CHAPTER FIFTEEN #2
“You dragged me here, drove like you were chasing the ice cream van, and shoved me in front of a woman who has already been through enough. If you were honest with yourself, you’re only being extra because she reminds you of someone.”
His nose scrunches up. “Who the hell is she supposed to remind me of?”
No, don’t say it, lady.
Don’t say it.
Arching her brow, his wife replies, “You.”
Fuck, she said it. I stick my fingers in my ears, blocking out the screeching coming from not only Max but Malia.
It takes a minute for them to split up, and that’s when I relax somewhat.
“Food has arrived,” Milly cries in happiness. “Oh, we have Indian. No wait, we have Chinese too. Oh my god, there’s chicken. This is the best day of my life. I don’t know how to handle all this joy.”
“Aww, is she like this Christmas morning?” Freya asks.
I sigh sadly. “Believe it or not, no.”
I hadn’t even noticed more food being dropped off, or that the newcomers had arrived.
It’s hours away from bedtime, and yet all I want to do is go and get in to bed and lie down.
Food is the last thing on my mind. And after today, I would have thought it would be the last thing on the Hayes’ minds, yet they are here, sitting down, like today didn’t happen. I wish I had that capability.
*** *** ***
The Carters never fail to entertain me. My belly hurts from laughing so hard, and my head hurts from trying to keep up with their arguments.
The ache in my stomach still remains, and a soft throbbing in my head still lingers.
My throat became raw when I had to watch Maverick drag Max by his ankle to his car.
Someone, and I won’t name Hayden, went out and bought some alcohol.
I say some, but I’m pretty sure she emptied our nearest corner shop of their liquor.
What was meant to be feeding people who have had a long day, somehow ended up in a full-on party.
And the Carters partied hard. I did point out that I think they were worried about the Hayes family and were trying to cheer them up.
They denied my assessment but I still stand by it.
It doesn’t matter that Reid is sporting a split lip courtesy of Landon, and it doesn’t matter that Maddox, who had popped in briefly, left covered in dried dirt.
Most are gone now, leaving only Mark, Landon, and Lily from the Carter side, and Jaxon, Paisley, Liza, and Reid from the Hayes family.
Liam, who is connected to both families, is still lingering too.
Quiet, brooding, always so watchful and alert.
Normally, a computer geek only sees what is on a screen, not what is going on around them.
Liam, however, seems to be highly aware of both.
“Are you even listening to me?” Malia slurs, kicking my foot off the lawn chair I’m sitting in.
“Sorry, what were you saying?” I ask, my ears still buzzing from listening to Max get dragged out of here. It wasn’t that long ago, and I guess I’ve been waiting for the police to show up to look for some sort of crime scene because I’m still staring at the driveway.
“I said, we might not have planning permission yet, but we could still use you. You won’t go without money.”
I roll my eyes, or at least, I think I do.
It’s hard to tell when I’m pretty sure Malia grew a twin in the past hour.
“I’m not letting you give me money. You’ve only just submitted your business plan and budget to the council.
It’s going to take at least twelve weeks to hear back from them.
Then you’ll need to get a licence before you even think about looking for builders.
You’re looking at next year at the earliest for opening, and personally, with our council, I think I’m being generous.
I’m not taking your money for that long. I have to work.”
“She’s scared she’ll grow lazy,” Freya mumbles, and I grin, seeing she’s now awake.
“We need help with the chickens,” Mercedes offers.
I drop my chin into the palm of my hands.
“I can’t believe I don’t have a job. I can’t not have a job.
What will I do with my time? There’s so much of it.
People say there isn’t, but they’ve clearly not had a minute to themselves.
A second to some people is like a minute for me.
I can’t be that person. I can’t. I’ll drive myself insane. ”
“You’re rambling,” Mercedes teases.
“Come work for me,” Paisley offers. “I need the help. Halloween and Christmas are coming up too, so I really need to focus on the bed and breakfast. I need someone to run the spa side, and maybe my schedule. It’s been crazy since we opened, and each time I think it will die down, it only gets busier. ”
“Please don’t pity hire me,” I plead, especially when the job sounds so appealing.
Landon glances up from his phone. “Oh, it’s not. Trust me, she really does need someone to help. She’s been interviewing for months.”
Paisley huffs out a breath. “On paper, they’re great. Truly. But I can make Reid look great on paper.”
“Hey,” he snaps.
She waves him off. “My point is, it’s the person. And I’m sick of girls flirting with Landon like I’m not even in the room. One even slipped him her number,” she starts.
“She’s not lying. Even after I told the girl to fuck off.”
Mercedes’ head tilts to the side as she regards Landon. “You didn’t tell her you had a girlfriend?”
His face scrunches up. “No.”
“No?” I repeat, and glance at Paisley, wondering why she isn’t upset.
He sighs, like he’s inconvenienced by this conversation, which makes my lips twitch.
“One, it’s clear to our fucking duck that Paisley and I are together.
These people just didn’t care we were together.
When the last one stopped me at my van, asking me out, she needed a fucking explanation as to why I said no.
It pisses me off. I’m Paisley’s. End of. ”
Paisley rolls her eyes. “He also doesn’t like explaining himself.”
“I still think it’s dodgy. Just tell them you are together,” Reid growls.
Landon glares in his direction. “If they can’t interpret the fucking obvious in front of them, or take the hint when I tell them to fuck off, what makes you think me telling them is going to make a difference?
Plus, she’s not just a girlfriend to me.
That seems insignificant to what we actually are. ”
Paisley melts into his side. “And he feels like if he says he’s in a relationship, he’s basically saying, sorry, I’m with someone but if I wasn’t...” she shrugs. “Anyway, will you at least come and interview for the job? I won’t be offended if you don’t want to work for me.”
My eyes widen. “Are you kidding? I’d love to work for you. I’ll come. Since this isn’t a pity job.”
“Mine wasn’t,” Mercedes argues.
“It was,” I reply sweetly.
“Mine wasn’t either,” Freya grumbles, falling into me.
“I’m pretty sure if you ask Mark nicely enough, he will massage your feet and you won’t lose money doing it.”
She yawns. “Still mean.”
“I think we should call it a night,” Liza suggests. “Some of us aren’t cut out for drinking.”
I snicker at the sight of Mark slumped over Freya’s back. I’m pretty sure he was snoring five minutes ago.
Malia sighs. “Or food,” she replies, glancing over at Milly sprawled out with Magnolia on the sun lounger. Food covers her mouth and shirt. I’m pretty sure the only thing that could wake her from her food coma is the smell of more food.
“Come on, Mark, we will take you home,” Lily whispers whilst nudging him.
“I’ll help him get in the car,” Freya promises.
“Why don’t you wait until I get him in the back and I’ll come back for you,” Jaxon offers, his lips twitching when she misses picking up her bag for the fourth time.
My attention is pulled back to Lily when she begins to make her way over to me. They’ve not long got back from dropping off Jaxon’s brothers. It’s late, and I bet all she wants is to get her husband and little girl home.
She pulls me in for a hug. “Thank you for what you did today. I can’t bear to think about the alternative. I’m just so grateful to you for getting there when you did.”
I rub her arms when I feel her shiver against me, and I know it’s not because there’s a chill in the air because it’s a muggy night. “I’m glad I could help.”
Although I do feel like I have imposter syndrome. I didn’t really do anything but yell to get out of the house. I feel like they are giving me way too much credit.
Reid gets up, kissing his mum on the cheek. “I’ll see you tomorrow once I’m done.” He then turns to Jaxon who is back from getting Mark into the car. “Call me if you need anything.”
My eyebrows bunch together. “You aren’t going home with your mum?” I ask.
“I’m going to stay here. By now, your boss is surely going to connect you to us. I want to be here in case something happens.”
I’m not the first to laugh. Malia is. So I don’t feel bad when the flesh on his cheeks tinges pink.
“You are so cute, Reid Hayes,” she splutters.
I try to cover the laugh, I do, but he still notices and his eyes narrow. “I’m still stopping over. Laugh all you want. I’d rather be safe than sorry.”
Liza gets up next, Malia at her side, who happens to still be laughing.
“I know you girls can take care of yourselves, but give us all some peace of mind tonight. Let my son stay. That way, none of us are alone. Plus, I had the materials sent to the fence line so he’ll be making those repairs tomorrow morning. ”
Malia silently questions me if it’s okay. I bite my lower lip, glancing at Reid from my peripheral vision, then shrug. I mean, it wouldn’t hurt anyone. Probably test my sanity but it wouldn’t hurt anyone.
She sighs, slapping her hands down at her side. “Alright, but only to give you all peace of mind. Nothing more,” she explains, then glances around. “Come on, I’m shattered. Let’s get everything cleared up.”
Once the goodbyes are shared, I pick up a black bag and begin to clear up the mess we have left behind. Malia isn’t the only one who is shattered.
My only problem is, will I be able to sleep knowing Reid is one floor down?