Carter (The Harlow Brothers Book 1) by Brie Paisley Read Free Book Online

are up shit creek when it gets in the higher rounds.” I glance around, hoping no one’s listening to my conversation. I feel like a bitch since my voice got higher than normal. I can’t help it with Bethany. She knows how to irritate me like my brothers.
    “Psh, whatever. I’ll call Cason, and you call Caden. Meet up in thirty?”
    “I’ll be there.”
    “Good. Be prepared to get your ass kicked at bowling too.”
    I shake my head, ending the call, not wanting to argue with her. She probably will kick all our asses tonight. I don’t know how she does it, but pretty much anything Bethany does she excels at. I push the unlock button on my truck keys, and climb inside. I turn on my Bluetooth and once it connects, I call Caden. As it rings, I pull out of the parking lot and head north. It takes a bit longer to get out onto the crowded roads of downtown, since everyone has just closed shop for today.
    I hang up when Caden doesn’t answer. I wonder if he’s still on his shift, and I realize I have no idea since I didn’t see him this morning. That’s another reason I love having breakfast with my family every morning. We talk about our plans for the day, and it makes seeing my brothers easier. We’re all close, Caden and Cason more than the rest of us, since they share their weird twin bond, but overall we try to at least hang out every chance we get. Caden’s shifts are always changing, and I know some days he doesn’t enjoy it. I can understand why. Working a split shift one day, a half day the next, and then the night shift can really get old. I toss my phone in the passenger seat as I make my way through the afternoon traffic. I really don’t pay attention to everyone around me as I drive at a snail’s pace. My mind has been preoccupied all day with memories of Shelby and I when we were younger. A lot younger. I don’t know why I was thinking of our childhood, instead of our teenage years. I know it has a lot to do with the woman I saw earlier today. Since seeing her, all I can think about is Shelby. I have to stop this. I’m starting to sound like a love sick puppy. Thankfully, if anyone noticed today, they didn’t say anything.
    I try to call Caden once more as I finally break out of the heavy traffic, and turn left at the red light by Chili’s. When he doesn’t answer again, I leave him a voice mail, letting him know what the plans are for the evening. I pull in the parking lot behind one of my favorite restaurants, and find a parking spot in front of the newly added, GT Lanes. I haven’t been here since it just opened a few months ago. I park and rub my chin as I turn on the radio. I turn it down low, thinking about getting some Mexican food after we finish bowling for the night. It’s convenient having a Mexican restaurant and a frozen yogurt place right beside the bowling alley.
    Unbuckling my seat belt, I prop my elbow on the side of the door, and stare out the window, as I wait for everyone to arrive. These are the moments I hate the most. The time alone, time to think about shit I don’t really want to address even to myself. But try as I might, the damn memories pour into my mind, like an endless marathon of the most annoying TV show. I eventually just let the memory come, and close my eyes, remembering the past so vividly. At a time when nothing seemed to stop Shelby and I from just being ourselves. At a time, I was too naïve to believe that she wasn’t my forever.
    I glanced down at Shelby, and I can’t help but laugh at her. She’s trying so hard to climb the rope that leads to our newly built treehouse William made for us. I’ve told her three times to use the ladder, but she’s too stubborn to give up. I watch her fall on her butt again, and she frowns up at me then shakes her head. “Shel, why can’t you just climb the ladder like I told you?” I said as I leaned on the rail, looking down at her.
    “If you can do it, I know I can,” she snapped, determined more than ever to