Carter stiffens, shaking his head. “She’ll notice. She’ll take a whiff of your hair when she walks in the door and your head will be mounted on the wall by dinner.”
I bark out a laugh. Oh, how I already love Ariana Forkerro.
CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE
arden
I snuggleup next to Carter on the couch, smiling into my wine glass. There is a stunning Christmas tree in the corner of the condo that just appeared one day. It’s littered with golden lights and gold and black baubles. The star hits the top of the high ceiling and provides the prettiest pattern of lights on the roof.
His mother and her boyfriend are on the other side of the couch. His father is lounging on the ground next to Ariana, and his partner is sitting on the love seat.. We’re watching a film they apparently watch every year, all exhausted after a hefty Christmas Eve dinner.
The warmth in this home is enviable. I feel sorry for anyone who didn’t have the privilege of being here tonight.
Carter’s mom, Claudia, is a gorgeous, wonderful woman. She reminds me of a socialite that you’d see on reality television. Beautiful silver hair, striking blue eyes, and an aura like no other. One look at her and I almost ran for the hills, but somehow, she is the sweetest woman in the world on top of it all.
Their father, Marco, gives off the vibe of a rich businessman because he is. He’s a bit harder to crack, but kind nonetheless. I could immediately tell he was the strict parent. He doesn’t seem like one to give handouts, even to his children, even with all his wealth. His partner is quiet, all dark features, whereas Claudia is light. They’re complete opposites in terms of both looks and personality. Still, they all get on like a house on fire.
My eyes drift to the floor.
Then there is Ari. The hurricane of the Forkerro family.
She’s the center of her brother’s universe. That much was clear from the very moment she stepped inside the condo. Carter wanted me to meet his parents, yes, and he wanted me to like them, but his biggest concern was that I get along with his sister.
He didn’t have to worry about that.
She whirled into the house, storming in front of her parents’ paths, looked me up and down, and broke into a huge smile. She glanced at Carter with a reassuring nod, smacked his cheek a bit too hard, and then placed her hands on my shoulders.
“You’re incredibly hot,” she said, and then she looked up at her brother. “Pleasetell me Boston Black is inside right now, wrapped up with a nice little bow, just for me?”
“Get the fuck inside,” Carter grumbled.
I broke into a shocked laugh, only for her to pull me into a hug and drag me into her brother’s house like she owns it. She didn’t even let me meet her parents before she started asking one million questions, and when I awkwardly tried to continue the conversation while also attempting to introduce myself, their mother waved me off.
“We’ll get to you. Ariana runs out of air eventually.”
I wind my arm around Carter’s bicep, turning my head upto his. He watches the movie like he’s never seen it, twinkly eyes locked on the screen. When he feels the hearts in my eyes, he glances down at me.
“I’m the luckiest person in the world, aren’t I?” I whisper.
He angles his head, a soft smile touching his lips. “Not luckier than me, Red.”
I lean up and kiss him. I melt into him, finding so much purpose in a living room full of people I have only just met. I have never felt like I had a reason before. Like I belonged somewhere. Not until I met him. With my sisters, it was always them and then me. With Whitney and Autumn, we’re all close, but they had gone to nursing school together, long before I arrived. They have a history that doesn’t include mine.
But with Carter, it’s us. I think I like it being us.
Everything changed when I was eleven. It changed again when I was twenty-eight. All it took was one look into a pair of sparkly eyes and one fist being smashed into a face. My world has suddenly, and undeniably, moulded itself around him. I want to make him happy. I want to be with him simply, just like this. I want his people to become my people. I want to share all of my last bites with him, and watch him get dismantled by the wine curse again and again.
I want to enjoy life. With him. For myself.
I have lost a lot in my life, but god, have I gained so much more.
“For fuck’s sake, shut that off!”
I blink, glancing down at Ariana on the floor, who Carter is gesturing at. I’ve been too enthralled by him to have really cared that her phone has been buzzing over and over since the movie started.
It’s really not that big of a deal.
Claudia lets out a little sigh, shaking her head.
