Page 116 of Mark

“I’m sure he was fine. Maverick and your dad were with him,” Drew offers to console her.

She sighs, leaning into him. “You are right. They wouldn’t let him be scared.”

“Is she drunk?” Freya whispers as we fall in step behind Charlotte and Drew.

“Oh no, she’s completely sober, and completely serious,” I reply.

We make our way to the entrance, where there’s a small lobby filled with the Carters.

“What happened?” Hayden asks.

Max eyes her. “You didn’t bother to come and see your old man in the joint?”

“Dad, it’s a three-room building. I wouldn’t exactly call it a joint,” Hayden snorts. “What did you do?”

“I’m innocent. Hence the reason I’m standing here and not locked up,” he replies.

Dad growls low in his throat, glaring at Max. “That’s not entirely true.”

Aunt Lake glares at Max. “What did you do?”

“I ran for my life, babe. They wanted me, and no matter how many times I told them you were the love of my life, they wouldn’t listen,” he explains as he steers her over to the lifts.

The rest of us all turn to Dad, who pinches the bridge of his nose. “What did he do, Dad?” Aiden asks.

Myles clears his throat when Dad just lowers his gaze to the floor. “Your dad did what he always does… Opened his mouth. Miscommunication had them giving him a prized jewel and, well…”

Dad snorts. “He was telling the women he had super sperm and got his wife pregnant with triplets the first time. One woman thought he was pledging his love for her and wanting to live among them. He overreacted like he does about everything.”

“I’m surprised they’ve let him back on the boat,” Hayden muses.

Mum snorts. “That man has the captain and all the higher-ups in love with him. He’s been at the front of the ship drinking and playing cards the past three nights. The cabin crew are either too scared of him or think he’s special and just needs understanding.”

“He’s been on the bridge and didn’t invite me?” Hayden snaps. “I’m going to kill him. I am.”

“Love, calm down,” Clay calls out as he follows her.

“No! He knew I always wanted to sit in the bridge and be captain.”

I clap my hands together, looking at the others. “Right, anyone up for a round of mini golf?”

*** *** ***

I’ve had many brilliant ideas in my time. Recommending mini golf is not one of them. The indoor area is bathed in florescent lights and only parts of the course are glowing. The Carters love a challenge, so we got painted in the florescent body paint they offer at the beginning and joined the fray to play crazy golf.

Only, a Carter can take things a step too far when challenged, which is why all hell had broken loose when Hayden swung her golf club and the ball hit another cruise passenger in the forehead. The girlfriend of said passenger retaliated by throwing her club at Hayden. Hayden, after recovering from her shock, pushed the woman, and she ended up getting her arm stuck in one of the display sets on the course. A male passenger from that group went for Hayden, but Clay and Drew held her back. Landon had already handled it by knocking him out cold, but it didn’t stop the others in the group from going at them. That’s when all hell broke loose.

Benson Boone, Beautiful Things, blasts from the speakers as I pull Freya away from the commotion and into a hidden corner. Normally, I’d stand side by side with my family, or even be the one who breaks up the fight, but this woman has the entire side of her body painted and it has been driving me crazy for the past hour as she bent over to take her shots.

One of the floral prints snakes up her leg and disappears under her shorts. I want to know how far up it goes.

“What are you doing?” she gasps as I press her against the wall.

I run my finger up her thigh. “How far does this go up?”

Her teeth glow as she grins. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”

I lean down, kissing her neck before placing my lips at her ear. “I would,” I confirm, sliding my hand up higher until I’m under her shorts.

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