Reagan

I opened the front door to Carter’s family. He was already out back starting up the grill. Shifting to the side, I smiled and gestured them in. “Hi everyone.” I got a kiss on the cheek and a hug from everyone. Even Crispin pulled me down to kiss my cheek.

“Hi, dollface,” Crispin said before he moved past.

State, who was behind his boy, cracked up laughing. State stepped up, leaned in and kissed my cheek. “Hey, babe.”

“Hey.” I sighed.

“Jesus, State,” I heard Carter clip. I shook my head, and next Carter was at my side. With his arm around my waist, he turned me and led me away from State back into the kitchen. “Need help getting everyone’s drink, sweetheart.”

Right, drinks.

Wait… sweetheart?

What the…?

Beth called from in the fridge. “Ree, you need a bigger refrigerator, honey.” She was moving things around trying to get in the trays of items they brought with them.

“Ah, yes, one day I will.”

“There’s a cooler out back for drinks.”

“I’ve got it,” Calvin said, and picked up the beer and juices they also brought.

“Casp, check the grill for me,” Carter called as he shifted his mom aside and started moving more things around.

“On it.” Casper saluted, then disappeared out onto the deck.

“Who’d like a drink?” I asked, my brain still not quite focused because of Carter’s sweet endearment. I needed to push it aside, though, or else I didn’t think I’d survive the evening. I heard the front door open.

“I’ll get the drinks, darlin’,” Patty said with a tap on my shoulder. “You go greet your family.”

“Thanks.” I smiled and took off. I had to get to them before they saw who was here. “Hi.” I ran up to them, stopping them in the doorway.

Dad looked kind of pale. “They’re here. Do I look okay? Have they asked about us? What have you told them? Shit… I think I’m going to pee myself.”

“Herb.” Mom sighed. “Calm down.”

He shook his head. “Do you know one of Carter’s brothers just got his first role in a movie?”

“Yes, Carter mentioned it.” It was Casper. I hadn’t known he was trying to be an actor, but I could honestly see him going far with it. He had the looks, and I was sure the skills.

Then Dad added, “And the other is a lawyer? Carter’s dad’s sperm must be amazing.”

My head jerked back. “Tell me you didn’t just say that?”

“He said it,” Mom muttered.

“Dad, I swear if you mention to Patty anything about his sperm, I won’t get you tickets to the Super Bowl.”

His eyes widened. “My lips are sealed.” He nudged Mom. “She called him Patty.” He sniffed.

Dear God, please let me get through this night without thinking of murder.

“Come on, I’ll introduce you.”

I took Mom’s bowl of potato salad in my hands and then led them to the kitchen.

Everyone had disappeared except for Carter, Patty, and Beth. “Beth and Patty, I’d like you to meet my mom, Elaine, and my dad, Herb.”

Patty stepped forward with his hand out, and I saw when Dad’s hand came up it was shaking. “Great to meet you, Herb.” Patty smiled.

“Y-you too.” Dad nodded.

“Dad,” I whispered, and Dad quickly dropped Patty’s hand. He grabbed Mom by the shoulders and shoved her forward. “My wife. Elaine.”

“Hi, Elaine.”

“Hello,” Mom replied, and I thought that would be it. My shoulders started to sag, losing the tension I’d been holding, but then Mom just had to open her mouth again. “It’s a real pleasure to meet you both. Your son is amazing. You have a fantastic family actually. The genes in your family must be superb.”

I dropped my head back, eyes to the ceiling. Beth and Patty laughed. “Thanks, we’re really proud,” Beth replied.

I only straightened when Carter came to my side and placed his hands on my shoulders. “Relax.”

Out the corner of my mouth, I told him, “It’s easy for you to say. My dad was just talking about your dad’s sperm at the door.”

He chuckled. “Don’t worry about it. They’ll all like each other.”

Why was I worried about them liking each other so much? Honestly, I didn’t realize just how much that was true until Carter spoke, but the truth was, our families getting along was important to me. Maybe because I was concerned if they didn’t like one another, then I could lose Carter from my life.

I didn’t want that to happen.

The thought even churned my stomach.

If Carter disappeared from my life, while it sounded strange, my days would be bleaker.

I enjoyed Carter’s company.

I liked talking with him and having him come home as if it were his own.

I was falling in love with Carter.

There, I admitted it to myself. Now, what did I do with that information?

If I shared it with him, would he run?

Then again, he’d been the one to first reach out to me, kiss me, and he called me sweetheart…. Was Brooke actually right? Did Carter like me?

Oh God… oh God! It wasn’t the time for an epiphany.

“You okay?” Carter asked in my ear. I shivered.

“Yes!” I cried. Then when everyone turned our way, I laughed nervously. “Yes, I’m going to get the cold dishes for dinner set out soon. I can’t wait. Everything looks yummy.” Shut up, Reagan. Turning to Carter, I rested my hand on his back and said, “Why don’t you take Dad and Patty outside and help with the meat.” I twisted around, shoved him forward and he stepped past me, I slapped him on the butt. “Good job.” I nodded when he looked back over his shoulder. I also threw in two thumbs-up.

“You sure you’re okay?” he asked.

“Great. Fine. Wonderful.” I smiled, only it wobbled a bit.

“Reagan?”

“Carter.” I laughed. “Honestly, I’m fine. You should actually tell your parents your news.” He’d told me yesterday he was finishing up at the end of the season. He’d thought about it for a while, but he finally told the team manager. Only, due to his plans to leave, he had to go away for three weeks of events, interviews, and away games. The Super Bowl, though, would be in our town, and he wanted me there with my family, and us all to be with his family in the boxed area.

“What news?” Beth asked.

I blanched for blurting it out. Carter ran a hand over his face. “Come on, let’s all head outside and I’ll tell you.”

After more introductions were made, Carter told his family his plan. They were all happy for him. Only Beth didn’t like he’d be away for three weeks. I didn’t either, but I wouldn’t say anything. Carter had to leave, for himself and for his team.

“It’s only three weeks, Mom,” Carter said. “I’ll be back before you know it.”

She glanced from her son to me for some reason. “Yes, I know.”

I jumped when Casper came up to my side and flung his arm around my shoulder. “Don’t worry, Carter. I’ll be sure to pop in to make sure our sister is okay.”

Our sister?

Had Carter told Casper he saw me as his sister?

Since I was looking at Casper in confusion, I then peered at Carter and was surprised to see Calvin and State standing with him, but with their hands on his arms. Casper chuckled beside me, and I shifted my gaze his way.

“Ree,” Court called. “Don’t mind the idiot. Come sit by me.”

Nodding, I slipped out from under Casper’s arm and headed over to where Courtney was sitting. Crispin and Caitlyn went out into the backyard further to throw the ball around with Dad. I could already see how Dad would make a good granddad. As I sat next to Courtney, I glanced at Mom, Beth, and Patty talking quietly. I shuddered. God only knew what Mom could be saying.

Courtney’s laughter brought my attention back to her. “Don’t worry about them. I have faith everyone will get along.”

“I hope so.”

“Because you like Carter living here or because you just like my brother?”

My body locked, but I felt my eyes widen while my mouth gaped.

She let out another laugh. “You do.”

I snorted. “No. I mean, he’s great to have as a housemate, but we’re friends.”

“Hmm,” was all she said. I really hated it when people just hummed and said nothing else. I wanted to shake her and make her tell me what that “hmm” meant, but I had a feeling it was best to leave it alone.

“So, ah, how did you and State meet?”

She smiled. “My friend was dating the president of his MC club. She asked if I wanted to come to one of their parties. I was scared. Very scared. But I did, and that’s when I met him.”

“Have you been together ever since that night?”

She shook her head. “Oh no. He made me feel things too fast which kind of scared the bejesus out of me. I ran, and it wasn’t until he walked into my work to ask me out that I realized I regretted running that night because all I could do was think about him and the what-ifs. I said yes to a date to see how it went.”

Grinning, I asked, “How did it go?”

“Terrible. He got arrested for being a suspect in a murder. He didn’t do it of course. Some of the cops have it out for his club. Think the MC deals in drugs and all types of illegal stuff, but they don’t. I freaked out, ran home to Mom and Dad. They helped me find the best lawyer and the next day when he walked out of jail, we were an item.”

“Not an item, baby. You were my woman and I was your man,” State said, coming up to us. He picked Courtney up, sat in her spot and placed her on his lap. “How you handlin’ everyone gettin’ together?”

I smiled. “Better now.”

“Saw your expression earlier. It wasn’t what you think.”

I tilted my head to the side. “What do you mean?”

“State,” Courtney warned.

He winked at his wife. “Carter doesn’t see you as a sister.”

My lips parted. Oh. What did I say to that?

“Erm….”

State chuckled.

“Oh, look, someone else has arrived,” Courtney pointed to the house. I glanced over my shoulder.

“What the fuck?” I whispered.

Brooke saw me. She bounded up and left the other person behind. “She spotted me down the street. Somehow I mentioned the barbecue, and she wouldn’t listen to me when I said she wasn’t invited. Apparently, she had to show and see Carter’s family because she remembered them so fondly.”

“Who’s that?” State asked in a rough tone.

All I could do was stare at Elena standing in my house. Well, on my back patio. While she knew where I lived, to show up like this was all levels of not okay. She beamed a pleasant smile at Beth and Patty while making her way over to them. Carter hadn’t even noticed her. He was talking to Casper and Calvin at the grill.

“Hi,” I heard Brooke reply to State. “I’m Brooke. Reagan’s best friend. And that’s the spawn of Satan.”

“Carter’s ex, Elena,” Courtney supplied.

“Babe,” State called.

I fisted my hands so I wouldn’t storm over to Elena and shove one of them down her throat. Did she have no brains at all? Why was she still trying with Carter?

“Babe,” State called again. Since no one else answered him, I turned. When he had my eyes, he asked, “She a problem for you?”

“I….” I didn’t know. I didn’t think Carter would be charmed by her, but a small part of me thought she was perfect in looks to be with him. I hated I felt that way. I loved myself enough to know I wasn’t an ugly duckling. But Elena was stunning, plus they had a past.

State went to stand. Courtney said, “Wait. Just wait. Carter will deal with it.”

It was then Patty called out to his son, “Carter, ah….” When Carter looked over to him and Patty thumbed toward Elena, Carter spat out his drink.

“Elena, what are you doing here?” he called, and then his eyes sought me out. When he rolled his eyes at me and smiled, my body relaxed. I undug my nails from my palms because he didn’t want her here either.

Carter handed his beer over to Casper and started toward Elena. Everyone watched in silence. “What are you doing here?” he asked again.

She smiled. “Brooke was telling me you were having a barbecue, she asked me to come along.”

“Lying bitch,” Brooke coughed loudly into her fist. Everyone glanced at her. She looked over her shoulder. “Who said that?”

State chuckled, and I saw Casper and Calvin look at one another before they made their way over.

“Sorry, but Brooke shouldn’t have said anything. This is just a family event.”

Oh, wow. That warmed my belly, melting the ice I’d let form.

When she placed her palm flat against his chest, Brooke’s hand landed on my forehead pushing me back. I hadn’t realized I’d already started to get up, but I didn’t like seeing Elena touch him.

“Thanks,” I muttered.

“No worries.” Brooke smiled. “Sorry about that. I didn’t think she’d have the nerve, but she drove right here. I even tried to tackle her out front, but she’s a slippery bitch.”

“Will you marry me?” Casper asked.

Brooke looked at him, eyed him up and down, and then shook her head. “No. Thanks though.”

“Elena, you should go,” we heard; it was louder than our own conversation, so I could tell Carter was becoming irritated.

“Come on, Carter. My place is so much better than here. I’m sure Reagan wouldn’t even let you have parties. She’s so straight-laced. You can have all the parties you want at my place. Even invite your friends over.”

“And there we have it, ladies and gents,” Brooke announced. I nodded.

“What?” State asked.

I shook my head. “I didn’t actually think she was serious when she wanted me to offer Carter her place to live instead of here.”

“She did?” Calvin laughed. “That’d never happen.”

“I’m guessin’ her ulterior motive is to sink her claws into one of Carter’s friends then. Another reason she’d fight to have Carter live with her,” State said.

I nodded. “If she has Carter at her place, she’ll have a greater chance of snagging a football player.”

“When Carter left for college, I was down the street and overheard Elena talking,” Casper said. “She was telling her friends the only reason she was with him was she’d get his money to spend if they stayed together.”

“Jesus,” State clipped. “I swear there are some real dumb bitches out there. It’s like she’s the evil, yet pathetically stupid character out of a book.”

We all agreed. I glanced back in time to see Elena being led out by Mom and Beth. Her arms were flailing around, which told me she would be ranting and raving.

Carter made it our way, while Patty went to the grill and Dad stepped up with him. Carter stopped just before me. “You all right?”

More warmth spread through my belly and up into my heart. “Yes. We all know what she’s like.”

He searched my face. Maybe to see if I was faking being okay, but he wouldn’t find anything because I was fine. He got rid of her.

“Good.” He nodded, and then turned going back to the grill with Casper and Calvin following.

“Aww, he’s so cutely obvious,” Brooke gushed, taking a seat next to me.

I just stared at her wide-eyed.

She sighed, reached up and patted the top of my head. State and Courtney laughed.

I gulped. Brooke had been right. Carter Anthony did like me.

Eeek!

What did I do with that information?

Act on it?

Ignore it?

Try to pretend I didn’t know?

Wait for him to act on it?

Maybe he thought that I thought we were just friends. Should I show him I wouldn’t mind more or was it too early?

Oh God, I didn’t know how to think or what to do.

If it were anyone else other than Carter, I wouldn’t be so freaked out, but this was Carter, and I didn’t want anything or anyone, myself included, to stuff up what could be between us.

“You okay there?” Brooke asked, interrupting the conversation she was having with Courtney and State.

“Yep,” I replied. But I wasn’t because I was finding it hard to breathe. Was I sweating? It felt like I was sweating.

“You sure?” State asked.

“Ree, you don’t look so good.”

Brooke giggled. I felt another pat on my head. “She’s all right. Just finally understanding something. She’ll come out of it shortly.”