Page 50 of The Devil's Detail
He kisses her, pecking at her lips. Holding her close, he looks at me. “If you’re not sure, then it’s not right. But if you want Carter, then all you have to do is say yes. The rest will take care of itself. For what it’s worth, I say go for it. He clearly wants to be with you, otherwise you could have hooked up and gone your separate ways. No strings.” Xander is so calm. His reasonable attitude instills a positive feeling in me. Like it really could all be okay.
“He’s fallen for the Greystone charm,” pipes up Kell, bringing the baby back to stand with his husband and wife. “It’s too powerful to resist. No wonder he’s been acting crazy. I think he’s fallen in love. What about you, Jax? Have you had time to think? I, for my vote, vote for Carter. This Jameson Bonney sounds like a douche. Fucking blindfolds and NDAs. Fuck or fuck off. But know what you’re getting into.”
I have to grin at Kell. Out of them all, he’s the most straightforward. No tact, tell it like it is. My heart swells when these two are thinking about me—what I want and how to play it.
“I wouldn’t mind using that blindfold though.” Xan is staring at my sister, and I have to cough to get them to focus.
“Please, pack it in.” I rotate my finger at them all, then flap my hand to move Kell away from the trio. I gaze into all their faces. So much love, and I know that is what I want.
“I’ve decided to say yes to Carter,” I state confidently. “If he calls me, I’ll tell him. We can arrange a meetup when he comeshome.” I feel lighter already just saying it. I can feel my face starting to split with my smile. Evie’s eyes get all misty.
“You’re not crying because your brother has his first boyfriend, are you?” Kell wipes at her eyes, clearly ignoring my instructions to move along. “He’s a grown man.” Now he’s taking the piss.
“I know,” Evie says with a little sniffle. “It’s just, I’m pleased he’s decided to give it a whirl. It might be the start of something amazing. You truly don’t know until you’re brave enough to go for it.” Her face is splitting into a smile now, the tears forgotten.
“Well, I’m going to. Just as long as you lot are here for me should it all go pear shaped. And these little ones. I don’t really care about anyone else. Family above all.” I pull her out of Xan’s arms and hug her. “I’m glad we talked about it all the way home. It really helped, even though I thought at one point you might murder me.”
“I’ll always be here for you, no matter what. Just the same way you are for me. I love you, Jackson, and I want you to be happy.” Evie’s voice is full of emotion.
The door crashes open and in the twins come, wet, laughing, and running straight to their parents. Kell hands Rio to me as he scoops up Sorley.
“I hope you’ve swam more than Uncle Tommy. Are you hungry?” The little boy nods and points, making a few noises and the odd word.
Xan has Lochi and is being directed to the drinks. Even though they’re not fully talking yet, they sure do make it known what they want.
I need to do the same. I need to set my stall out, what I will and won’t do. Then it’s up to Carter to decide if he’s in or out.
33
Carter
It’s so hardwhen you’re away. My fingers are twitchy with the compulsion to keep hitting redial. There must be a name for the addiction to dial. I even searched the internet to check. Not much coming up. Maybe if no one’s hung a label on it yet, it’s not as bad as I think. I must be totally fine.
Who the hell am I kidding? It’s stalking, isn’t it. I’m a fucking stalker.
And while I joke about it to myself, I know that stalking is so fucking serious, or certainly can get serious.
But, damn… am I a stalker?
I mean, he hasn’t told me to fuck off. He just hasn’t answered my calls.
He asked for time, that, to be honest, I have sort of given him. It’s just my fingers who won’t get the freaking memo and keep hovering over his name.
Maybe I should delete his contact in my phone. That would work, right?
With my hovering fingers just about to do their worst, my phone starts to ring and I practically throw the darn thing in the air. But I catch sight of his name.Shit. Did I dial him? Oh God, maybe I did by mistake and he’s been listening to my inner monologue. My heart rate is notching to cardiac arrest levels.
Fortunately, some inner voice gets a hold of my senses and reminds me that the damn thing rang.
He called me.
Pulling my shit together, I swipe to accept the call. “Hey, honey.” I infuse my crazy greeting with an exaggerated drawl for good measure. I’m feeling the pressure at ‘Hey,’ my extrovert front and centre already. Oh christ, what is he calling for? Please don’t tell me to fuck off.
“Carter, hey, all good? No issues?”
Well, fuck. He’s calling for a welfare check-in. My shoulders physically slump, any hope sagging along with them. But my heart is still going a thousand miles an hour.
“Yeah, sugar, just fine. Ash’s been looking after me real good. I’ll be home in the next few days.” I try to keep the desperation out of my voice, going for super cool, laid back southern belle. I might be failing, but what the hell. I’m beyond being cool, really. I want to throw myself at his fuckin’ feet.
