Taking Chances (Taking Chances #1)(124)

“Hello?”

“In here.” Brandon called and the twins started smiling.

Carter rounded the corner, closely followed by a few guys, “What’s up man?” He shook Konrad and Brandon’s hands and looked at me awkwardly as he came in for a hug, “What’s wrong with you?”

“Nothing.” I grumbled.

“She’s mad because Brandon put her up there, and no one would help her off.” Konrad smirked and leaned up against another counter, with Bree in his arms.

“Well duh Blaze. That way they don’t have to worry about you getting into trouble.”

I glared at him and scooted toward the edge, but quickly went back. Aubrey did the same and Jeremy eventually helped her down. She was at least three inches taller than me, and even she wouldn’t jump down.

Carter walked back into the dining room when he heard more of his friends come into the house and Brandon sauntered over to me, “It’s just because you’re so damn cute up there.” He kissed me and pulled me down, making it so my chest was pressed hard against his as I slowly slid down his body. His gray eyes heated and my body instantly responded. Stupid barbecue.

Carter came back in, making a total of six Marines, two of them had girlfriends with them, and we started the long process of introducing everyone. Brandon introduced us before Carter introduced himself and his friends. Kate caught my eye as she shamelessly stared at Carter, mouth partially open. I don’t know if it was her expression, but Carter definitely did a double take when he saw her too. He passed over Aubrey and Jeremy and when he caught sight of Laura, his brow furrowed and he quickly glanced over to Kate, back to Laura and finally rested on Kate again. When he looked over to me, I raised an eyebrow at him with a wide smile and I swear he blushed as he stumbled over his introductions.

“Did you see that?” Brandon whispered low in my ear. So I wasn’t crazy.

“Mhmm.”

“Huh.” He kissed my head and stood up straighter. “Interesting.”

It was quiet when Carter finished with their names and thankfully Brandon said he was going to start the food, so all the guys shuffled out with him and the hamburger patties. It was adorable to see Jeremy hesitate and look between the guys and Aubrey a few times before she pushed him out the door. I started getting cheese ready for Brandon and slicing up tomatoes and onions for when the food would be done. Bree and Aubrey helped me as the other four girls sat on barstools and talked chattily.

“Hey Blaze, your hubby said he needed cheese.” Carter walked toward me but looked at Kate over his shoulder quickly before thanking Bree for the plate of separated cheese she was holding out to him.

“You’re drooling Kate.” I smiled at her after Carter went back outside.

She smiled mischievously and glanced back quickly before leaning forward like we were sharing secrets, her elbows resting on the counter. “He’s cute, huh?”

Bree and I grinned and rolled our eyes at each other while Laura agreed. Aubrey just nodded her head silently next to us.

“So, you’re the Blaze?” One of the girlfriends asked.

Stifling a groan, I plastered a smile on my face, “That I am.”

“I heard a lot about you, Craig lives with Jason.”

The name Craig wasn’t ringing a bell, I was trying to remember which guy had been next to her, “All bad things, I’m sure?” I smirked and turned to grab the sliced produce, “Aubrey, can you help me with the plates and bowls?”

“From what he said, you two are close?” Craig’s girlfriend continued.

“Uh, kind of. We were best friends back home, but that was a while ago.”

“Cute pet name he has for you.” She goaded.

I set the plates back down a little harder than I should have, and tried to stay smiling as I tilted my head to the side, “Not really. I wouldn’t call making fun of how much I blush ‘cute’.”

“He doesn’t have a nickname for anyone else.”

“Oh my God, he has a nickname for his best friend. Big effing deal.” Bree slapped her palms down to her sides in exasperation. “Can we eat now? I’m starving.”

Dear Lord I loved Bree.

“You were the reason Ashley left him, you know.”

I bit down on my tongue and counted to five before saying anything else, “I’m sorry, what was your name again?”

“Lauren.”

“Lauren, right. Can you come here for a sec?” I led her into the living room, thankful Bree made everyone else stay in the kitchen, “I’m guessing you’re a friend of Ashley’s?”

She raised a dark brow in confirmation.

“I’m sure you have a reason for trying to stand up for your friend that was sweet enough to empty Carter’s bank account and let him come back from war to find divorce papers, but I can assure you I had nothing to do with said divorce. Whether she believes that or not, is her problem. But if you still feel the need to be in the middle of it, feel free to ask Carter when the last time was that we spoke before last week. He’ll tell you it was months before he even met Ashley. I knew they got married, but I found out through a text.”

“I’m sure, I know you were still around and I’ve heard enough about you to know what kind of girl you are.”

“I doubt that.”