Page 130 of Mark
“That’s not embarrassing.”
I rub the back of my neck. “Okay, it was my brother’s shitty nappy, but I don’t want to get into it. So what was she saying?”
She laughs, pressing her cheek against my chest. “She was checking to see if I would be free for your birthday meal next month.”
Oh, okay. I wasn’t expecting that. “What did you say?”
“That I would have to check with Summer in case she’s made plans.”
“Not that I’m complaining about you ditching me for a friend, but what could be more important than my birthday? My birthdays are epic. Mum goes all out with the food.”
Her lips twitch. “Because, you big baby, my birthday is on the same day, and since I didn’t know I’d be in… whatever this is… I didn’t think to hold off my plans. Normally Summer will take me out in town.”
“No shitting way?” I muse, grinning. That means I’ll never have to worry about forgetting her birthday. “How did I not know this?”
“Um, because you never asked,” she teases.
“Well come join us. You can bring Summer and we can make it a joint birthday. I mean, it might not be too late for my mum to order you a cake.”
“You don’t have to do that on my account,” she states. “It’s your birthday dinner. And I don’t need my own cake. I’ll have a slice of yours.”
I suck in a breath. “We don’t share cakes on our birthdays. We have the family cake where everyone gets a slice, and then the birthday boy or girl gets their own. No one can share.”
“So you are saying you won’t share your cake with me on my birthday?”
Phew. She understands. “Exactly that.”
She drops her head back, laughing. “You are so stingy with your food.”
I shrug unapologetically. “It’s cake. A Carter never shares their cake. It’s been, like, the law since... well, since forever.”
“You’re all nuts,” she mutters.
I tap her book. “Get reading. I want to know if he saves her or if he gets killed trying.”
Her lips twitch. “You were reading?”
“It was either that or stare at your tits the entire time. Which would have been awkward with my family sitting right next to us.”
She shakes her head but sits back, opening the book back up. It takes me a minute to get back into it, but once I do, everythinggoing on around us falls away. It’s just us. And the couple in the book who keep running into bad luck.
*** *** ***
I join my sister at her table, keeping a close eye on Freya, who is sitting with her parents. Freya said she wouldn’t bring up what she heard last night, but she could change her mind during their conversation.
“Will you keep an eye on Freya whilst I go shower please?”
Jaxon snorts. “She’s not a child who needs monitoring.”
I glare at the bastard. “No, she’s not. But her family have a way of constantly belittling her, and whilst she doesn’t show it, it does hurt her.”
Lily frowns as she glances over at Freya, and I know it’s out of concern. “I thought they were okay now.”
“So did Freya, but she heard something last night and she isn’t sure when it was said. She might not call them out on it, but if it gets heated, she might. I promised her I wouldn’t be long getting showered and changed. I just feel bad for leaving her.”
“I’ll keep an eye on her. Go get changed,” Lily replies softly.
I lean over, kissing her cheek. “Thanks, sis.”