Текст книги "Taking Chances"

Автор книги: Molly McAdams

сообщить о нарушении

Текущая страница: 7 (всего у книги 27 страниц)

5

“Bree, are you ready?”

“Freaking Konrad hid my bag.”

“Okay?” I drew out the word.

“He didn’t want me to be able to get dressed.”

I laughed, “Nice. Check in the washer or dryer.” I wasn’t surprised that she’d replaced Ryan with Konrad at some point last night.

Bree ran through the kitchen in only a thong. Good thing all the guys had gone surfing this morning. She came back holding her bag, her eyes narrowed, “You knew he put this there?”

“Was it really there?” I laughed louder and shook my head, “No I had no idea, but a few times the guys on base would do that if someone was in the shower. Take not only the clothes they had to put on, but all the other ones in their locker and hide them in the laundry room. I saw way too many butts that way.” I thought of Carter and pulled out my phone.

Me – ‘Miss you :(’

J. Carter – ‘;-)’

I waited to see if he’d say anything else, but he didn’t. I went back to putting the blankets and food in the car while Bree changed for the beach. Brandon had made good on his promise last night. When we got back from the dorm he’d taken me into his room, not saying anything to anyone. He turned both our phones off, locked the door and curled around me on the bed. I wanted to spend time talking to and kissing him, but I’d been so exhausted from crying, I’d fallen asleep soon after. We were woken up early this morning by Brad banging on the door so they could go surfing, and although Brandon started to tell him we were having time to ourselves, I’d kicked him out of the bed and told him to have fun. Bree and I decided to go down to the beach later to surprise them, figuring we could eat lunch and relax for a few hours. I’d made dozens of sandwiches, grabbed numerous large bags of chips and drinks and loaded them all into the coolers while Bree had been looking for her clothes.

We got to the beach and were glad to see the guys still out in the water. After setting up the blankets and towels, we sat down to watch them.

“So…Ryan?”

“Pfft, that guy was way too into himself. I need my guy to be more into me.”

“And did Konrad know he was your replacement last night?”

She shrugged, “Obviously he didn’t mind.”

“Obviously. Have you decided if you’re going to date him?”

“I think I am.” Bree smiled, Konrad had asked her to be his girlfriend, and she told him she’d think about it…while they were in the middle of having sex. I swear I didn’t get her. “I really think I like him Harper. I’m used to guys getting bored after we hook up, but he’s not like that. It’s like we just can’t stop going back to each other.”

“Then why are you making him wait?”

She rolled onto her stomach, facing away from the water, and I followed, “I don’t know. I mean I’ve had boyfriends before, but I just started college. I don’t know if I want to be tied down right away. I’d like to explore my options.”

I only sort of understood that, I hadn’t come to San Diego even looking for a guy, let alone a boyfriend. But there was no denying whatever was going on between Brandon and me. With him around, I couldn’t see myself not being with him. My phone chimed and I had to dig through the huge bags we’d brought things in to find it.

J. Carter – ‘Where are you?’

Me – ‘At the beach’

J. Carter – ‘Ditching classes then?’

Me – ‘I don’t have classes on Fridays. What are you up to?’

J. Carter – ‘What beach?’

I don’t know why that mattered to him, there were tons of beaches in the area. He wouldn’t know the difference.

Me – ‘It’s just a beach that’s literally all the way down the street from the school.’

“Why are you frowning?”

I looked up at Bree and put my phone away, “Carter’s been weird the last few days.”

“Weird how?”

“Well we usually talk every day. But we didn’t talk at all yesterday, and the three days before that he wouldn’t answer my calls, he would just text me back right after. And now he’s asking weird things. I don’t know, it’s just not like him.”

“And nothing’s going on there?”

“No…I told you that. I just don’t understand what’s going on with him.”

“Well maybe he has a girlfriend now.” Bree reasoned, “I’m sure it would bug her if he was always talking to you. Does Brandon know about him?”

“He knows of him, but I don’t think he knows how close we are. Or were.” I trailed off, I didn’t know moving here would mean losing his friendship.

“Does he know about Brandon?”

“Yeah, well he knew we went on a date. I haven’t talked to him much since then.”

“Well there you go!”

I looked at Bree confused, “There I go, what?”

She propped herself up on her elbows, “I bet he likes you, and now that you’re obviously interested in other guys, he’s pulling away from you.”

“Nice try.” I laughed and sat up to take my shirt off, leaving me in only my tiny shorts and bikini top. “I’ve told you, it wasn’t like that between me and Carter. He dated a lot of girls while I knew him. It just hurts that he’s being distant. I mean we went from seeing and talking to each other every day, to this. I feel like I lost my best friend.”

Bree looked at me like I wasn’t getting it.

“Would you ever date Brad?”

“God no!” She said a little disgusted, “He’s like a brother to me.”

“Exactly. Carter and I were exactly how you are with Brad.”

She flipped onto her back, “Oh…well then I don’t know what to tell you. Just ask him next time you talk.”

“Hey babe!”

I turned to look at Brandon and smiled, “Hi! We thought we’d hang out for the day.”

He grabbed one of the towels and bent down to kiss me, “Should I thank Bree for this one too?” He trailed a finger along the fabric of the top. I nodded and he kissed me again, pressing his wet body to mine. If it hadn’t been for the rest of the guys coming back and talking loud, I would have forgotten we weren’t alone in his bed.

“Brandon,” Konrad walked over to us, “come help me get the coolers out of Bree’s car.”

“Coolers?” Brandon looked at me, his head tilted to the side.

“I brought lots of food for you guys, figured you’d be hungry after surfing.”

He kissed me soundly before jumping to his feet, “You’re pretty perfect Harper.”

My heart beat wildly as I watched him walk toward the car. My phone rang when they were headed back.

“Carter!”

“How’s my girl?” I could hear the smile in his voice.

“Well speak of the damn devil.” Bree muttered next to me.

“I’m good. I feel like we haven’t talked in a long time. Is everything okay?”

“It’s better than okay now.” He said mischievously.

“Really?” I smiled at Brandon as he sat down next to me. “And why is that?”

“I’m at the beach with some of the guys.”

I really had to focus on what he was saying, I was currently getting lost in Brandon’s brown eyes, “The beach huh? Glad you guys got out early for the weekend. Tell them I said hi.”

“I don’t think you know these guys, but I’ll be sure to pass along the message. So how’s your beach?”

I bit my lip as I looked at Brandon, “Amazing. Yours?”

“It’s got the best view. You know, I bet if I yelled loud enough, you could hear me from here.”

I laughed, “You’re so dumb.”

“No really…put down the phone and I’ll yell. You can tell me if you hear me or not.” He waited a few seconds, “Come on Harper, I said put the phone down.”

Rolling my eyes I conceded, “Fine, fine. Phone’s going down.” I put it down on the blanket and started to lean over to kiss Brandon when I heard someone yell.

“BLAZE!”

 I sat back quickly. That definitely hadn’t come from the speaker of the phone. Grabbing it, I brought it to my ear, “What the hell?”

“Shall we try that again?” A few seconds later I heard a distant voice yell Blaze again.

Glancing at my phone I realized he’d ended the call and I turned to look behind Bree.

“You okay Harper?” Brandon asked.

“Did you hear someone yell ‘Blaze’?”

“Yeah,” he nodded to something behind me, “the guy back there did.”

I turned around and gasped. “Oh my God, Carter!” I sprang to my feet, already in a run. I crashed into Carter, hugging him tightly, “What are you doing here?!”

“Damn Blaze. Where’s my Harper and what have you done with her?”

I blushed and crossed my arms over my chest, “Uh, yeah. I guess I look a little different.”

He ran a finger near the piercing on my lip, “A little.” He smiled and hugged me to him again. “I missed you Blaze.”

“I missed you too.” I said into his chest, “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me you were coming. I would have been at the airport to get you.”

“Well that wouldn’t have been half as fun as your reaction just now.”

I leaned back to smile at him. He was tall too, not like Chase or Brandon, but close to six feet. His black hair was in the traditional fade the Marine’s had and his brown eyes were bright. “How long do you get to be here for?”

He smiled wide and opened his mouth to talk, but was cut off.

“Harper?”

Turning, I saw Brandon staring at Carter, he didn’t look happy. And I could only imagine how after what happened last night with Amanda, me taking off and almost tackling a random guy while in a bikini would be a little alarming. Especially since Carter still had his arms wrapped around my waist. Stepping back toward Brandon, I grabbed his hand and squeezed, “Brandon this is my best friend from Camp Lejeune, Jason Carter, Carter, this is my boyfriend Brandon Taylor.”

They firmly shook hands but didn’t say anything. Awkward.

“Um, why don’t we head back over there? I can introduce you to everyone else.” I pulled Brandon back towards our friends while I was introduced to the three guys Carter had been with. He was right, I didn’t know them, but Carter had never been to California so I didn’t know how he knew them either.

I introduced Carter and the three guys to everyone, and while all the housemates and Konrad were polite, Chase wouldn’t speak to, or shake Carter’s hand. Just crossed his arms over his bare chest and openly glared at him. What threw me off even more, was Brandon standing right next to him, in the exact same stance. It didn’t surprise me that Carter took a step back, those guys could look scary if they wanted to. Rugged looks, tall tattooed and muscled bodies. Yep. Definitely scary to someone who didn’t know them. Bree looked back and forth between Carter and me with an amused expression. I knew she would grill me about this later.

When we were all seated on the blankets, I asked Carter again, “So how long is your leave for?”

“I didn’t get leave.” He shrugged his shoulders.

“Carter!” I gasped, “I swear to God if you went UA…” I knew what the punishment was for leaving base without authorization, and if Carter did…well let’s just say it wouldn’t be good.

He laughed, “No, no. I didn’t. Everyone knows I’m here. I requested for a transfer to Camp Pendleton when you decided to move to San Diego, it got accepted right after you left. I got here on Monday.”

“Wait, you moved here because I was moving here?”

“Of course.”

“Did Sir make you do that?”

“Not at all. I just couldn’t let you go.”

“Oh shit.” Bree muttered.

Brandon sat up straighter, I didn’t have to look up to know he was glaring and sizing up Carter. This could get bad, I was about to say something when Carter spoke up again.

“I mean I can’t let my little sister go across the country alone, right?”

I smiled at Carter and felt Brandon relax from behind me. Sean, one of the guys that came with Carter, looked at the other two guys then back to Carter with a confused look and started to speak, but when he looked back to me and Brandon, he shut his mouth.

“So…I’m sorry what was your name again? Brady?”

I glared at Carter but remained quiet. I knew he could tell me everyone’s name that he’d just met. I’d always envied that he could remember anything as long as he read or heard it once.

Brandon’s arm tensed around my waist, “Brandon.”

“Right, my bad. So how did you meet my girl?”

“Through school. I live with Chase, Bree’s his sister and Harper’s roommate.”

Carter’s head tilted back a bit, his eyes lit up like he was just told valuable information, “Chase huh? Good for you two, I don’t judge.”

Brandon snorted and trailed his other hand down my arm to intertwine our fingers, “Hear that Chase? Apparently we’re together.”

“Ah. It all finally makes sense. Why you’re always at my house and such. Guess I should take you on a date or something.” Chase smirked but kept his glare on Carter.

I kicked Carter’s leg and gave him a be nice look.

He smiled warmly at me and glanced above my head to Brandon again. “What are you going to school for?”

“I’m double majoring in financial services and accounting, and minoring in marketing.”

Carter seemed genuinely surprised by this. I had been too when Brandon told me he’d taken every core class he would need at a community college while he was still in high school, so all he had to focus on during his time at SDSU were his majors and minor. He was incredibly smart, and it only added to his appeal.

“That’s admirable I guess,” Carter said looking at me, “you can probably go into something to make a good living.”

“I make a good living now.” He pulled me closer into his body and I watched as the muscles in his forearm strained against the skin.

I rolled my eyes and was about to stop the testosterone filled interrogation when Carter spoke again.

“And how’s that? You a manager at McDonalds?”

My mouth dropped and I glared at my friend, why was he being such a jerk? Brandon stiffened and I shut my eyes. Here we go.

“I fight. And I’m damn good at what I do.”

I quickly glanced at everyone around us, it was like a bad movie. Everyone stopped talking and was staring at Carter to see what he would say.

“What kind of fighting? With open handed slaps and hair pulling?” Carter goaded.

“MMA.” Brandon said through what sounded like clenched teeth.

“Oh perfect.” Carter glanced down at me, “You managed to find an abusive hot-headed boyfriend, exactly what we tried to get you to stay away from.”

“Carter!” I hissed.

“Consider this your warning tool,” Carter’s eye got dark, “the minute you touch my girl. I will end you.”

Brandon started to stand up but I beat him to it, grabbing Carter’s arm and pulling him with me. As soon as we were far enough away that I didn’t think anyone else would hear us, I whirled around, “What the hell is your problem?!”

Carter looked a little sheepish, “I’m just looking out for you Blaze.”

“You’re being an asshole!”

“Well!” His arms shot out to the side, “I don’t think he’s good for you.”

I was getting freaking tired of people telling me who is and isn’t good for me. I crossed my arms over my chest, wishing I would have put my shirt back on. “And why is that Jason?”

His eye flashed with hurt, he knew I only used his first name when I was mad at him, “Because of what he does. You heard him, he fights for a living Blaze. And he was having a hell of a time trying not to hit me and I just met him.”

“Because you were being incredibly rude! And you’re right, you two had just met. If you would have given him five seconds you would have seen how amazing he is. Instead, you continued to push every button you could find, and why did you have to keep calling me your girl. I’m not your anything and you know that.”

“You’re my best friend Blaze.” He said softly.

“And I thought you were mine, but my best friend wouldn’t have treated anyone the way you just did, especially my boyfriend.” I turned to walk away but he grabbed my arm.

“Blaze I’m sorry. Please don’t walk away from me, I’ll make this up to you I swear.”

Yanking my arm from his loose hold, I stepped closer to his body, even though I was much shorter than him, he still backed up, “Do you have any idea how much you’ve embarrassed me?” I put my hands on his chest and shoved him back, “When I told them about you, all I did was gush over how awesome you were and how much I missed you. Then you show up and treat them this way?” I looked down trying to get ahold of my emotions that were all over the place. I was embarrassed, angry and sad for the loss of the Carter I knew. Huffing sadly, I glanced back up at him, “Go back to base Carter and please don’t call me anymore. You shouldn’t have come to California.”

He grabbed my hand when I turned away and pulled me back to his chest, wrapping his arms around me. “I’m so sorry Harper. I was being stupid, I just – I don’t know. I guess I felt threatened by them, you’re my best friend, and they were all looking at me like they wanted to protect you from me. It pissed me off, and I shouldn’t have let it. I’m really sorry.”

I sighed and put my arms around his waist, “Because they would protect me in a second. It’s just the same as it was on base, Carter. These guys are really protective of me and Bree. That’s why I’m so comfortable with them, it’s like I went from one family of a bunch of brothers, to another.”

“But you barely know them.”

“Carter,” I laughed lightly, “how long had I known you before you knocked out a guy from a different unit that said something about my chest?” He shifted his weight not wanting to answer, so I continued, “About two hours. It’s the same.”

“It’s not Blaze. I want to be the one to protect you. I don’t want anyone else to do my job.”

“Oh my God. What is it with you guys? I don’t need anyone protecting me and I’m not your responsibility.”

“I know you don’t,” he pulled back a bit and looked at my face, “there’s just something about you that makes guys go crazy wanting to take care of you.”

I rolled my eyes and cursed my tiny frame, “I know. Oh!” I smiled widely at him, “Did I tell you I busted some guy’s nose that was coming on too strong?”

His eyes darkened but he still smiled, “No, but I would’ve liked to see that.”

“He just wasn’t understanding that I didn’t want him, and then he challenged Brandon and I knew Brandon was going to do something, so I did it first. Smashed his face right into my knee,” I brought my knee up now, “See, I still have a bruise from it!”

Carter shook his head and hugged me to his chest again, “I’m proud of you Blaze.” He kissed the top of my head and I tensed, not knowing what to make of that, “Do you forgive me?”

Pulling away from him, I punched him lightly on the arm, “Yeah, but you need to be nice to my friends. And you need to apologize to Brandon.”

“You really like him?” His face twisted.

“Yes, I do. So be sweet!” I grabbed his arm and started walking back to everyone else, “It’s Friday so there will be a party at Chase’s house tonight. If you can get back on everyone’s good side, you all can come over and crash after.”

He stopped walking, “Yeah, what’s up with that guy anyway? To be honest, I would have thought he was your boyfriend, the way he looked was like he wanted to kill me.”

I laughed, “Honestly, I have no idea. You and Brandon are both wondering that. But he means well, I promise.”

Carter mumbled something under his breath, but I was already rushing over to my boyfriend so I didn’t hear him. Brandon stood when he saw me coming over and caught me in his arms, smiling against my mouth when I kissed him soundly.

“Everything okay?” He whispered in my ear before setting my feet on the ground.

“Yes, I’m really sorry, he isn’t usually like that.”

Brandon looked behind me and shook someone’s hand.

“Sorry man.” Carter said, “She just means a lot to me.”

“I understand that.” Brandon said as he stared in my eyes, warming my heart. “Come on, Harper made lunch for everyone, you and your guys are more than welcome to it.”

I smiled against Brandon’s chest. Even after Carter had been an ass, he was still being incredibly polite to him. We all sat down to eat, and stayed at the beach for another few hours. Everyone but Chase seemed to forgive Carter for the way he’d been when he first showed up. Even Brandon was laughing and joking with him as he invited them all back to the house for the party that night.

***

“Carter!” I yelled and ran over to hug him after slamming back another shot. This was the third Friday in a row he’d come to Chase’s house with some of the guys from his new unit.

He hugged me tightly and shook Brandon’s hand, “Sorry we’re late, it took forever to get off base.”

“Just glad you’re here now.”

Carter’s answering smile was warm and slow, and kind of confusing. “Me too.” His words were lost in the loud music, but it was obvious what he was saying. His arm was still around me, and I slid out of it, wrapping my arms around Brandon’s waist.

“Let’s get you a drink.” Brandon said as he led the way to the kitchen.

After we all had a beer in hand, Brandon gave me a weird look when we tried for the third time to start a conversation with Carter, and he just stared straight ahead. Chase walked through the kitchen, on his way to work I’m sure, and when he saw Carter his face fell as he pushed through him to leave. Carter glanced at him and drained his beer. It wasn’t weird for Chase to be rude, as far as I knew he still had yet to say anything to Carter. But usually Carter would make a snide remark to him, not just stand there and take it.

“Are you okay?” I asked, placing a hand on Carter’s arm.

He glanced to Brandon, then back to me, “I’m perfect, why?”

“You’re being really quiet.”

“I don’t have to keep you company every time I’m here, do I? As far as I’m concerned, that’s your boyfriend’s job.”

“Hey,” Brandon pulled me closer to his chest, “she’s just worried about you man. You don’t have to be an ass.”

Carter laughed humorlessly, “She doesn’t have a reason to be worried.”

“Look,” I leaned into Carter so I could speak in his ear, “obviously you’ve had a bad day, or week, and I’m sorry. But you need to have another drink, relax, and go find a girl or something.”

“I’ll be sure to do just that.” He grabbed another beer out of the fridge and left the kitchen.

Brandon kissed my neck, “Just let him go, he needs to chill for a bit.”

I nodded and tilted my head to give him better access, “I don’t know what his deal is, he’s been so different since he came to California.”

“Maybe he’s having a hard time getting used to his new unit.”

“You’re probably right.” turning, I wrapped my arms around his neck and slid my tongue across his bottom lip, I laughed huskily when he moaned, “Want to dance?”

He grabbed my hand and led me into the living room, smiling when Bree winked at me from where she was grinding on Konrad, they were finally exclusive. Pressing my back against Brandon’s chest I slowly started moving against him, loving the way his hard body felt against mine. I brought a hand up to cup the back of his neck when I felt his lips on my shoulder, and placed my other hand over one of his gripping the bottom of my shorts. My body felt like it was melting into him as heat burned through me, and I was once again left with my heart racing and wanting to take him somewhere where we could be alone. When the song changed into a faster one, Bree grabbed my hand and pulled me toward her, Brandon stayed right behind me. The four of us were dancing so close to each other, I kept brushing against Konrad’s legs and I knew Bree was having a hard time avoiding Brandon’s. While one of his hands stayed on my thigh, Brandon’s other raised up and went under my shirt, leaving it at the top of the denim I was wearing. My breath caught when he gripped me tighter, his pinky barely sliding under my shorts, the rest of his hand splayed across my bare stomach. I pressed my back against him even harder, resting my head on his shoulder and closing my eyes so all I could do was feel his body and hear the music. When my movement caused his ring finger to go below the waist of my shorts as well, my body trembled and I felt him harden against the small of my back. I don’t know if it was the shots, or the music, but I brought my hand behind my back and let it pass over the bulge in his jeans every time he’d move against me. Brandon trailed his fingers lower, skimming them across my satin underwear and I let out an involuntary moan, my body aching for his hand to continue lower. Suddenly, his hands and body were no longer touching me. I turned to ask what was wrong, but I lost my voice when I saw the passion and heat in his gray eyes.

“If I don’t back off for a minute, I’m going to take you right here in front of everyone.”

I grinned wickedly at him and watched him mentally talk himself into walking away without me. Good thing one of us could remember that we weren’t alone, I would have let him do anything to me just then, people surrounding us or not. I kept my eyes on Brandon while he walked to the kitchen, but had started dancing with Bree and Konrad again when a hand on my arm caused me to turn my head and look at an angry Carter. He tilted his head to the side and back, indicating the back yard so I followed, slowly making our way through the tightly packed bodies.

“Wha–”

Carter turned and roughly pressed his mouth to mine. My eyes went wide and I pushed against his chest, trying to scramble back.

“What the hell?!”

He was still holding my upper arms, his eyes smoldering, “Blaze, I want you. I’ve wanted you since I met you last year.”

My jaw dropped and I shook my head, “What?”

“I love you Harper.”

“No you don’t, we’re not like that, you know that!”

“No…I don’t know that. I moved here for you, I followed you across the country so I could be with you.”

I glanced at the people looking at us and tried to quiet my voice, “Carter, you’re my best friend. Don’t do this. Don’t try to change things between us, let’s just go back to how we were.”

“Did you never understand anything I did for you? Did you not hear everything I’ve ever said to you?” He looked at me incredulously, “I have never thought of you as just my best friend, I even asked your dad if I could date you and he made it clear as long as I was in his unit, I couldn’t. But I knew you would be leaving soon, I knew that was our chance to be together.”

“Carter,” I said softly, “I love you, but not like that. You even said it yourself, I’m like your little sister.”

“You know I was lying. I had to because you didn’t even wait five fucking seconds before hooking up with the first guy that you came across.”

My jaw dropped, “Jason!” I hissed.

“Just give us a chance Blaze, I can love you and take care of you better than he can. Better than anyone can.”

“I’m in love with Brandon, but even if I wasn’t, I would never think of you that way. I’m so–”

His lips were on mine again, and I leaned as far back as I could, “Stop!” I yelled as I shoved him off me.

As soon as he was a few feet away, someone grabbed me from behind and pulled me back further at the same time that Brandon plowed into Carter with his shoulder, knocking both of them to the ground. Sean and another Marine, Anthony, were on top of Brandon trying to pull him off, followed closely by Drew and Zach. I shot forward but Derek held me to his chest telling me not to get in the middle of it. As they started pulling each other off, Brad came out yelling for everyone to back off. It took a few more party goers for the fight to end, Anthony and Sean held Carter back as he continued to lunge for Brandon, I was surprised to see he wasn’t bleeding anywhere. Brandon just stood there with his hands down at his sides.

“What…nothing?!” Carter hissed, “You claim to be some fighter, let’s see it!”

Brandon continued to not move or say anything.

“DO SOMETHING!” Carter yelled.

“Enough!” Brad’s voice boomed across the back yard. “Get out. The three of you need to leave. Now.” Looking around him he threw up his hands, “Never mind, everyone get out. Party’s over. If you do not live or stay here, get out!”

Everyone started shuffling in, keeping a distance from the two Marines dragging Carter away. He was still taunting Brandon, who was now standing beside me, replacing Derek’s arms with his own. He wasn’t stopping me like Derek had though, Brandon’s arms were full of warmth as his fingers made small circles on my side and back.

“You okay?” He asked softly, still watching Carter leave.

“I’m fine, did you hurt him?”

“All I did was keep him on the ground.”

I nodded and buried my face in his chest, “I swear I had no idea about any of that.”

He chuckled, “I know you didn’t know, doesn’t mean the rest of us didn’t.”

“What do you mean?”

“Like he said sweetheart, everything he says to you or about you is laced with how much he wants you. You just didn’t realize it because you thought you were only friends.”

I felt incredibly stupid. “How much of that did you see?”

“The whole thing, it just took me a while to get through everyone to you.” He tilted my head up and I was surprised to see a wide grin on his face as he leaned in closer to me, “And I love you too Harper, so much.”

A smile stretched across my entire face as I hurried to press my mouth to his, murmuring how much I loved him against his lips.

After everyone left, we cleaned up from the party quickly, but when the guys and Bree sat down to watch a movie, Brandon grabbed my hand in his and led me to his bedroom. Flipping off the light, he locked the door and changed with his back to me as I slipped into a tank top and shorts. When we were under his comforter, he wrapped his arms around me, pressing my chest to his.

“I’m sorry if you wanted to stay up with them, it’s just been a long day, and all I want to do is be with you.”

I pressed my face into his neck, placing a light kiss into the base of it, “This is perfect.” After a few silent minutes I laughed softly, “I really was starting to enjoy the parties here too. I guess I’ll have to go back to avoiding them, too much drama.”

“One of these days, everyone will get the hint that we’re not going to leave each other. They’ll back off.”

“I hope so.”

“I love you sweetheart.”

My heart soared, “I love you too.”

***

I slipped out of bed the next morning to use the restroom and freshen up a bit, smiling the entire time. I was still on cloud nine from Brandon telling me he loved me. I’d known I was in love with him for a couple weeks now, but I had been too afraid to tell him. I guess that was one thing I could thank Carter for, he made us skip the awkward moment of telling each other for the first time. Carter. I rolled my eyes. He’d left me ten voicemails and dozens of texts last night apologizing, and I hadn’t said one thing back to him. I hated what I’d lost from our friendship in North Carolina, but he was just too different now, I didn’t know how we could even continue on being friends, especially after what happened last night. I mentally shook myself as I pulled my hair back into a loose low bun, I didn’t want to think about him right now. I just wanted to go back to my boyfriend, and spend the weekend wrapped up in his arms.