by K. T Fisher
“Yeah, about that. Sam got a call from your husbands.” Tanya points to Kendal and Sophie. “They’re asking for back-up, because these girls are too damn gorgeous!” She squeals as she tears April from Sophie’s arms.
We all laugh, but it doesn’t surprise me. Jax is going to be crazy protective of that little girl, and he has reason to be. That little girl has all of her mother’s beauty already, and she’s going to have them chasing after her every day of the week! As for April, she is every part of her mother, but she has her dads looks as well These men are going to have their hands full, but we women will make sure they have all the fun they need.
Kendal’s phone rings, and everyone falls quiet.
“Hi,” she answers brightly, and I already know it’s Jax on the other end. “Sure, yeah, I’m leaving now.”
She hangs up and stands, ordering Finley to get his shoes on and getting the triplets ready. “Leaving me already?” I joke.
“Yep.” She smirks.
“But we’re staying,” Jessica adds, pointing to herself and Tanya.
“Ok, great.” I say sarcastically.
“No, not “great”, because you’re having a makeover,” Tanya informs me.
My teasing smile falls from my face and all the girls laugh. “Why?”
“We can’t tell you that.” Sophie kisses me on the cheek.
“Now, help me out, will ya?” Kendal asks, and I pick up Noah as Jessica and Tanya follow with Rory and Grace. “Jesus, why did Jax have to bless me with three babies?” she moans on our way. “Why can’t I be like Soph?” She gestures over to Sophie who is easily managing April and her baby change bag all by herself as she makes her way to her car. As Kendal whines, Sophie giggles, but I really feel for Kendal. It has to be tough with triplets. As much as she loves them all, she went from having just Finley to having a full house! That’s got to be a little stressful.
***
Three hours later, and I have been pampered, preened, polished and beautified. I still have no idea why, though, and the huge smiles on Tanya and Jessica’s faces are starting to creep me out. They keep glancing at each other and giggling like two gossiping school girls.
Once they have prepared me in a tight black dress and heels to match for god knows what, they disappear and return with a bag I didn’t even notice they had brought with them. Inside are their very own dresses and heels. From the outfit they have put me in and the look of their outfits, we’re headed to a party.
Tanya gets a phone call. “Hey…Yeah, we’re done now, are you ready?” She looks to Jess and nods. “Cool, we will leave now, then.”
“Come on, birthday girl!” Jessica bounces up and down.
Without arguing, I follow them out of my house and lock up before getting into Tanya’s car. When I sit down, I inwardly groan. I forgot to open Max’s birthday present! Oh well, I will have to wait until tomorrow now.
***
I’m surprised when we pull up in front of the gates leading to Max’s bachelor pad. I hate this house. I hate Max living here, and he knows it. Which is why I think he continues to live here.
Tanya eagerly parks and comes around to open my door. They each take hold of one of my arms as we walk toward the door. As Jessica opens it, it feels like something out of a movie. The inside is pitch-black and as soon as we step in, someone turns on the light, and suddenly there’s a load of people surrounding me yelling “Happy Birthday!” And then the music starts. Even though I had an idea there might be a party, I didn’t think it would be like this! I look around Max’s place in wonder: this house looks amazing!
After most of the guests come and wish me a happy birthday, I’m left with my closest friends who are all looking pretty pleased with themselves. “So, whose idea was this, then?” I ask.
All the men point to the girls, and I laugh. Of course it’s the women! The men aren’t going to organize something like this.
“But I let them use my house.” Max points out.
“Do you like it?” Kendal worries right away.
I give her a tight hug. “Love it, thanks Kendal.”
She seems pleased and pulls Jax off for a dance. Before Tanya walks away, though, she gives me a worried look. “Don’t be mad, ok?”
“Why would I be mad?” I ask, perplexed.
She bites her lip. “Just remember I said that, yeah?”
She leaves with Leo, and I’m left confused.
“You had better be grateful, Maisy Moo.” I hear Max from behind me.
I turn and smile. When I see him up close, my mouth dries. Max looks incredible. All black jeans and Converse with a white shirt. The sleeves are pushed up over his elbows so I can see the art running along his arms. I manage an awkward laugh. “Sorry.”
I’mapologizing for the weird way I was staringat him, but he seems to take it as me saying sorry on behalf of the girls overtaking his home and making it into my party venue. I’m kind of relieved for that, until he replies.
Max laughs, and it’s that deep sexy laugh that all we women love. The dimples come out, and the laugh lines stretch across his cheeks. “Maisy, I would do anything for you, you know that.”
He wraps his hand behind my head and pulls me close, kissing me on the forehead before leaving me with all these fucked-up feelings again.
What the fuck are you doing, Max?
***
An hour later, my birthday party is in full swing. I have a huge smile on my face as I dance with friends to the loud music. I can’t believe they pulled this off.
“So?” Jessica dances up to me. “Do you like your surprise?”
“I do.” I smile and look around at my girls. “I had no clue!”
Tanya rolls her eyes. “Well, duh, Mase, that’s the idea of a surprise party.”
I love her, but I could kill her sometimes. When she sees my glare, she sends me a full smile that I can’t help but return.
My good mood disappears, though, when I see Tanya’s smile fall and her body tenses. I immediately know something is wrong. She takes some steps closer to me as I continue to dance with Kendal. When she places her hand on my arm, I stop and look up at her.
“Tan? What’s wrong?”
She looks back to me. “Don’t be mad.”
I’m confused. “What?”
“This wasn’t my idea.”
I’m about to ask what the hell she is talking about when I hear the high pitched voice that I hate. “Happy birthday, big sis!”
I cringe inside. Fuck! I don’t want to see her! Not even on my birthday. Shit, I’m having a good time, and now she’s going to spoil it all.
I turn and face my younger sister. I take her all in and hide my dislike. She’s in her usual attire. Slutty dress and face full of make-up. “Hi Lauren. I answer, even though I really don’t want her here.
Her face lights up, and she squeals in delight. She’s obviously glad I’m talking to her because the last time I saw her, I slapped her ass out of my boyfriends’ bed while she was still butt naked from fucking him. The main reason I don’t speak about her. Not even to Max, I hate her and only Tanya knew she existed. She jumps up and down with her hands around me, giggling in delight.
“Oh, I’m so glad to see you, Mase!”
“Thanks,” I reply, because I’m not about to say I’m glad to see her. I’m not. I want her to walk out of my best friend’s house and go back home. I haven’t seen her in about four years and I’m not interested in seeing her now. She ruins everything in her reach, and I have a good life right now, and so do my friends. I’m scared with her just being in this room because she has the power to fuck up everything.
“Come on, let’s go get a drink!”
“I’ll meet you in the kitchen,” I say and watch her go.
As soon as I see her enter the kitchen, I turn and glare at Tanya with the rest of the girls surrounding her. “What the fuck, Tan!”
She holds her hands in defence. “This wasn’t me.”
“It was me,” Kendal replies. “I’m so
rry, I thought you would be glad to see her.”
I shake my head. “Did you not tell them what she’s like?” I ask Tanya.
“I tried when they mentioned her name.”
“We didn’t listen, until it was too late.” Jessica adds.
“Yeah.” Sophie raises her eyebrows. “We met her yesterday. We’re sorry, Mase, we should have listened to Tanya.”
I sigh loudly. “Look, its fine as long as you remember she’s a bitch and do not trust her. At all!”
They all nod, and I turn and make my way to my sister, preparing myself on the way.
Chapter Six
Maisy
When I go and find Lauren, I see that she’s not in the kitchen. Instead, I find her in the next room with a drink already in her hand, laughing loudly with Max standing beside her. Her hand is placed on his broad chest, and her eyes glisten as she stares up at him. I know that look, she already has plans set in motion, and they all involve Max.
As I make my way over to them, I fight to not run and tear her away from him. I don’t like her touching Max; I don’t like her here at all. A feeling deep within my stomach invades me like a sudden punch that I almost stop walking. It unnerves me as I near them, but it doesn’t stop me from boldly interrupting.
“I see you have met Lauren,” I snap at Max.
Both of them jump at the sound of my voice. Max lazily grins, and that feeling in my stomach doubles. He’s on the prowl, I know that look. “Well, damn, is that your name darling?”
Lauren laughs again. “Yes it is, and what’s your name?”
Max bites down on his lip, and I can’t fucking take it anymore! I don’t like him looking at her like that!
“His name is Max,” I snap again. Shit, I can’t let her get to me like this. “And she is my sister.”
She raises her eyebrows at me, and then I watch as her shocked face turns into a smirk.
“Get me a drink Lauren,” I tell her with more force than needed.
“What?” she shrieks.
“Go get your sister a birthday drink, darling.” Max tells her, and this time she quickly does as he says, walking off like a trained puppy. “What’s the matter, Mase?” He asks.
I look from Lauren and back to Max. “Nothing, I just want a drink.”
He chuckles and takes the three steps between us and places an arm on the top of my shoulder. “Are you jealous, babe?” he teases and flicks my nose. “You know you’re my number one girl, right?”
I can’t lie: for some reason I like the sound of those words. “Max, she’s my sister,” I start, but he interrupts me.
“Yeah, I know that now. Why did you keep her a secret?”
“Because she’s trouble, you’ll figure that out soon enough. What were you doing, anyway?” I ask, because they did look pretty cozy.
He removes his arm from around my shoulder and takes a long drink from his beer bottle. I watch as his Adam’s apple bobs up and down, and, weirdly, it’s sexy as hell. Shit, what is happening to me?
“I don’t know what you mean.” He tries to act all innocent.
I place my hands on my hips and this makes him laugh a little, so I place them back down at my side. “You know exactly what I mean, Max. You two were in here flirting, I’m not stupid. You need to stay away from her, Max. I won’t let her be on your list of many, and she’s not as she seems. Trust me, she’s not the nice woman she looks like.”
“You are jealous,” he teases me, and I feel my cheeks burn.
“Of course not!”
He grabs me in a hug as he laughs at me. “Yes, you are! My little Maisy is jealous. Don’t worry, babe, there’s nothing to worry about.” He lets me out of the embrace I was enjoying and holds me at arm’s length. “Did you open your present?”
“No, the girls came over. I didn’t have time.”
“It’s fine. I have another gift for you.”
Before I can ask what it is, he takes hold of my hand and leads me away from an approaching Lauren as she holds out a drink for me. I feel rather good as we continue to walk by her and up the stairs. We’re not going to do anything up here, but by the look on her face as we go, she doesn’t know that.
We reach his bedroom, and I try to take as much in of the room around me as he sits me on his bed. I haven’t been in his bedroom before, and I’m not surprised by the dark greys and deep blues. Max sits beside me, and he sits quite close to me looking deeply into my eyes. His teasing face is all gone now, and he looks serious.
“Maisy, I’ve wanted to tell you something for a while now. I can’t stop thinking about you. I need to know that you feel the same.”
What?! I open my mouth in shock, not knowing what to say back to him. Max starts to laugh, and I feel like a fucking idiot. He fucking played me! I slap his arm as he continues to laugh at me. “Shut up, you dick.”
He smiles at me, still chuckling. “Your other birthday present from me isn’t something that you can open.”
“I’m confused.”
“Seeing as you’re always telling me that you hate this place, how about you help me find somewhere new and help me design it and shit?” He asks me.
I freeze. Is this really true? I’ve been begging him for this since, well, since forever!
“What? You’re kidding me right?”
He shakes his head. “No, you’re always bitching about this place, and I finally want some place of my own. I don’t know shit about all of that stuff, Mase, you know I don’t.”
I can’t help the smile from appearing on my face. “Oh god, Max!”
“You like?” He asks with a knowing smirk.
“Fuck yes!” He laughs, but I am deadly serious. However, that still doesn’t stop me from joining him as he laughs loudly. As soon as I first saw this house, I disliked it, and the longer the guys all lived here, the more I hated it. The thought of Max here all alone, in this bachelor pad, makes me so sad for him.
He grabs me in a hug. “I love you, Mase, happy birthday.”
I smile into his arms. “Love you too, Max.”
Chapter Seven
Max
I hold onto Maisy’s hand as we walk back to her party. I hope she can’t feel how much my hand is shaking and how sweaty I am. Fuck me, I was nervous back there! She looks up at me as we reach the bottom of the stairs and smiles. It’s huge, and her eyes shine. Shit, she’s so beautiful. I nearly lost my cool while we were alone together. I was so close, I could have kissed her, laid her down on my bed and claimed her as mine. Fuck, I’m terrified of how much that thought excites me.
Maisy leads me into the living room, which is being used as the dancing area, and turns to face me. “I think you owe me a dance.” She says.
I place my hands on her hips and kiss the top of her head as she leans onto my chest. It’s just my luck that the end of the party is nearing so it’s a slower song that’s playing. If it was an upbeat tune, I could have joked around and made her laugh. Instead we’re dancing to Heart by Heart by Demi Lovato, and the words hit me hard. I feel Maisy tremble under me; are these lyrics affecting her as much as they are me?
As the song comes to an end, she quickly breaks away from me and rushes off without a word. What the fuck’s that about?
I need a fucking drink. These foreign feelings are fucking me up and I don’t know what to do with them.
I head into the kitchen and grab a beer. The coldness chills the burning in my throat.
“Must have said something bad,” I hear a voice from behind me. “It takes a lot to piss my sister off.”
Ah, Lauren the little sister. I turn to face her, and she’s already grinning at me, biting that plump bottom lip of hers. Fuck, I love it when girls do that shit. I feel it right in my dick.
“It was nothing.” I shrug her off.
“Oh, please,” she laughs. “What’s the matter? Didn’t tell her that you loved her after sticking your dick in her?” She giggles, and I don’t like the way she’s bitching about Maisy. “Classic Mai
sy. She’s tragic.”
It’s fucking weird that she looks so much like Maisy, although not as beautiful and sweet, because I’m quickly learning this girl is a bitch. I’m about to tell her to fuck off for talking about Maisy like that, but I spot her. She’s talking to a man I don’t know, but her eyes are on me. She shakes her head, probably because I’m here with Lauren, and then turns her attention back to whoever she’s talking to.
“You like her?” Lauren asks.
“What? She’s my friend, of course I like her,” I snap back at her.
My eyes go back to Maisy as she loudly laughs while putting her hand on the man’s shoulder.
“You don’t fool me,” Lauren replies, but I don’t bother talking back. I’m too busy watching Maisy who looks like she’s having way too much fucking fun without me.
Maisy throws her head back as she laughs again, and I feel it deep in my stomach. I don’t like watching it. It’s me who makes her laugh like that, and I don’t fucking like this dude stepping on my toes. I take a step forward and Lauren stops me by placing her hand on my chest.
“Where are you going, Max?” I take another step away from her, and her hand moves to my waist. “I thought we could get to know each other a little better.” Her whining is getting on my nerves.
I ignore her and follow Maisy as the guy she is with leads her to the dance floor. No fucking way is she dancing with this clown! If she should be dancing with anyone, it should be me!
I’m about to grab her away from him when Leo steps in my way. He’s frowning at me. “Dude, what’s up?”
“Get out my way,” I growl.
I move to the side, but he blocks me again. “What’s going on?” He asks.
“Leo, move the fuck out of my way!”
“Why?”
“I need to get Maisy away from that guy.”
Leo looks around and then back to me. “Why? She’s having a good time.”
I look around him and, sure enough, they’re dancing to a faster beat than what was on before. Maisy has her back to him as he grinds against her ass.