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Carter

Six Years Ago

Pulling up to the school, I sat back in my seat and stretched my back. I loved what I did, but my body paid the price for it. Damn. That was a long rotation.

The bell had just rung, and I sat there in the car rider line as dozens among dozens of kids exited the door.

I had texted my little sister, Talia, that I was picking her up.

Every time I came home from a rotation, I took her out to get an ice cream. It didn’t matter that she was turning eighteen soon and I had just turned thirty-one.

Out of my other four siblings, she was the one I was closest to. The age gap between us didn’t matter. Even though our parents were done after they had me, Ethan, Garrick, and Alec. Talia was a surprise baby who had shown up ten years later.

I didn’t know which one got the operation done, but we all knew that they had made sure that no more kids could be possible.

I smiled at thinking about how that conversation more than likely played out.

And I had an inkling of how it did.

Mom had said how things were going to go, and that was that.

I felt a smile form on my lips; at the same time, I saw Talia walk out of the school with her arm woven with someone else’s arm.

I felt my eyes narrow; that better not be a boy.

No. No fucking way.

As my eyes scanned along the arm, that was too slender to be a boy’s, I felt my body relax... however... my body suddenly grew tight.

Because the face atop a body, I refused to let my mind take in... it felt as though the entire world shifted into slow motion.

A breeze flew by, picking up a few of her blonde strands. I’d never been more grateful for my windows being down, as she threw her head back and laughed, than I was right then in that very moment.

Her laughter sounded like Christmas bells. Soft. Melodic.

And I wouldn’t know it, not until three months later, but sitting in that cab in my truck in front of the school, my forever had been right in front of me ever since she was five years old.

Three Months Later

I had pushed my truck to the max to get here on time.

Tonight was Talia’s prom.

And it just so happened to be someone else’s prom as well.

Therefore, I wanted to be there to give whatever punk was taking her a good talking to.

Same as my brothers.

Our mother had thought we were bat shit crazy when we told her of our plan, but we all heard her murmur, “I raised them right.”

I had just walked into my parents’ house, fist bumped with my brothers, hugged my dad, and then my mom, and heard it.

Heels clicking down the hallway, and now, well, I’ve got to really take her in.

Because last week, we had helped celebrate her eighteenth birthday.

Harlee Belle wore a black dress that hugged her figure in all the right places. The neckline I had learned from my mother and sister was called a sweetheart neckline.

The fabric caught the light just right, shimmering.

Her long, blonde hair was curled in soft waves down her back, with one side pinned back.

The makeup she had on was soft and supple, enhancing her features, and thankfully, not taking away from them. Something I fucking loved.

“Fucking gorgeous,” I whispered.

Everyone was talking to Harlee, so thankfully, no one heard me.

I watched as her eyes shifted to the side, glancing at me, and like I always did, I winked at her, just to see that soft smile form on her face.

Then, at the sound of heels once again, it took all I had to tear my eyes from Harlee and look at Talia as she came walking down the hallway.

She had chosen a soft purple dress, and the color, along with her mahogany locks, looked beautiful.

Harlee had moved by that time and was standing at my side, which was why I leaned down and whispered, “Anyone gets fresh with you, tell them I’ll kick their ass.” I told her.

She looked up at me, smiled, and winked.

I shook my head, then did something I’ve been dying to do, but not really knowing it, bent my neck, and pressed a kiss atop her hair.

Lingering there for just a moment, inhaling a scent of strawberries and vanilla.

“Okay, okay, I love all of you, but time’s a wastin’,” Talia said as she wrapped her arm through Harlee’s.

I let out a breath as I realized that I didn’t have to beat the brakes off of anyone because they were each other’s date.

And I realized as I stood there leaning on the front porch railing as I watched her climb into the back of Garrick’s fully restored matte black 1967 Dodge Charger, there would never be another woman for me.

But she would never be mine.

Because I sure as shit didn’t deserve her.

Harlee

Must not fall for best friend’s older brother.

Must not fall for best friend’s older brother.

I repeated that statement in my head for the next six freaking long as hell years.

But no matter what I told myself, it just didn’t work.