Mark (Next Generation Carter Brother #9)

CHAPTER TWO

Mark

I shove the last of my clothes into my case, wishing I had listened to my mum and dad and stayed at theirs last night. We leave for the hen and stag party-slash-honeymoon cruise today, and I’ve already missed the taxi pick up. Last night, I stupidly went out with the guys from work and had one too many. I overslept, and to make matters worse, I completely forgot to finish packing. I had to lie to my mum and tell her I was already on my way.

Which I would be if the taxi firm hadn’t just told me there is a thirty-minute wait. There is no way I’m taking their word for it when everyone knows they actually mean an hour. Thankfully, I live close to the train station, but if I don’t hurry, I’m going to miss that too.

I grab my sunglasses, case, and wallet and head out; keeping an eye out for that rat my neighbour calls a cat. Once I feel assured the little fucker isn’t trying to gain entry to make me look like a catnapper, I lock the door behind me. Then I trip over a fucking suitcase when I turn to leave.

I kick away the bright pink case that doesn’t belong to me. “Are you fucking serious?”

“Hey, that’s my case,” the bane of my existence snaps as she steps out into the corridor.

“And you just left it there for someone to trip over?” I growl as I get up and dust off my cargo shorts.

“Since I didn’t expect someone to come along and not see a big-arse case, the answer is no,” she argues.

I grab my case, heading towards the lift. I’m leaving. I don’t have time to argue with her, even if it is amusing at times.

“Have fun!” her friend calls.

“Don’t forget to bath Mellow. And clean his ears.”

“Go, before you are late.”

“Love you. And I’ll call you later.” The lift opens and I step inside. “Hold the lift!”

I force a grimace as I push the button. “Sorry. I’m in a rush.”

“Don’t you dare,” she yells, but the door is already closing. “I mean it.”

The lift door closes and I lean back against the cool metal. Twelve days without looking over my shoulder and worrying if she’s going to try and break into my home. Twelve peaceful days with sun, family, and sea.

Once the lift comes to a stop, I head to the main doors of my private rented accommodation and speed-walk towards the train station, which takes me five minutes. I pay for my ticket and don’t bother taking a seat since the train is just coming to a stop. I wait for the crowd to get off before getting on and taking a seat near the window.

I gaze outside, spotting my neighbour running towards the train. She’s flapping her arms about, yelling for the train not to leave, and for a split second, I worry she might have followed me. I lower myself into the seat before she can spot me, inwardly groaning at myself for not moving further up the train.

When she gets on, she blows out a breath and stands near the doors on the other side of the train. I watch her for a moment, wondering how she gets all that hair into a ponytail. I only ever see it perfectly curled during the week, which I’m assuming is for work. Any other time, it’s a frizzy mess that, I have to admit, makes her look kind of cute. Her clothing never changes though. Today she has on a pair of beige linen trousers, a cropped white T-shirt that shows off her tanned stomach, and a pair of sandy-coloured sandals.

I lean back in the seat, closing my eyes. I still have thirty minutes until I reach my destination and I’m going to use that time wisely. I’m not going to worry about my crazy neighbour, or think about how good she looks. I have other things to be concerned about. Like the flight. Out of everyone in my family, I’m the worst flyer, which is why I prefer keeping our holidays in the UK. But this is for my sister, and for her, I will do it.

*** *** ***

The next stop is the one I need to get off on before getting on to the air-rail link to the airport, which will take roughly two minutes. I should get to the airport with enough time to check in and meet the others in the departure lounge. After firing off a text to my mum to tell her I’m close, I put my phone away and lean back in the chair.

A young lad’s voice grabs my attention and I turn to the row of chairs across the aisle from me, seeing two young teenagers. “Go on, I dare you.”

I snort when I see them both wearing hoodies with black snoods in this weather. Sweat is trickling down my back and I’m only wearing a black T-shirt and cargo shorts. These two are wrapped up like they’re waiting for snow.

“Wait until the train comes to a stop. We can grab it and run,” the kid whispers back to his friend, and I glance to where they are staring. My neighbour has stupidly got her carry on and purse on her suitcase and her attention is on her phone.

“She looks loaded,” the first kid whispers.

Having two sisters—one of whom had all her belongings stolen a few years ago—I know I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I let this happen. But even if that hadn’t happened to Faith, I would still intervene.

Plus, my mum and dad would disown me if I didn’t.

So I get up and walk over to where she is sitting, blocking her case. She glances up from her phone, her eyes wide for a moment before they narrow.

“You!”

Since I don’t know her name, I say the only one I do know. “Mellow, I didn’t know you were catching this train. I thought we were meeting at the air-rail,” I greet loud enough for the kids to hear me.

“What? We are not—”

I cut her off by placing my finger across her lips, then lean down. “Those lads are ready to rob you because you stupidly put your bag over your case.”

Her eyes widen further, and I know if I wasn’t blocking her view from them, she would have looked and given away the fact we are on to them.

“How did you…”

“I overheard them,” I admit. “What baffles me is why you thought it would be safe. Did your parents teach you nothing?”

“Excuse you?” she snaps as the speakers announce my stop. “I didn’t even see them there.”

“Because you were too busy looking at your phone,” I argue.

She gets to her feet. “Who do you think you are?”

“Someone who just saved your arse.”

“I can handle myself,” she snaps.

“Sure you can,” I placate, then turn when the doors open. Before the kids can leave, I move over to the aisle, blocking their path. “Going somewhere, boys?”

“Yeah, this is our stop,” the pimply kid tells me. “Can you move so we can get past?”

“I will in a minute,” I state as I grab my case. Thankfully, it’s padlocked and hasn’t been messed with. “First though, I thought I would give you a lesson that clearly your parents didn’t give to you. People who have nice things, worked for them. They didn’t go about it by robbing lone, defenceless women. Don’t be scumbags. Work for what you want. Because the next person might not go so easy on you.”

“We could take you,” the shorter one warns.

I snort. “Puh-lease, I could take you with one hand tied behind my back. Now fuck off before I get the train assistant to phone the police.”

When I turn around, the menaces have gone. I sigh, before leaving the train to make my way to the stairs that lead to the air-rail link. Once I get to the top, I see the doors to my train are about to close.

I spot my neighbour on the air-rail and yell, “Hold the door.”

She shrugs with a pout. “Sorry, I’m in a hurry.”

The door closes as she smiles and waves at me.

“Bitch!” I hiss, because I know I deserved that. I drop down on the bench and wait for the next one.

Mum and Dad are going to kill me if I miss our flight. I should have left the bar last night when Aiden did. Difference is, he had someone to go back to; I had no one. When you’ve had people surround you, almost smothering you, all your life, being alone sounds like a holiday. But it’s not. It’s lonely. And when most of those people have significant others, it heightens that feeling just a little bit more.

So it’s me, alone, in a box-sized flat.

I stand as the air-rail comes around the corner, and within a minute, I’m getting on, holding on to the overhead bar for balance.

Five minutes later, I’m walking into the airport. I’m surprised to find my mum and dad there waiting for me.

“Mark, honey, you’re late,” Mum greets.

I embrace her into a hug. “I’m sorry, Mum. I slept through my alarm.”

“You smell like a brewery,” Dad scolds as I pull back.

I scratch the back of my neck. “Um, yeah, I stayed out late with the lads from work. I’ll apologise to Faith. Where is she?”

“They are all waiting near the terminal. We should hurry. We need to go and get you checked in,” Mum declares as she begins to make her way over to the now empty line.

When she looks away, I know she’s not telling me something. “What’s wrong?”

Dad glances at me then Mum. “Lily isn’t doing well.”

“Is she sick?” I ask, feeling awful. Lily feels the safest when she’s with our parents, Landon or Jaxon.

“She’s anxious about the baby being on the plane,” Mum explains. “Plus, you know how she is with confined spaces. She’s worried about having a blackout and being unable to care for Rose.”

“I’ll be quick,” I assure her and head over to the baggage claim, where I hand over all my documents.

Once I’m done, I move over to where my parents are waiting. It doesn’t take us long to join up with the others, and I have to admit, that’s the quickest we’ve ever gone through security.

“Look who has gifted us with his presence,” Maddox declares, holding Asher in his arms.

“Yeah, I’m sorry I’m late.”

“We’re about to board,” Faith greets, beaming. “You had me worried.”

I pull her in for a hug. “I wouldn’t miss this. I really am sorry I’m late.”

She pulls back, but not far. “I’m worried about Lily. I don’t like how anxious she is, and I’m worried if I tell her it’s okay that she goes home, I’ll upset her.”

“Let me go talk to her,” I tell her. “The queue to get on will take a while anyway.”

“Thank you,” she breathes, and steps back into Beau’s arms.

I walk over to where Jaxon and Lily are sitting with Mum and Dad. Lily has Rose in her arms and is rocking her softly. “Hey, Lily, you doing okay?”

She startles at the sound of my voice. “Mark, you’re here,” she greets, and I know her smile is forced.

I glance at the others. “Can I talk to Lily alone for a moment?”

“No,” Jaxon bluntly remarks as Mum and Dad get up.

“We’ll wait over there,” Mum tells me.

“Jaxon, just a minute, please .” The please sounds bitter on my tongue, but I know if I tell him to fuck off, it will upset Lily.

“It’s okay,” Lily promises, kissing his cheek.

He reluctantly gets up. “A minute,” he warns, then leans in close. “If you fucking scare her, I will end you.”

I roll my eyes and take a seat next to Lily, peeking down at Rose. “You doing okay?”

“I’m okay,” she swears.

“Don’t lie to me. I’m your brother.”

“I’m scared about going on the plane,” she admits shakily. “What if I have an episode whilst I’m on there, and I’m holding Rose? I don’t want to hurt her.”

I run my hand over Rose’s head, chuckling when her lips pout. “Lily, I don’t know if you’ve noticed but you haven’t had an episode in a long time.”

“Yes, I have,” she states, meeting my gaze.

“No, sister, you haven’t. Even when Jaxon was missing at Christmas, your emotions were all over the place but you never had an episode. You’re nervous and it’s understandable. But you aren’t the same girl you were a few years ago.”

“I…” Her eyes widen. “Oh my gosh, you are right.”

I nod. “I always am.”

She bumps her shoulder with mine. “I’m sorry I’m such a mess. It’s not just the flight. What if she gets sick while we are out at sea?”

“They have things in place for that, but Rose is a healthy, happy baby. Too happy, if you ask me. Aiden is still jealous she doesn’t cry like Sunday did at her age. I know you had moments when she was a baby but it was nothing like how Sunday was.”

She laughs. “I know. He came round ours a few weeks ago and kept staring at me. I thought I was doing something wrong, but he explained he just wanted to know why she never cries. She does, just not as much as Sunday did as a baby.”

“What did you say?”

“I didn’t,” she admits, her smile spreading. “Jaxon told him she had nothing to cry about and that he would cry all the time if he had to listen to Aiden all the time.”

I wrap my arm around the back of her chair. “It’s all going to be okay.”

“Is Faith mad at me?”

I glance to where Faith and Beau are standing, seeing her watching us. “She’s worried about you, not mad. She doesn’t want to put any pressure on you and she feels like you’ll be upset if she tells you it’s okay if you want to go home.”

“I want to be here,” she assures me.

“I know. Why don’t you go and tell Jaxon to stop glaring at me, and I can go and tell Faith she doesn’t need to worry.”

She leans over, kissing my cheek. “You are the best brother ever.”

“Oh, I know. I’m going to get a T-shirt and make Aiden jealous,” I admit as I get to my feet.

She follows, chuckling. “Don’t you dare.”

“Already ordered,” I tease.

“You know he’ll only get himself one.”

I shrug. “Yeah, but his won’t be true.”

“I love you both equally.”

“I love you too. Now go be with your man because he seems like he’s itching to pick a fight.”

She lowers her head. “He’s worried about me.”

“Oh, Lily, Lily, Lily. You make it impossible for us to hate him.”

She smiles and it lights up her entire face. “Because hating him would mean you hate me. He’s a part of me.”

I sigh because she’s right. “Yeah.”

“Thank you for talking to me,” she tells me as Jaxon makes his way over.

“Any time. I’ll leave you to fill Jaxon in,” I tell her, then make my way over to Faith, who is wringing her hands together.

“Is she okay?”

“She’s fine. She’s just nervous. But I think I helped her see that she has no reason to be.”

“You?” Beau questions, his eyes widening.

“Yes me. I pointed out that she hasn’t had an episode in a long time, so she has no reason to worry about having one now.”

“She has,” Faith argues softly.

I arch my brow. “Really? When?”

She opens her mouth but then closes it. “Oh my god, she hasn’t.”

“Same reaction she had.”

“What about the plane itself though? She doesn’t like small spaces.”

“She’s sitting next to Mum and Jaxon, who she’s used to being smothered by. She’ll be fine.”

“Thank you,” she gushes, throwing herself into my arms.

“Now, let’s get on this plane before I chicken out.”

“Scared of flying?” Beau questions.

“I heard a rumour that you watch Disney movies in your spare time at work,” I tell him, daring him to make fun of me.

“Wait, what?” Faith asks.

I grin at Beau, before turning to Faith. “I’m going to go board the plane so I’ll let Beau fill you in.”

I hear him curse as I walk away. It’s fun winding him up, but none of it is serious. We all want Faith to be happy, and unfortunately, he makes her happy. So none of us try to push him too far because family is everything to Faith. It would devastate her if there was any conflict between us.

As I make my way to the others in the queue, I swear I see a head full of frizzy hair, like my neighbour’s, but before I can check, Maddox grabs my attention.

It can’t be her though.