Page 102 of Carte

“Why haven’t you brought him back two days ago, when I gave Max the tickets.”

“Wait, how do you even know it was my idea in the first place?” Carter eyed his sister.

“It’s my fault,” Max grimaced as he walked down the hall to the door. “She came into our room, and threatened to sleep with us if I didn’t spill.”

“So what?” Carter frowned.

“Well, I was in pain. I hadn’t seen Skylar for three days.”

“And how did she know to come to you?” Carter pushed. “We had a plan, all of us were supposed to be out of town. She would never guess where he was, or who’s idea it was.

“That was me,” Chace mumbled, raising his arm, shuffling to the huddle. “She waited for Alina and I to come home. And then, once we entered our room, she turned the lights and asked if we could have a slumber party.”

I was seeing a theme here.

“You cock blocked them?” Carter gasped.

“I wasn't getting any, so why would they.”

A laugh boomed from behind me, and Jason took my hand pulling me deeper into his home, “C’me on, Harley. Let’s sit, and enjoy the show.”

At his words, Carter smiled, “Well guys, it’s time to get Jason drunk.”

“Oh no , you won’t” Rory got up on her tiptoes.

“Payback’s a bitch, sis.”

I could hear Rory's growl, and Max’s and Chace’s mirth as they closed the door and walked deeper into the home.

Alina grabbed my hand and awed and ohhed over my engagement ring. Skylar was talking softly to Max.

Jason was nuzzling Rory’s neck, and Chace and Carter watched everyone with soft smiles playing on their mouths.

This was it.

This was what I was looking for all my life.

My found little family.

For the first time in my life, I belonged.

And I had someone to call my own.

My eyes found Carter’s, and I mouthed, “I love you.”

His face got gentle, but that was the last thing I saw before I turned around and accepted a hug from Alina, my sister of heart. And soon to be an official one.

Bonus Epilogue

Carter

Five Years Later

“Please, stand up and give a mighty applause for the best-”

I watched as Max fretted in front of the screen, raised his hands and whined, “We could have been there.” He threw his head back over his shoulders. “We could have drank in the energy. Damn,” he closed his eyes in drama fashion that was pure Max. “We could have even stood in the center of the field.” He turned and frowned at Jason. “You wound me man.”

Jason chuckled as he walked over to my sister Rory and hugged her from behind.