Page 5

Carter

When a text came through my phone, I didn’t hesitate to grab it.

Harlee Belle – It was you, wasn’t it?

Me – What are you talking about?

Harlee Belle – The breakfast that was delivered to Lila’s house last night.

Harlee Belle – *breakfast foods and coffee on a coffee table*

Me – How’d you know?

Harlee Belle – Not even Talia knows how I take my coffee. Everly might, but her phone died last night.

Harlee Belle – *specific creamer she uses*

Harlee Belle – I believe I’ve only ever told you.

Me – Was the breakfast good?

Harlee Belle – Yep. Thank you, Carter.

Me – Welcome.

No, I wasn’t going to explain why I had Harlee’s name as Darling in my phone. That was for me to know and me alone.

I was sitting with my brothers and Talia at DG Auto and Body.

Our father had shared something that had occurred yesterday.

“What are we going to do?” Ethan asked.

I had no idea.

But this shit was getting out of hand.

They hadn’t been in school in over twenty years, and Karen Ratcliff was still trying to throw shit in our mom’s face.

She had walked up to our mom in the grocery store and started her belittling shit. But she took it too far when she asked how it felt to have her sloppy seconds all these years later.

They had kissed. Once.

And Karen didn’t know, but it had been a dare by our dad’s best friend, Chief Klein. He hadn’t been the Chief then.

Alec asked, “Toilet paper her house?

I shook my head, “Too juvenile. And she needs to know it’s us who did it.

Talia seemed to be thinking about it. “What if we print flyers and post them up and down Main Street?”

Garrick nodded, “Could work. What would we put on them?”

Talia grinned, “I got this.”

Two hours later, we were all gathered in our parents’ living room. Along with Dominik.

Who had happened to drive by while we were putting the bright as fuck pink flyers all around town, heard what happened, and grinned.

I shared a look with my brothers, as well as Dominik. I could tell we were all thinking the same thing.

Mama Griggs was about to light our asses on fire.

This was proven true when she stepped out of the kitchen, placed her hands on her hips, and glared.

Our dad came out behind her, one hand covering his mouth, then he settled into his recliner.

We all knew he was either trying not to smile, or trying not to laugh, I bet it was the latter.

Mom held one of the flyers in her hand and asked, “Who did this?”

My siblings, along with Dominik, locked eyes, and then we started chuckling, which then turned into hysterical laughter.

“Oh god. Did you see her face?” Alec asked who was now doubled over laughing his ass off.

Talia snorted, “It was so grand.”

On the flyer, it read,

Public Health Announcement

This is from the Griggs.

Addressed to Karen Ratcliff.

The next time you attack our mom, you won’t be allowed into DG Auto and body.

The next time your sewer lines clog up, don’t call Granger’s.

The next time you need to make sure your husband gives you another STD, don’t visit Dr. Mabry.

The next time you need help with a police matter, don’t call 911.

The next time you need a massage because you threw your back out climbing on the ugly fuck you married, don’t call Fusion.

Think about all of that before you try to verbally attack our mother again.

Because she was ten times better than you in high school.

But now, she’s a hundred times better.

Ain’t our fault, our dad has more common sense than you and your husband put together.

Sincerely,

Carter. Garrick. Ethan. Alec. Talia.

Harlee. Dominik. Granger. Dr. Mabry. Chief Klein.

Mom glared at all of us and then locked her gaze on me.

Oh. Shit.

Our dad was kicked back in his recliner with his hand over his mouth, and we all knew he was trying hard not to laugh.

We never wanted to get on our mom’s bad side, and our dad, truly, never wanted to.

But sometimes, you just couldn’t help it.

Like right now.

And then she dropped the bomb that was sure to straighten everything back out and make it all right as rain, in her eyes, “I’m calling Harlee.”

I felt my smile drop instantly off my face.

“Oh. Shit.” Garrick said, shaking his head.

Talia’s face went white.

Ethan groaned.

Alec just kept laughing.

There was something seriously wrong with him, and I asked before I thought about it, “Did y’all drop that one on his head or something?”

My dad couldn’t help it. Laughter bubbled up from behind his hand.

Mom glared at me, then snapped, “No. He’s perfect.”

Alec chose that moment in time to let out a fart.

A fart that had all of our eyes watering and burying our noses in our shirts.

“You were saying?” Dad asked dryly.

Mom pulled out her cellphone, hit some buttons, and then smiled as a ringing tone filled the room.

Three rings in, “Hey, Mama G. What’s up?”

As Harlee’s voice filled the room, I felt it roll over me, cocooning me in a warm embrace.

I was fucked. Straight up the creek and without a paddle.

“I wanted to get your opinion on something my children did. Do you have a few minutes?”

I heard Harlee’s sharp inhale, “Oh lord. Yes, of course.”

Then our mother proceeded to explain what Karen Ratcliff had said about our mother, and then she proceeded to tell her what we had done and what was on the flyer.

Harlee was silent.

That was until her tinkling laughter spilled out, which caused us to recall what had happened to start laughing again, even Garrick.

“I cannot believe this,” Mom snapped.

Harlee, getting control over her laughter before any of us could, said, “Mama G, I get it. Okay. I do. But... put yourself in their shoes. Then think about why they really did it. They were defending you. You raised some amazing individuals, Mama G. I’m honored, truly.

But I do have to ask if Alec really is your child? ”

Talia tossed me a wink.

Yep. Harlee Belle, my Darling, had just saved all our asses and put mom’s anger in a different direction.

Mom narrowed her eyes at Alec, and then to Harlee she asked, “What did he do?”

Harlee growled, fucking cute, “He thought it would be a good idea to walk into my place of business, my company, mind you, and yell,” whatever Harlee was going to say was cut off by Alec’s shout.

“No! Harlee, don’t you dare. You promised.” Alec said.

Harlee snapped, “Yeah. I did. That was before Mr. and Mrs. Thomas walked into my business and asked if I wanted to join them and make it a throuple.”

Alec’s face went beet red.

Every single eye in the room was on Alec.

I was slowly standing up, narrowing my eyes on my younger brother, my hands clenched into fists, when I heard Harlee ask, “Are Talia and Carter with you, Mama G?”

“They are,” she answered.

“Carter, Talia, don’t you worry your pretty little heads about hitting him, I’ve got my own payback planned.”

I grinned, stopped my movements, and then sat back down.

Mom gasped, and then she looked at the phone. “Did you say that Mr. and Mrs. Thomas wanted you to join them and have a threesome?”

Harlee sighed, “Yep.”

Then mom asked, “What did Alec walk in and yell, Harlee?”

Harlee let out a little growl again, fuck, but it was cute, “With the front door opened, mind you. He yelled, Harlee. I got my Jacob’s ladder removed. Now I want that special you promised me. I think I’ll take the special package number four. I hope you can cure my erectile dysfunction.”

Dad smiled, “I got bail money, honeybee.”