Page 71 of Mark

“All right. I’m going. I’m going,” he declares, getting up.

I gently pass Rose to Teagan since I should leave too. “Here you go.”

She squeezes my hand before I can step back. “Thank you for helping my daughter and granddaughter.”

“Yes, thank you,” Jaxon adds, meeting my gaze.

Lily peels open her eyes to look at me. “You talked me out of my panic attack.”

“Your mind just needed to concentrate on something else. I knew the subject of Rose and Jaxon would distract you.”

“It did. I didn’t think something like that would work. But it was also feeling you hug me. You are quite soothing.”

I smile. “Thank you. I’m glad it worked. My friend Summer used to wrap herself around me like an octopus. She never spoke about something that made me happy. She would talk smack about people I disliked so I would focus on doing the same. It always worked.”

“I’m so glad you were there. Thank you. And thank you for taking Rose when I really needed you to.”

“You are welcome. Get some rest,” I reply softly, before turning to the others. “Hopefully I will see you all tomorrow.”

I can’t look at Mark as I make my way out. I just want to go back to my cabin. Being near him is… it’s embarrassing. I’m not going to be another notch on his bedpost. I can keep things platonic.

I jerk to a stop when I spot most of the Carters still outside, my thoughts of Mark pushed aside. Hayden grins at me and reaches for my hand. “You are officially one of us. You are coming with us.”

“I was actually going to bed,” I reply.

“Nope. Carters aren’t quitters,” she announces.

Liam grins, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. “Sleeping is cheating.”

“I really would like my bed.”

“Nope. We are doing shots and getting wasted,” Ciara orders.

Imogen hiccups. “Yep. We are going to get wasted.”

Ben reaches for her when she goes to topple over. “Babe, you are already wasted. The only thing you will be doing is going to bed.”

Hayden glares at him. “Don’t order her around.”

Ben holds her glare, unflinching. “She’s going to bed.”

Imogen clutches her stomach. “Why is the room spinning?”

Ben lifts her up and carries her away. I turn to Hayden. “I want my bed.”

“Nope. Come on.” I let her drag me away, but I don’t do it quietly. I huff and stomp my feet, which makes her smirk. “Don’t pretend you don’t want to hang out with us.”

She’s right. I do love hanging out with them. I get why my nanna wants to let them adopt her. They are a pretty awesome family.

I mean, what’s the worst that could happen?

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Freya

The ache in my skull throbs, pulsing to the same beat a techno song would thrum. Last night, the sambuca tasted like ice-cold water on a hot summer’s day; now it tastes like nausea. I peel open my heavy eyelids, grimacing when the bathroom light sends shocks through my brain.

God, how much did I drink last night?

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