Page 24 of Mark

I sniff. “Let’s just say, I’m going to be sending him the bill because I’m going to need therapy. And lots of it.”

“Therapy?” she asks dryly, like she was expecting me to say something else.

“Not only is he afraid of flying, but he talks when he’s nervous. And I meantalks.”

“You could have just had a drink and tuned him out,” she muses, and I hear her holding back laughter. “You did take your headphones, right?”

“Oh, I tried to drink. I planned to get sloshed, but the prick downed every drink before it even reached my hand. I thought hey, I can just get him blind drunk so—”

“So you could join the mile high club?” she asks, and I swear she sounds almost hopeful. “Please tell me you joined the mile high club.”

“I would rather jump out of the plane. With no parachute.”

“You are no fun,” she mutters. “But at least you have twelve days away from him.”

I snort. “I wish my luck was that good, but the fucker is on the same cruise as me.”

“Holy fucking crap. I’m missing all the fun.”

“He broke my suitcase.” I pout. “All of my clothes are now lying at the bottom of the ocean.”

“Oh no! Please tell me the swimming costume is still in there because it makes your boobs look good.”

I laugh. “Yes. Everything in the zip compartment is intact.”

“I wish I could be there with you.”

“Me too,” I agree. “Esther always gets her own way.”

“She knew it would piss you off more if I wasn’t there. I don’t know why you still speak to her. And I swear, if you say she’s your sister, I will kick you in the fanny.”

I chuckle at her threat because as funny as it is to hear her say fanny, I know she’s serious. “I’m beginning to wonder the same, if I’m honest.”

“Fuck her. She did you a favour anyway.”

“Yeah, she really did,” I reply. “There’s actually someone else here that might surprise you.”

“If you tell me my ex is on board, please be the best friend I know you are and push him overboard.”

I roll my eyes because she should know by now she wouldn’t need to ask me to do that. I’d happily do it. “No. Jaxon Hayes is here too. He’s married to Mark’s sister, Lily.”

“Wait, Lily Carter?”

“Yeah, do you know her?”

“Not personally. She taught Ezra’s class a few years ago,” she explains. Ezra is her older sister’s son. Cute as a button and so shy. “I’m pretty sure she’s related to the crazy one. Max, I think they call him. He taught Cody’s football team.”

Thinking of her brother, I remember… “I thought Cody quit football.”

“Yeah, because his coach was crazy. His words, not mine,” she tells me. “Wait, does that mean Mark is a Carter?”

“Yeah.”

“Holy crap,” she splutters before laughing hard.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Because you are so fucked,” she declares. “Their family is legendary.”

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