"Who the hell was that?" Den growls at me as we near our house.

Taylor is still tucked into my side, but her left leg is dragging; she's dead on her feet. I sweep her up into my arms, cradling her against my chest. She begins to protest, but I place a kiss against her forehead.

"Shh, babe. Sleep," I tell her, watching as her eyes flutter closed.

"Carter," Denver says, catching my attention.

"What?"

"Who was that guy?" He jerks his head back to the street, indicating the way we came from.

"Oh, that was Barrington."

"Barrington?" my brother echoes, saying the name as if it's distasteful.

I nod. "A guy that runs in Taylor's circles."

My brother looks at her with sympathy for a moment. "Poor girl. Having to socialize with that waste of space."

I chuckle. "Let me get her to sleep." I climb the steps to the house and enter.

Evie is sitting on the living room couch, staring at her phone. "Graham! Hang on, I didn't get to see the, oh. I see it! The Berlin Wall," she breathes out.

"Goodnight, Evie. Say hi to your brother," I say as I start up the steps.

Evie waves at me over the phone, chatting with her brother who is currently stationed in Germany.

"Wait, you're going to bed now? For real?" Sierra asks my sister as I pass the bathroom. The door is wide open, and they both stand before the sink, toothbrushes hanging from their mouths as they have a conversation, staring at each other in the mirror.

"Yeah, so tired," Daisy huffs out, a spittle of toothpaste sticking to the glass of the mirror.

"You girls are disgusting. Sleep on your sides," I tell them as I clear the doorway.

"Night Carter," Daisy says, and I hear her spit into the sink.

"Thanks for the drinks," Sierra calls out.

I enter my bedroom, kicking the door closed behind me.

Laying Taylor on my bed, I sit next to her sleeping form. She wrinkles her nose but doesn't wake up. My sweet girl; she's exhausted. Unbuckling her sandals, I drop them to the floor. Then I pull back the comforter and tuck her legs inside, pulling the blanket up until it reaches her shoulders.

I take off my jeans and shirt and climb in next to her, kissing the soft, smooth skin of her forehead and letting sleep pull me under as Taylor's warm body and sweet scent fills my dreams.

"Oh, my God."

"Stop!"

"Are you for real?"

"Did that happen?"

"I can't believe y'all are leaving tomorrow."

"I know. Me either."

"Is Carter awake yet?"

I groan, rolling over and feeling empty space beside me, the imprint of Taylor's delicious body still marking my sheets. The space is still warm from her presence, and I breathe in the scent of flowers that seems to follow her as I roll onto her pillow.

A soft tap on the door has me raising my head as Taylor pushes into my room. I rub the sleep from my eyes and take a moment to just stare at her. God, she is more beautiful without makeup than with it. She looks tired, but her smile is wide and infectious.

"Good morning." I hold a hand out to her as she perches on the edge of my bed.

Pulling her toward me, I rest my head in her lap and look up into her bright blue eyes. Her hair is tangled and wild, framing her face like a halo. Her lips are pale pink and full, her skin smooth and creamy. I could spend the whole freaking day just watching her and noting the expressions rippling over her features.

Happy. Excited. Nervous. Unsure.

"What are you thinking so hard about this early in the morning?"

Relieved. She beams down at me, her fingers running lightly over my scalp and I close my eyes.

"How do you feel?" I ask, peering up at her again.

"Not as bad as I should." She laughs, scraping her teeth over her bottom lip.

"Then you're still drunk," I tell her, shifting my weight so I can pull her down across my bed and hover over her.

She blinks up at me and bites her lip again. "If this is drunk, then I'm going to become an alcoholic."

I snort, leaning forward to kiss her once, twice, three times before my bedroom door bangs open, and I'm completely cock-blocked by... my sister.

"Sorry," she says immediately when she takes in our position.

I glare up at her, and Taylor tips her head back so she can see Daisy upside down.

"Can you shut the door?" I give Daisy an incredulous look. I mean, she's a smart girl. She should have hightailed it out of here by now.

Daisy closes the door and walks closer to my bed, waiting.

I sigh, sitting back on my heels and tugging Taylor up so her back can rest against my chest.

"You're the worst," I tell my sister.

She waves a hand dismissively. "I have to tell you something."

My blood ices at her serious expression, and my thoughts turn to the worst possible scenarios to explain the gravity lining Daisy's normally sunny face. "What's wrong?"

She leans closer and drops her voice to a whisper. "I think Sierra hooked up with someone last night."

"Okay," I whisper back, raising my eyebrows to indicate that she should get to the point.

"I think it was Denver."

I throw my head back and laugh, the idea so ridiculous that it's actually funny.

Daisy steps closer and clamps her hand over my mouth, shushing me.

My mouth drops open. "You're serious?"

She nods.

"No fucking way."

"Yes."

Taylor turns her head, looking at me with confusion. "Is that a bad thing?"

I stop to think about it before shaking my head. "No, it's not bad, but it's really surprising. Denver doesn't, I don't know, he doesn't ever take women here, so I have no clue what the hell he does."

"She's my best friend," my sister whines like a little girl again. "What if he pisses her off and she—"

"Stop. I'm sure it was a fun night of drunken debauchery and poor decisions. They'll move on. Denver will still be your brother, and Sierra will still be your friend."

"I guess," she huffs, uncertain.

I pinch the bridge of my nose, blowing out a deep breath. "What a weekend."

"I had fun last night," Taylor admits.

"Me too." Daisy agrees. "I'm sorry we crashed your date, but I'm so glad I got to hang out with you. I wish Jax and Evie were staying."

Taylor nods as I gesture Daisy toward the door.

"Also, Denver’s making eggs benedict and your plate is up first," Daisy tells Taylor as she turns to finally leave us alone.

“Denver’s making breakfast?” Taylor stands from my bed, her eyes darting between Daisy and I like she doesn’t know if she should go to be polite or stay because it’s obviously the better option.

My sister nods and holds the door open. "He likes to cook. And guests always get served first so you’re up. Then Sierra. Then me. I’m starving.”

“Oh, okay. Thanks.” Taylor follows Daisy out of the door, shooting me an apologetic glance over her shoulder.

I groan again, throwing myself back across the pillows. I really need to move out and be an adult. I can't be having my little sister interrupt me and my big brother's drama overshadow time with my girl.

Listening to Daisy and Taylor's voices mingle as they move down the hallway toward the stairs, I force myself to get out of bed and pull on a pair of shorts.

I guess any chances of morning sex and a nap are out.