But He’s My Roommate (But He’s a Carter Brother #4)

1. Maverick Carter

Chapter one

Maverick Carter

I’m not an impulsive person. It’s rare that I do anything without thinking first. I often tell people I’m going to sleep on it when asked about making a decision. But some things–like emergencies–require instantaneous action. My life-long best friend calling me and telling me his sister is in trouble? Yeah, that falls into the emergency category. Which is why I’m headed to the airport at three in the morning.

“Did she say she needed help?” my brother Grayson asks as he drives. When I told him I needed a ride, he didn’t ask any questions except what time he needed to pick me up. I guess he was waiting to start his interrogation for when I was sleep deprived.

“I don’t know,” I reply, looking out the window at the reflection of brake lights on the rain slick roads. Drew–my best friend–is on his way as well, being driven by his wife Kayla.

“Is she hurt?” Grayson asks .

I clench my fists at the thought of anyone laying a hand on Evie. “I don’t know.”

“What exactly did she say on the phone?”

“I don’t know,” I echo my previous statement again.

“Do you know anything ?” Grayson asks with a laugh. “You’re about to fly to New York and show up on her doorstep; it feels like you should have a little background knowledge.”

I shoot him a look. “Since when are you the expert in rationality?”

“One of us needs to be, and since none of the other siblings are here and you know nothing, it looks like the job has fallen to me.”

“We’re all doomed if that’s the case,” I say flatly.

“I’m just looking out for you, Mav. What if you show up and her husband is there ready to fight?”

My stomach bottoms out at the thought of seeing Evie’s husband. It still hasn’t fully sunk in that she’s a wife. Not to mention a mother . In my mind, she’s the wild and carefree girl I grew up with. All that changed within the last year, or maybe it escalated into something more. Suddenly she was eloping with a male model, then practically cutting off communication with all of us and only calling to tell Drew she was pregnant. I had a bad feeling the first time I heard about her husband, but I figured it was me picking up on Drew’s disdain for him. It was only after she stopped answering my texts and calls–along with his–that I began to worry. My concern only increased over time as she became more distant, even after announcing her pregnancy. Anger flares hot in my chest at the thought of him keeping her away from her loved ones.

“Then we’ll fight,” I answer. “We wouldn’t be going there if he was a good husband. ”

Grayson goes quiet for a moment, a rarity for him. He must really be concerned.

“We’re going to be safe,” I reassure him. “Drew might be overprotective, but he’s smart. He wouldn’t put us in a bad position. I know I don’t have all the details, but I don’t need them. I trust him.”

Grayson runs a hand through his hair, then places it back on the wheel. “I trust him too, but it doesn’t mean I love the idea of you flying out with no information. I wish you’d have let us come too.”

Us meaning him and our other brothers, Levi and Adrian. As soon as word got out that I was leaving, every one offered to come along as back up. But Drew said he didn’t want to overwhelm Evie. He told me she sounded exhausted on the phone and that having the whole Carter family show up would be too much for her. Knowing my brothers, I wholeheartedly agreed.

“We’ll be fine. You know we can handle ourselves.” I’ve got years of boxing experience under my belt. Drew is in the army and grew up fighting the same way I did. It would take a lot to bring both of us down.

“I know you can, I just hope you don’t actually have to.”

“Me too,” I say, but I’m not sure how much I mean it. If what I think happened to Evie is true–and Drew implied that it is–then I’ll take the first opportunity I get to knock her idiot husband unconscious.

The rest of the ride is spent with Grayson singing along to music at decibels that should be illegal before the sun is up. He says it’s helping him stay awake, but I think the coffee in his cup holder is doing that just fine. He’s usually not allowed to drink coffee, because even though he’s a grown man, he turns into even more of a menace when he consumes caffeine. This morning he showed up to my house and demanded I make him a cup for his troubles. I wish I had said no instead of feeling guilty for waking him up so early.

I let out a sigh of relief when he parks and shuts off his car. Blessed silence fills my ears.

“I’m going to buy Sloane earplugs as a wedding gift,” I tell him and he rolls his eyes.

Grayson and Sloane have been engaged for a few months now. What started as a fake relationship to pull one over on her family turned into something real. They’re so in love it’s hard to be around them. Grayson dotes on her like she’s royalty and I swear they’re always touching in some way.

“She loves my singing, thank you very much.”

“It’s not your singing that’s the problem, it’s how loud you and the music are,” I say with a laugh.

I pull my small black suitcase from the trunk, then sling the matching backpack over my shoulder. We start toward the airport. The air is cool, but not cold since it’s early September and Atlanta likes to hold on to summer for as long as possible.

“If you turn it up loud you can pretend you’re at a concert. What’s more fun than a concert?”

“Peace?” I suggest with a smirk.

He shoves my shoulder. “You should be applauding me after all my singing since I drove you here. I could be sound asleep right now.”

The sound of cars and people grow louder as we near the airport entrance.

“I am grateful you brought me, even if I had to endure the show on the way,” I say as we pass through the sliding doors. Freezing air greets us, along with far too many people in one location at this time of day.

“It was no big deal. I know you’d do the same for me.”

He’s right. All of our siblings would. In fact, everyone volunteered, but Grayson was the most logical since his house is closest to mine, though not by much. I live out in the country, away from the bustle of the city, whereas Grayson lives in the suburbs. We both have family homes as unmarried men, though he’ll be filling his soon enough once he and Sloane tie the knot. I used to live in an apartment, but I got tired of living so close to people. When a large farmhouse on seven acres of land went on the market, I snatched it up. It was the best decision I ever made, even if it’s only me and my dog Maisy out there.

“All right,” I say, coming to a stop outside of security. “I think this is as far as you can go.”

“If this was back in the day I’d be able to go anywhere I wanted, but yeah this is as far as I can go.” Grayson grins and pulls me in for a hug. He used to be an air marshal but retired to work with our brother Adrian in private security a few years back.

“I’d tell you not to do anything I wouldn’t do, but that bar is pretty low,” he says as he pulls back.

I chuckle. “I’ll be smart. Don’t worry. As soon as I know more, I’ll text you guys.”

“Good. Give Evie a hug for me.”

I nod then turn and head to security. After I make it through, I find Drew by our gate and slump into the seat next to him.

“So, what’s the plan?”

Turns out, Drew has less of a plan than I thought. The strategy essentially consists of showing up and seeing what Evie needs from us. He’s been far too dodgy of my questions over the course of the flight, which has worry kneading my stomach like bread dough. This is why I don’t make impulse decisions. I should have asked more questions, but my concern for Evie built up over the last year and his call was the last straw. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure she’s safe. Even if what it takes is going into a situation blind.

We pull our stuff out of the Uber that drove us to Evie’s street. After the chaos of the LaGuardia Airport, I’d hoped that the street wouldn’t be too busy. My hopes are dashed as soon as we’re out of the car though. SoHo is teeming with people. Businesses have lines out the door that crowd the sidewalks. It’s around nine in the morning, but it looks like a noon rush hour.

“How does she live here with all this noise?” I ask and Drew chuckles as he slings his backpack over his shoulder.

“You know how Evie is, she’s always thrived in chaos.” His expression falters when he says thrived . “At least, she used to.”

“You still haven’t told me much. Don’t think I can’t tell you’re keeping something from me.” I raise my voice over the sounds of the city as we walk toward Evie’s apartment building.

“There’s not much to tell. Evie needs our help, so we’re here to give it,” he replies.

I give him a look that tells him I’m unconvinced. “I’d like to be prepared for what we’re headed into.”

“You’re as prepared as you can be,” he says ominously .

With a sigh, I follow him into the lobby of Evie’s building. It’s not overly extravagant, but the space is clean with glossy floors and a cozy waiting area complete with a royal blue couch and emerald green chairs that shouldn’t match but somehow do. There’s a reception desk with an amiable-looking security guard smiling at us. To the left is a wall of mailboxes, and in the far right are two elevators.

“Hello,” Drew greets the security guard with a smile. “I’m here to see Evie Wilder, she lives in apartment 533. I’m her brother, Drew.”

The man nods. “I’ll let her know you’re here.” He picks up the phone and presses a few buttons.

Drew shifts on his feet, more nervous than he should be. Sure, seeing Evie is going to be awkward, but that’s all. My stomach sinks. Something isn’t right. The guard murmurs in a low tone, then places the phone back on the holder.

“She said she’ll be right down.”

Right down? Why wouldn’t she just let us up? I look to Drew, who’s smiling at the man.

“Okay, thank you.”

We walk over to the waiting area. I let my bags drop with a thunk on the tile floor. Drew sits in one of the green chairs, his hands hanging between his knees, head down.

“Why didn’t she let us up?” I ask him, though I feel like I already know the answer. My best friend stays silent, guilt coming off him in waves.

It hits me. Evie didn’t know we were coming.

There’s no time to process the realization though, because the elevator dings. I turn and find Evie storming over to us, a baby tucked into a rust-colored sling across her chest. She’s wearing brown leggings and an oversized cream sweater. Her soft brown hair looks a little disheveled, like she’s been running her hands through it. When her fierce gaze catches mine, her step falters slightly. The guard didn’t tell her I was here, so I’m likely another fun surprise. She recovers quickly, though, and maintains her fiery glare as she nears.

“ What are you doing here? ”