Layla snickers under her breath like she’s plotting something dangerous.
I groan loudly, grabbing their suitcases before they embarrass me further.
“Please, for the love of God, don’t make this fucking weird.”
“Too lateeee,” Layla singsongs as we head toward the truck.
Carter acknowledges them with a stiff nod—the closest thing to friendliness you’ll ever get out of him—before reaching over and pulling open the passenger door.
“Get in,” he grumbles, jerking his chin toward the truck.
Layla dives into the backseat first, practically throwing herself in with a squeal, and Amelia climbs in after her, far more composed but still grinning like a lunatic.
I slide into the passenger seat, glancing over at him and nearly snort. He looks like he’s two seconds away from driving us all straight off a cliff.
Biting back a smile, I pull out my phone and connect it to the truck’s aux. Without a shred of mercy, I blast our favorite playlist.
The second the first beat drops, Layla and Amelia lose it.
“Oh my Godddddd!” Layla shrieks from the backseat, bouncing against Amelia. “Remember when we heard this live? Best day of our fucking lives!”
We scream every word and bounce in our seats with our hands flailing in the air like maniacs. The truck shakes from the bass and the sheer chaos exploding inside it.
He exhales sharply and grips the steering wheel with both hands like it’s the only thing keeping him from veering off the road.
“You have got to be fucking kidding me right now,” he mutters under his breath.
I turn to him with my brightest, most obnoxious smile. “You like it?”
He doesn’t glance at me, just stares dead ahead, “Clearly, princess,” he says, the sarcasm oozing from his voice, “I’mlovingit.”
“Great!” I chirp, cranking the volume higher until the whole truck vibrates. “Then let’s turn it the fuck up!”
Layla and Amelia scream-laugh behind us.
Amelia reaches forward to slap his shoulder. “C’mon babe, you gotta admit, this is a fucking banger.”
He lets out a sound that’s somewhere between a groan and a growl. “I don’t gotta do shit.”
Layla giggles like she finds him the most adorable thing on the planet.
He shoots me a look, the kind of look that promises vengeance.
I smirk wider, turning back to the windshield, and belt out the following lyrics even louder.
If he thought he could survive a weekend with my girls and I without losing his mind, he’s got another thing coming.
carter
. . .
Vartan
What the fuck was that about the other night?
Carter
Nothing.
