“What is your damage?I know it’s been a shit day, but it wasn’t just you there,” I snap.
“Sorry,” he groans.“I’m on edge.Lily had planned to meet me at Liam’s so we could go for lunch.Then, if that running through my head wasn’t bad enough, I can’t stop thinking about what everyone would be going through right now if Summer had arrived two minutes later.I don’t mean to sound like a selfish prick, but you didn’t see Lily the day Rose was born.She freaked the fuck out thinking I was dead.I won’t witness what she goes through if I do actually die, I know that, but it boils my blood just thinking about her hurting or grieving.It fucking kills me inside.”
I swallow the lump in my throat and step closer, placing my hand on his shoulder.The tension is rolling off him in waves, and I can feel his anguish with each word he speaks.Love like he and Lily share, it’s rare.Really rare.I’m not cold-hearted enough to not see that.And whilst the bitter taste of envy enters my mouth, I don’t begrudge him the happiness he has found.He has someone he can share everything with, who will grieve him when he goes.So will Wyatt and Eli.And I don’t mean our mum or sister.
“Don’t do that.Don’t think about that.We will end this.We, Jaxon.We aren’t alone.We have each other, something they don’t have.They wouldn’t know what loyalty means even if they looked it up in the dictionary.”
He stares at me blankly for a moment before he clears his throat.“Did Summer point that out too?”
“Maybe,” I reply.“Call Lily.Tell them to all come here.We’ve ordered shit loads of food.Let’s just relax and take a minute.”
“I don’t think the Addison family will want us lot crowding their home,” he points out, like it could be a real issue.
We’re fucking awesome.Who wouldn’t want us around them?
“As long as you can keep the Carters out of my kitchen, I don’t give a shit,” Malia admits when she joins us.
Liam’s lips twitch.“You calmed down?”
She rolls her eyes.“I’m always calm.I just had to go get another padlock for the fridge.”
I grimace in pity.“You do know there isn’t a lock that can keep them out.They can get in anywhere.Even pop up when you least expect it.No food is safe with a Carter in your life.Take it from me, you’ll be better off just buying extra.”
“Reid, that is so nice of you.”
I scream, the sound high-pitched and loud, as I spin to the she-devil who snuck up behind me.“Where the fuck did you come from, Hayden?You shouldn’t sneak up on people like that who have just been through something traumatic.”
She eyes me like I’ve grown two heads.“Stop being a baby.It doesn’t suit you.”
My mouth agape, I stare at her.“Baby?Baby?I was nearly blown up,” I screech.“And you just took ten years off my life.”
“Nearlybeing the key word,” she states.“Where is Lily?She called Charlotte in a tizzy about a bomb, and Charlotte is worried her library is going to be set alight in the blaze.She heard bomb and her mind literally went back to the library being on fire.”
“What?”Jaxon asks, alert.“Did something happen to the house?”
“Woah, hold up,” she calls out when he goes to leave.“The house is fine.My uncle went to check the house since Mum is with Charlotte today.He’s asked your granddad and the old witch to keep an eye out for strange people hanging about.”
“I’m going to go get her,” he declares.“I’ll be back.”
My focus is drawn to Summer, who is empty-handed.“No drink?”
She glances at her cousin.“No.I can’t get into the fridge.Someone’s padlocked it.”
Hayden snorts.“Reid’s right.That really won’t keep a Carter out,” she tells Malia.Then turns back to Summer.“Give him tap water.He’s used to drinking out of a hose.”
“He’s had a bang to the head.He should have something cold,” Summer argues softly.
“Fine.I’ll unlock it for you,” Malia offers, linking her arm through Summer’s on their way back into the house.
Hayden turns to me, her relaxed expression gone.“You break that girl’s heart and I will personally make sure you can never fuck another woman again,” she warns.
Normally her threats would be a turn on, but when she walks away without waiting for a reply, I know she’s dead serious.
Yet the threat doesn’t deter me from getting what I want.
And Summer Adams is definitely what I want.
