Mark (Next Generation Carter Brother #9)

CHAPTER ONE

Freya

Get a cat, they said. It will be therapeutic, they said. But as I once again shake a pack of cat treats while walking around the flat I share with my best friend, I begin to think my cat was put on this earth to test me.

My phone, which is pressed between my shoulder and ear, threatens to fall. I grab it, listening to my mum as she continues her rant, even though I have more important things to be doing. Like trying to find my escape artist of a cat.

“It’s your sister’s wedding, Freya. You have to be there.”

“Mum, I can’t afford to go. I have bills to pay.”

A destination wedding is expensive enough, but my sister has gone and booked a cruise. Our parents may be well off, but I’m not. I have bills to pay, a cat to provide for.

“What bills? You live in a tiny box flat. I’m sure it doesn’t cost that much to live there,” she scolds, and I hear her cluck her tongue.

My mum loves me . That’s what I have to keep reminding myself.

She loves me so much, she suffocates me. She didn’t understand why I wanted to move out. In her eyes, I turned my back on our family. What she doesn’t realise is that I did it for our family. She treated me like a child whilst I was living there. I had a curfew of midnight, I had to ask if friends could sleep over, and if I dreamed of bringing a guy back, I wouldn’t hear the last of it. Which is why I’ve only ever had a relationship with one guy—Danny Ledger. After three long years, he called it quits out of nowhere. Or at least, it felt that way to me at the time.

Then…

A few weeks after our break up, which happened over a year ago, he turned up at our house holding hands with my younger sister—Esther. They were in love, and neither felt any shame for what they had done.

Things at home became worse after their declaration. I love my sister, but watching her cuddle up to the man I once loved... it cut deep. I had to sit and watch them act all lovey-dovey at the dinner table, and listen to my parents tell them they made a beautiful couple. I had to hold back each time my sister low-key patronised me about me finding the right person. Things between us had been rocky before she and Danny got together; they just got worse after they announced their relationship. I held on for as long as I could, hoping the remarks and digs would pass so we could go back to how we were as kids. They didn’t. I wasn’t holding a flame for Danny, but it was too much to be around them both and have everyone treat me like I was the problem. So the minute my best friend asked me to get a place with her, I jumped at the chance and moved in with her and her parents whilst we looked for a place. We got our flat seven months ago, but the people who lived here before left it in a right mess. We had to redecorate and refurbish doors before we could move in. Now, after five months, we are finally settling in. My parents no longer need to get in the middle of me and Esther arguing, and we aren’t at each other’s throats or living on top of each other.

“Mum, we have the same bills you do. Our rent is more than your mortgage.”

“We could help you with a ticket.”

I place the pack of cat treats down on the side and pinch the bridge of my nose. “Mum, I’m not letting you pay for my ticket.”

“Are you not happy for your sister?”

I meet Summer’s gaze as I answer. “I’m thrilled for my sister.”

“Liar,” Summer mouths from where she sits on the sofa.

I’m not jumping for joy, but I am happy Esther has found someone she loves. I just don’t need her to dig the knife in deeper. It’s not the break up that hurts; it’s the betrayal from two people I loved. My sister is supposed to be the one person I can trust implicitly.

Esther is gorgeous. She has long, straight blonde hair, whereas mine is a curly, frizzy mess unless tamed. She has a slim figure, whereas mine is slightly curvy at the hips. Everyone loves her, whereas I tend to piss people off with my smart mouth. She also has the brains to go with her beauty, whereas I let my family down by becoming a teacher. Those who can’t, teach, and all that crap. Esther’s always been the favourite. All I ever did was let my parents down. And she’s so smug about it. My mum reminds me of what a let-down I am every time I go for Sunday dinner. My dad, however, is gentler about it.

“Then what is the issue? What is so important that you would miss your sister’s wedding?”

I don’t comment on the fact Esther is marrying my ex-boyfriend, or that Esther and I haven’t gotten along in a long time. She will only accuse me of being the issue. And there’s only so much a soul can take.

“Mum, I’ve only been at my job for a few months. I can’t ask for time off already,” I lie.

“You work at a school. You have the school holidays off,” she points out.

“Is that Freya?” I hear my dad call.

“Yes. She is refusing to go to the wedding.”

“That’s not what I said,” I argue.

“Why on earth would she miss her sister’s wedding?” he questions. “Give me the phone.”

Oh God .

“Noodle, is what your mum said true?”

I hate it when he uses his pet name for me. It reminds me of a time when things were a lot easier. It also happens to break my resolve. “Dad, I just don’t think it’s a good idea,” I truthfully reply.

“Are you really going to let your sister down?” he asks. “She was supportive of you when you left home.”

Because she couldn’t wait for me to leave so she could have you to herself .

“She consoled you after the break up. You need to move on, Noodle.”

More like gloating, I think, but I don’t say it out loud.

I sigh. “Fine. I’ll go.”

“I knew you would do the right thing. We will get your sister to book your plane ticket and we will reimburse her.”

“God, no. I’ll buy my own ticket.”

Or sell a kidney so I can get one.

“Nonsense. She’s booking one for Mike anyway,” he explains, which makes me inwardly groan. Mike is Danny’s cousin who earned the title of the pervy uncle. Every family has one. The guy who stares at your tits whilst speaking to you; who gets a little too handsy and always finds a way to get into your personal space. I hate him with a passion, so much so I made a promise to myself that the next time he touches my arse, I am kneeing him in the balls. Esther’s wedding won’t make me break that promise. Dad pulls me out of my thoughts before I can argue. “We have to go. We are going to be late for our dinner.”

“Dad, wait. I can pay—” I stare at the phone when it cuts off. “He cut me off.”

Summer finishes braiding her thick, light brown hair that has pastel rainbow colours at the tips. “You owe me brownies. You gave in quicker than you did the time they wanted you to dress up as The Wicked Witch.”

My shoulders drop in frustration. “She put my dad on the phone. I’m not a pushover.”

She hums in the back of her throat. A hum that silently says: ‘if you say so’. “What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to find my damn cat,” I grumble, scanning our cosy living room. Everything in here, from our sofa to our knick-knacks, is beige, my favourite colour. Everything looks tidy and clean in beige. It’s soothing. “I’ll tackle the phone call problem later.”

“Did you look under the bed?”

“Yes,” I reply, glancing behind the television again.

“Did you look above the cabinet in the kitchen?”

“I’ve searched every inch of the place thoroughly,” I admit. “You’ve watched me. Three times.”

Mellow is a ragdoll that I adopted whilst living with Summer and her parents. Their neighbour fosters cats, and they had a ragdoll whose breeder was mistreating it. When she gave birth, I fell in love with the kitten who was pure white. As he grew, his fur changed to a sandy colour. I named him Mellow because he was so chill. He loved his sleep. But since moving into our own space, the fucker has been constantly trying to give me a heart attack. The last time he went missing, we were searching for hours. He was in the ornament pot near the television the entire time and the fucker didn’t come out at my panicked voice calling his name.

But I haven’t seen him since seven this morning, which isn’t like him. He never says no to treats. If he could, he’d eat them all day.

Summer picks up her bright pink nail varnish. “Maybe he got out? I haven’t been out at all, so did he follow you out this morning?”

My eyes widen when I realise what must have happened. “That psycho across from us!”

“The hottie?”

My nose scrunches up. “Stop calling him that. He isn’t right in the head,” I growl, causing her to laugh.

According to the woman who lives above us, he moved in last year after another guy moved out. None of the neighbours have issues with him because he flashes that smile and they melt on the spot. But I know different.

At first, he reported me for having a cat, which he later refused to own up to. I know it was him. He eyed my Mellow like he was planning his murder. Then, to top that off, he accused me of being obsessed with him, which is absurd.

All because of a few misunderstandings.

The first incident happened when we were coming here to decorate. Me and Summer got wasted the night before, and I was still kind of drunk when we got here. My head was fuzzy, and being unable to find my bearings, I accidentally walked into his flat—just as he was coming out of the shower. No one was more mortified than me.

The second incident happened when we found a wardrobe on Market Place. Whilst we were trying to get it into the flat, I needed to get a better grip, so I leaned against his door to adjust my position. He just happened to open the door during that time. I fell at his feet, and he accused me of trying to break in.

If it wasn’t for Summer, the last incident wouldn’t have happened. She manipulated me into going with her to take his post to him after it got mixed in with ours. A second before his door opened, she bolted, leaving me holding the post. The jerk accused me of stealing his letters as an excuse to see him.

I don’t even want to get started on the fact he keeps stealing our takeaways. I know it’s him. The delivery driver confirmed it. Not that I needed him to; I could smell the food coming from his flat.

The few times we’ve seen him with friends or family, they’ve looked at me like I’m some crazed fan who can’t get enough. And the most annoying thing about it all is the fact that every time I see him, I want to throttle him.

“Why do you think he would take Mellow? He didn’t seem to like cats.”

I throw my hand out. “Because he was outside this morning. I knew he flung that food at me on purpose. I fucking knew it. He used it as a distraction to get Mellow. I had to come back in to change.”

Her eyes crinkle with amusement as she presses her lips together for a moment. “He flung food at you?”

I begin to pace the floor. “Yes. He kept swearing it was an accident but I know it wasn’t. I know it wasn’t.”

I know what I need to do .

“Where are you going?” she calls out when I turn to leave.

“I’m going to get my cat back.”

“Stop! Mellow is probably hiding somewhere. You’re just going to embarrass yourself. Again .”

“I don’t embarrass myself,” I argue, my hand on the front door handle.

“The last time you confronted him, he threatened to call the police on you.”

“He stole my food,” I snap.

“You fell asleep and it was dropped off at the door. Technically, it was in no-man’s-land.”

“Whose side are you on?”

Her lips twitch. “Yours. Always yours.”

“He has it in for me and my cat,” I tell her, swinging the door open. “So I’m going to do something about it.”

I startle at the sight of him in the corridor. He has his work gear on, and his face and hands are covered in soot, or perhaps dirt. Which I have to admit is kind of hot. It’s just a shame he has to open his mouth. I glance away from the sweat trickling down his neck and under his T-shirt, and pull myself together.

“You!” I accuse.

He drops his tool bag, his eyebrows pinching together when he spots me. “If this is about this morning, I said I was sorry. I thought I felt a spider on me and I jumped.”

“I want my cat back,” I snap.

His hazel eyes narrow on me. “Your cat?”

“I know you took him. You’ve been wanting to get rid of him since we moved in.”

“I haven’t touched your cat,” he snaps, and puts his key into the lock. “You are crazy. Do I need to get a restraining order? Because I will. I’m sick of all these excuses to try and see me.”

“ I’m crazy?” I screech. “You’re the one who keeps stealing our food, and I’m pretty sure you stole our doormat too. No one else has a reason to come to this floor. And now, you’ve taken my cat.”

“I haven’t taken your cat,” he barks as he pushes his door open.

My gaze zeroes in on his sofa. On Mellow sitting on his sofa. He has one leg cocked up, and he’s staring right at us. No doubt before we interrupted him, he was licking his balls clean.

I push past the bane of my existence. “You didn’t steal him, huh?”

I gather Mellow into my arms, huffing, and ignore how good he smells. He smells like his captor. Woodsy with a hint of spice.

“How the fuck did he get in here?”

“Oh, don’t try and act innocent with me,” I snap, glowering at him. “You stole my cat.”

He lifts his hands up in surrender, his eyes wide and lips parted. “I swear on my parents’ lives, I didn’t steal your cat. I don’t know how the fuck he got in here.”

“You’re a monster,” I hiss.

“I fucking swear I didn’t take your cat,” he growls. “Maybe you put him in here so you could get inside my home.”

I walk towards the door and notice my paw doormat on the floor by his feet. I huff out a breath and pick it up. “And let me guess, this happened to walk over here too.”

“Okay, I admit I took that. I was getting the carpet muddy when I walked in and you two didn’t seem to use it. But I didn’t take your cat.”

“I’m going to the landlord about this,” I warn as I let myself out. “You won’t get away with this.”

“I didn’t take your bloody cat.”

Mellow begins to meow in protest, wanting to be put down, but I hold him tighter. “He can’t open doors. He’s a cat.”

“He must have. He must be copying his owner,” he accuses.

I spin around to face him, letting out a heavy sigh. “He’s a cat.”

“Then explain to me how he got into my home. Has he got fleas? Because I swear to God I will send you the bill.”

I gasp, rearing back. “How dare you!”

“Woah, you found Mellow,” Summer states, coming into the corridor to join us.

I jab my finger towards our neighbour. “He stole him. I fucking told you he had something to do with his disappearance.”

“Woah, that’s cold,” Summer mutters, narrowing her gaze on him.

He throws his hands up in the air. “I didn’t steal the damn cat. I don’t even like cats. I’m a dog person.”

“How can you not like cats?” Summer asks, her lips twitching.

“Because they’re psychotic, selfish little fuckers.”

I hand Mellow over to Summer, who groans when his mane gets into her mouth. “My cat isn’t psychotic or selfish.”

“Then explain to me why the little con artist broke into my place and pinned the blame on me?”

“Because you stole him. Like you steal everything.”

“Oh, where did you find the mat?” Summer questions and I meet her gaze.

“Mr Sticky Fingers over there had it.”

“I was borrowing it.”

I step closer, jabbing my finger into his hard chest. “Don’t come near my pussy again.”

He leans down. “Pussy or pussycat? Because they are two different things, and I can assure you, I won’t be going near either,” he barks.

I growl low in my throat, and I swear to God I stomp my foot in frustration. “You…”

“I’m leaving,” he snaps, then glances at Summer. “Keep your friend away from me, otherwise I will get a restraining order.”

He picks up his work bag and heads inside his home. Once his door is closed, I turn to Summer. “Can you believe that fucker?”

Her lips twitch. “That was the most ridiculous conversation I’ve ever heard and I’m so here for it.”

“Not helping. He stole my Mellow.”

“Mellow probably let himself in. He has no personal boundaries. And before you start to tell me he does, explain to me how he keeps getting into my room every night to suffocate me.”

I snort as we head back inside. “He just wants cuddles?”

“Around my neck?” she questions with an arched brow.

I take Mellow out of her hands. “He’s friendly. He misses his momma.”

“No, he’s just the most docile, conniving little cat I have ever met.”

I hold him up. “No more sneaking into the neighbour’s house. He will eat you, Mellow. He will.”

“That man is fine though,” Summer announces as she retakes her seat on the sofa. “I’d let him eat me.”

“No, he’s not,” I argue. “And ew.”

“Oh, come on. You’d have to be blind not to find him attractive.”

She has a point but I’m not going to admit anything. His personality ruins it. And I’m done with men. I’m done with their lies and broken promises. They are good for a short time, just not a long time. And right now, I want to concentrate on myself for once.

“We do not give him compliments in this house.”

“You told him to stay away from your pussy,” she reminds me.

I sit next to her on the sofa, letting Mellow go to get some food, and turn to her. “Can we erase that from our memories?”

“Never.”

“I hate you.”

“You love me,” she reminds me. “The sexual tension between you two though… Hot .”

“No, Summer. Just no.”

“Just saying.”

“Can we change the subject?”

“Yes, we can talk about you going to your sister and ex-boyfriend’s wedding.”

“I’m going to go bath Mellow. God only knows what he’s caught being over there.”

“Looked pretty tidy to me.”

I narrow my eyes on her. “Whose side are you on?”

She smirks. “Yours. Always yours.”

I wait for Mellow to finish his food before snatching him back up. I ignore his protest at being held and carry him to the bathroom.

I will not think about the hot neighbour.

And I will definitely not think about being stuck on a cruise for twelve days with my ex-boyfriend.