgot all about it until this morning.’’

I give Joan a glance, nodding my head to let her know that I heard her. I watch her pick up the box Thor is in and make her way to the door, her lips twitching. What she has to be so happy about I don’t know.

“I’ll just take Thor home so he can get settled in his new surroundings. I’ll get Mark to pick up some bits for him on his way home. We have enough to last us until then.’’

“Thank you,’’ I tell her smiling, giddy about having him. I can’t wait to get home, play with him and watch him do adorable things.

“You called that thing, Thor?’’ Max asks distastefully.

“Yes, you got a problem with that?’’

“Fuck, yes. You might as well have called it Splinter,’’ he growls, stepping in my space.

“He’s not a fucking rat, it’s a cat,’’ I growl taking a step towards him, our bodies nearly colliding.

“Rat. Cat... Who the fuck cares? I’m calling it Splinter.’’ His eyes are focused completely on my mouth, distracting me a little.

“Don’t you dare call him...’’ I start, but then Max’s hot lips crash down to mine. Surprised by the sudden attack I’m unsure of what to do. It all happens so quickly, yet, the second I register what is going on and I remember his attitude towards me all morning, my hands move to his chest, ready to push him away.

His hands tighten on my hips as if he can predict my next move and his tongue licks the seam of my lips, demanding access, and my whole body melts against his. Any thoughts I had about pushing him away have been buried to the back of my mind, the only focus is getting him to kiss me harder.

Max, it seems, isn’t shy when it comes to kissing. The kiss started out hard, demanding, yet unhurried, his tongue coaxing mine, but after a few minutes he slowed it down, like he feels the need to savour every second.

His hands roam my body shamelessly. Even through the coat I still have on I can feel his touch burning me alive from the inside, my body igniting in a way it’s never done before. The sensation has my body doing things it’s never done before. I’m touching him, my hands roaming up his hard body, around his neck and into his dark, thick hair. I can’t get enough of him. The feel of his soft fuller lips against mine, the way he holds me against his body tightly like he’s scared I’ll pull away, feels good. All of it, good.

Voices down the hall have Max pulling away and I feel the loss of his lips instantly. Both of our breathing is heavy, both of us panting. I lift my head up when I feel his gaze; his dark eyes capture mine, sending me a look that promises more, which causes a shiver to tingle down my spine, all the way to my toes.

I’m frozen to the spot. My mind racing over what happened, how good it felt and how I wish we weren’t interrupted. Neither of us says a word to each other. I wish I knew what he was thinking. Is he regretting what happened? Do I regret what happened? I don’t think so. I don’t know. I groan inwardly at everything swirling around in my brain.

Just when I’m about to open my mouth to tell him that it’s okay and that what happened was just a silly mistake, he moves, making me pause. He lifts his hand to cup my cheek before gently gliding his fingers across my jaw and down my neck in a deliberate slow stroke before coming to a stop at my pulse. His eyes watch the movement of his hand like it’s the most fascinating thing in the world. It has my heart racing, making me feel things I know I shouldn’t be feeling. Things I don’t deserve to be feeling. Not with him; not with Max. He needs someone worthy of him, not me, not after what I’ve done.

His head begins to descend again and I panic knowing that if I let his lips touch mine again, I’ll be in trouble. Taking a quick step back I watch the heat in his eyes change, another emotion I don’t get chance to read before I bow my head, hating that I’ve hurt him. I want to tell him it’s for the best but with an ego like Max’s, he won’t listen to reason.

“We should go,’’ I mumble under my breath.

He coughs, his feet shifting from side to side and for the first time since meeting him I feel awkward.

“Yeah, we should um, go get breakfast at Antonio’s. He’s expecting us today, remember?’’ His voice is husky, the sound flowing through my body. Maybe it wasn’t hurt I thought I registered in his eyes but something else.

‘
Or maybe it was just a kiss to him, Lake?’
my inner thoughts scream at me.

Not wanting to keep contradicting myself about how he does or doesn’t feel I shut myself off from it all, needing to move on so we can get to Antonio’s and eat. After that I’ll go back to Joan’s and let my brain run wild.

“Um... Yeah, okay,’’ I agree, remembering Antonio and Max becoming fast friends and organising us to do a breakfast food taste every other Sunday.

Antonio wants to start opening the bar up earlier to see if a breakfast menu will bring in more cliental. But first he wants us to try out some recipes he has. After all, Antonio can’t serve ‘crap food’. His words, not mine.

*** *** *** ***

“My two favourite people,’’ Antonio shouts, walking over to us with his arms wide open. I greet him with a smile, my face still flushed from my earlier encounter with Max. When Antonio takes a closer look at me, his facial expression changes and a huge grin spreads across his face. “You two make love? No?’’

My eyes pop out of their sockets as I stare at him completely shocked and utterly embarrassed. “What? No! God, no?’’  I shout defensively.

“Oh, I see two people in love,’’ Antonio disagrees, looking far too happy with himself. “It’s my food, no?’’

“No, it’s not. Now are you cooking us breakfast or not?’’ I snap none too harshly.

Max laughs, clapping Antonio on the shoulder. “She’s just feeling uptight after I told her she had to wait until we had your fabulous breakfast and got married before we had sex.’’

I rear back, blown away by his words, but then his words fully register and before I can stop myself my hand pulls back before flying forward and smacking Max across the face.

My mouth hangs open, completely surprised by my horrific actions. The palm of my hand is stinging from the slap, but although it was a tad harsh and a little on the hard side, it was totally justified.

Max looks traumatised; his face completely void of emotion. I know he’s going to hate me after this and I prepare myself for the verbal ass whooping. A huge grin spreads across his face and I’m more stunned over that than I am that I actually used physical violence.