was me,” Charlotte states, looking utterly dejected.
“Only because they couldn’t identify the substance or link it to your ingredients. None of us were ill,” Imogen argues.
Charlotte beams. “Exactly, and you were all fine.”
Everyone finds interest in their shoes or the sky, not wanting to hurt her feelings by admitting we never ate any of it.
“Yeah, true,” I answer, forcing a smile.
“Do you need to go to the loo before we go? You look a little in pain.”
“I’m fine,” I assure her, walking off to the front of the huddle, waiting for our parents to reach us.
They all walk towards us in a line, Teagan pushing Sunday with bags over the pushchair’s handle, Uncle Maverick beside her, who is also loaded down with bags. Myles is next to him, carrying a few bags, with Aunt Kayla next him. Mason and Denny are next to them, cuddling together as she talks to Harlow, who has her arm wrapped around Malik. Beside them, Dad strolls, sliding sunglasses up his nose, even though it’s windy out. Don’t even get me started on the shorts. Mum walks beside him, rolling her eyes. Dad grins after saying something to Uncle Malik, earning a punch to the arm. I wince when Dad trips, falling over his own feet.
“Oh God,” I groan.
“Who exactly are you guys?” Clayton asks, fear evident.
If he wants to survive this week, he’ll have to find a way to mask that fear. My family will feed off it.
Me, along with all the others, stare up at him, pulling his attention away from the huddle walking towards us.
“We’re the Carter’s,” we say at once, minus the few that aren’t.
“And you’re fucked,” Maddox laughs, throwing a Skittle into the air and catching it in his mouth—before choking.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
When the parents reach us, Faith is the first to step forward, hugging both her mum and dad. “What are you guys doing here?”
As one, they all look to Dad, unhappy, whereas Dad tilts his head up, pretending they aren’t all pissed at him.
“Not that I’m complaining,” Aiden coos as he sweeps up an excited Sunday into his arms. She can barely move in her all-in-one snow coat. It’s adorable, especially when she starts chanting, “da’, da’”.
“Yeah, I thought because Maverick and Teagan couldn’t come, since they were watching over Sunday, none of you were coming,” I state, giving Dad a pointed look when he finally turns my way, glaring over my shoulder.
“I knew it,” he grits out, pointing at Clayton. “Didn’t I tell you he would be here? Didn’t I?”
“And I told you she is a grown adult,” Mum reminds him, directing a forced smile my way.
Sucking in a breath, he stares at Mum with wide eyes. “She’s our only daughter. Do you not care at all that he’s going to try and sex her up or impregnate her?”
“Please never use that word again,” I complain.
Mum, in all fairness, is just as crazy as my dad at times. I think after years of being together, she started projecting some of his mannerisms. Still, my mum is all about girl power, so when she opens her mouth to argue, I want to pump my fist in the air and hoot.
“Max, you need to drop this. When the boys were fifteen and you suspected they were being intimate, you sat them down and gave them a list of ways to please a woman.”
“You didn’t?” Maverick groans, running a hand through his hair.
“No… I also gave them tips on how to get a woman,” Dad tells him, shaking his head in disbelief before grimacing at Liam and Landon. “Sorry, boys, you had the looks—you follow after me—but you didn’t have the Carter game.”
Liam grunts, rolling his eyes. “Cheers, Dad.”
“You’re welcome,” Dad replies, looking like he actually did them a favour when he puffs his chest out.
“But…” Mum continues, raising her eyebrow. “Once a year, after Hayden started her menstruation when she was eleven, you sat her down and gave her reasons why she shouldn’t have sex.”
“With disturbing diagrams,” I point out, shuddering.
“They got my point across.”
“You told me in medical terms what STI’s would do.”
“I have them with me in case you needed to look at them again.”
“Mum,” I whine, praying he’s joking.
Mum pinches the bridge of her nose. “Max, leave her alone.”
He throws his hands up in a fit before slapping them down on his sides. “Does no one else care he’s here, or that my daughter, my only daughter, could get pregnant, or worse, get heartbroken?” he yells.
“Sir,” Clayton