Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

Carter

T ension thickens the air.

"Why, whatever do you mean, brother?" I feign innocence.

"What is your problem with Marisol?"

"Oh, you mean the vile person you sprung on us. I don't know what you're talking about." I look over at my mother. "How's that for letting it go, Mom?"

"For god's sake, Carter, can you pull your head out of your ass? I know you like to have everything planned down to the minute, but I invited her, and you treated her like shit."

"Sorry 'bout that."

"No, you're not. You didn't like her from the moment she arrived."

"Gut instinct."

"From a five-minute visit?"

"What can I say? Her superior attitude was shining through."

I can't help the sarcasm.

"I'll give you that; she's a little uppity. Still, it's no reason to be rude—and you were. You were an arrogant ass and a bully."

I shrug off the comment and look away, still incensed that no one but me seems to have a healthy respect for our plans.

Declan throws his hands up. "Fine. I'll go stay with her."

"What? No." Mom intervenes.

"I can't just abandon her, Mom. It wouldn't be right. She's here because of me and she doesn't know anyone or anything about the area."

"But I don't want you to," Mom pleads, her crestfallen expression getting both of our attention.

"He wants to, can't you tell? He was probably just looking for an excuse. Well, there you go. I gave you one." I snarl, feeling a surge of anger.

"What is wrong with you?" He gives me a puzzled look. "We are not little kids, and you're not the fucking camp counselor."

"Declan! Language!" The harsh word catches Mom off guard.

"I can't help it. He's being completely unreasonable, not to mention controlling." Frustration is thick in his tone.

"Is that why you didn't tell anyone about her? Because you knew I wouldn't want a complete stranger here?"

He gives me a look of disbelief. "What? No. I didn't think it was that big a deal. I just wanted a friend to hang out with."

"Yeah, right," I mutter. "A friend," I say the words under my breath but not low enough so Declan doesn't hear them.

"She is a friend, asshole," Declan retorts, rolling his eyes and shaking his head. "She had a driver bring her down because I told her she might have fun." He looks away and inhales a deep breath. "And, oh, what fun it's been so far!" He rolls his eyes and throws his hands around in an animated motion.

Everyone stares at me. I look away in disgust. "I'm always the bad guy."

"Look, you and Lacey ... I just thought it might be fun. That the four of us could hang out."

"And do what? 'Diva Denise' doesn't look like she even owns a pair of flip-flops."

"I don't know. Hit up Seacrets ... have a few drinks ... listen to a few bands."

"And you think she'd be into that? She's a fish out of water. We're all barefoot and sandy, and she's in stilettos. She would have looked more comfortable wearing bubble wrap."

"And you got all of that from that brief meeting?" Declan scoffs. "You're impossible."

"It's a gift," I snarl.

Declan's spine stiffens as he throws me a deadly glare. "You know, the double standard is getting old. You're judgmental and rigid, and you apply it to everyone and everything. You think I don't know you? You not only judged her the minute you saw her, but you also didn't like that she didn't fit into the plan. You talk about entitled? What about you? You think all of us should just go along with your OCD and not say anything. Well, guess what? I judge you for that. You know you have a problem and, instead of fixing it, you expect all of us to live with it. Not me. Not anymore. Fuck you and fuck your need for control. If you ask me, you're the one who's entitled. You get to do and say what you want, and we're all supposed to play by your rules."

"Stop! Just, stop!" Mom's plea splits the air.

"See what you did?" Declan's question is a conviction.

"I didn't do shit and I resent the implication. Go back to your fuck buddy." I spit the conviction back at him.

"She's not my fuck buddy!" Declan steps toward me with a clenched fist.

"Just stop it!" Lacey's voice cracks with anger. "Enough." She shoots us both a piercing look and her tone cuts the tension like a sharp blade. We've hit a trifecta, it seems; anger, disappointment, and hurt.

Instantly, I feel the weight of my actions. Mom's right: I did have a chip on my shoulder, but it graduated to the size of a boulder. No one knows what I have planned, yet I'm holding Declan responsible in advance for disrupting it. As I look at Lacey, her arms wrapped around my mother whose cheeks are damp with tears, I feel sick to my stomach and full of remorse.

"Sorry, Mom." Declan's voice drops and his tone is filled with sorrow.

"Sorry," I echo.

Mom's shoulders tremble as she stares down at her lap.

"I didn't ..." I look away, disgusted with myself.

"I know," she says softly. "Can we please just let this go and try to have a good week together?" She sniffles and Lacey grabs a box of tissues from the counter. "Thank you." Mom pulls a few from the box and gives Lacey a forced smile. She wipes her eyes and wipes her nose, then looks up. Her gaze travels between my brother and me. "I'd like you two to work this out. For me."

The room falls silent as the weight of her words hits us. Mom doesn't ask much, and when she does, it's rarely for herself.

Instantly, I attempt to make amends, but words seem to fail me, and Declan is the one who breaks the silence.

"This isn't about Marisol, or me. It isn't even about me bringing her here. This is about the order in your head, Carter, and I get it. We all get it. One thing doesn't go according to plan, and it does something chaotic to your brain. While I might not understand it, I know how it affects you, and I should recognize it for what it is. But it affects us all. You gotta give us a little room to breathe, brother. If you want to keep a tight rein on yourself, that's fine, but you can't put that rope around all of our necks. You're choking the joy out of everything."