Page 27 of Stranded

Shit. That’s it.

I was supposed to meet him for coffee this morning, and I totally blew him off. That never happens. No wonder he came busting in like he was ready to give me first aid.

“Dude, I get it.” Carter laughs at the look on my face. “It’s fine. You have a good excuse.”

I scowl at him, because it’s not. I don’t forget appointments, and Idon’tlet people down. Whenever I do, I feel like shit.

“As long as you’re not dead, just busy…” Carter’s lips twitch as he raises an eyebrow at me. “Everyone sleeps in sometimes. I know you’re Mr. Responsible, but stop beating yourself up about it.”

He’s being a lot nicer than he could be, considering how mad I got about him dating my little brother when he realized he wasn’t straight.

Actually, he’s the perfect person to talk to right now.

“He’s right,” Ronan calls out from the bathroom door. “You were up really late last night being Mr. Responsible.”

Carter looks like he’s about to crack a rib from trying not to laugh.

“Ronan…” I sigh, raising my eyes to the ceiling.

“Ronan?” Carter smirks.

“Nice to meet you!” Ronan calls. “It was Carter, right?”

“You got it. Hey, you wanna join us for coffee?” Carter asks Ronan as my eyes widen. “And donuts. But I only brought half a dozen, and I want two, so…” He counts on his fingers. “We’re fine, as long as there’s no more than three of you.”

Ronan’s laugh rings through the hallway like music, but I still glare daggers at my best friend. “I’m going to kill you,” I mutter under my breath, and he just grins mercilessly.

“Sure!” Ronan yells, closing the bathroom door. “I just need a few minutes… and some respectable clothes.” Then the shower turns back on.

Carter opens his mouth for another smart-ass remark, but I jab my finger toward the bottom of the staircase, and the internal door to my unit. “Door’s unlocked.”

It’s the nicest possible way of telling him to get out.

“All right, all right.” Carter saunters down the stairs, still grinning his ass off. “I’ll start the coffee. Sounds like we’ve got a lot to catch up on.”

He disappears through the door and I groan, running my hands through my hair.

At least one of my new problems has an easy answer: my little brother left some of his clothes here when he moved in with Carter. He’s about the same size as Ronan, I think. I pause by the bathroom door for just long enough to call out, “Try on the clothes in your dresser. They oughta fit.” He makes some sound of acknowledgment, and I flee for the master bedroom.

The moment the door is closed, I loosen the tie on my bathrobe and collapse face-first onto the bed. My phone is vibrating on the bedside table again, and now I recognize the pattern. It means there’s a notification in my group chat with all my best friends.

Including, of course, Carter.God knows what he’s saying.My face still buried in the comforter, I flip my phone the bird and groan.

At least today can only go up from here.

Chapter

Eleven

ALPH

I skimthe last few messages in the group chat as I walk down the stairs to my apartment. Most of the 43 new notifications are from Carter.

Carter

Alph???

bro

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