Page 49 of Wants and Needs
It could’ve been seconds, minutes, or even an hour, I can’t know.
What I do know is that when I hear the front door open and then a lot of voices inside the house, it feels like I just plunged into the arctic sea.
“Carter?” I hear CJ’s obnoxiously loud voice.
I stumble back from Liam’s embrace with a jolt.
12CARTER
As if I’djust been thrown into a frigid lake, my body goes rigid and trembles uncontrollably for a full three seconds from the shock.
“Sorry,” I mumble at Liam, and this time I’m the one not meeting his eyes.
That was way too intense for my British sensibilities. I’m going to have to suck it up before Monday, though, because this needs to go flawlessly.
I turn and walk out of the living room back to where we came from, and when I get to the hallway I see CJ, Wolf, Hawk, and Derek all standing around with big suitcases around them.
“What are you doing here?” I call out as I walk to them, and I smile so they forget about the harsh tone I couldn’t control.
I feel actual fear when Wolf points over my shoulder and nods. “We’re here for him.”
“What?” I demand, and okay, maybe it sounds a bit shrill and hysterical, but really, would anyone blame me?
“We booked him for two days,” Hawk says, and his always happy and cheery tone makes me breathe easier even though I still don’t understand what they’re talking about.
“Booked for what?” I mumble, turning back to look at Liam when I feel him coming up behind me.
“To play the piano, silly,” Hawk says, looking at me like he’s surprised I’m this clueless.
Can’t blame him.
“Mr. CJ,” Milton’s voice comes from behind us. “I hope you had a good flight?” he asks while he’s already walking over to take a couple of bags.
“It was fine,” CJ tells him with a soft smile. “You can leave those, Milton, we’ll carry them.”
“Nonsense,” he says breezily and starts rolling bags to the back of the brownstone. “The elevator will do just fine. I made sure the two suites were aired out and put new bedding on the beds, and dinner is ready in the dining room for all of you.”
“Wait, you knew they were coming?” I finally catch up.
He only hums and keeps walking down the hallway.
I don’t even think about restraining my scowl when I look back at CJ.
“What the hell? Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”
“Can you save the verbal sparring until we’re eating?” Derek interrupts whatever asinine excuse CJ was about to give me—there’s no good reason for him not to have told me he was coming.
Of course, it’s his house, and I would never even think ofbeing mad about him coming to visit, but we’re best friends for fuck’s sake. Whywouldn’the tell me?
“I’m starving too,” Wolf grumbles.
“Fine, come on.” I wave a hand at them and lock eyes with Liam. I feel the words bubbling up and I can’t stop them, though I don’t know if I would’ve if I could’ve. “Stay for dinner?” I whisper, looking him straight in the eyes again.
It seems like only yesterday he couldn’t look me in the eyes for more than a couple of seconds, and hell, maybe it was only yesterday, but now he holds eye contact like a pro.
“If that’s what you want,” he whispers.
“Please,” I say just to show him I do.
