He smiled wide and opened his mouth to talk, but was cut off.

“Harper?”

Turning, I saw Brandon staring at Carter, he didn’t look happy. And I could only imagine how after what happened last night with Amanda, me taking off and almost tackling a random guy while in a bikini would be a little alarming. Especially since Carter still had his arms wrapped around my waist. Stepping back toward Brandon, I grabbed his hand and squeezed, “Brandon this is my best friend from Camp Lejeune, Jason Carter, Carter, this is my boyfriend Brandon Taylor.”

They firmly shook hands but didn’t say anything. Awkward.

“Um, why don’t we head back over there? I can introduce you to everyone else.” I pulled Brandon back towards our friends while I was introduced to the three guys Carter had been with. He was right, I didn’t know them, but Carter had never been to California so I didn’t know how he knew them either.

I introduced Carter and the three guys to everyone, and while all the housemates and Konrad were polite, Chase wouldn’t speak to, or shake Carter’s hand. Just crossed his arms over his bare chest and openly glared at him. What threw me off even more, was Brandon standing right next to him, in the exact same stance. It didn’t surprise me that Carter took a step back, those guys could look scary if they wanted to. Rugged looks, tall tattooed and muscled bodies. Yep. Definitely scary to someone who didn’t know them. Bree looked back and forth between Carter and me with an amused expression. I knew she would grill me about this later.

When we were all seated on the blankets, I asked Carter again, “So how long is your leave for?”

“I didn’t get leave.” He shrugged his shoulders.

“Carter!” I gasped, “I swear to God if you went UA…” I knew what the punishment was for leaving base without authorization, and if Carter did…well let’s just say it wouldn’t be good.

He laughed, “No, no. I didn’t. Everyone knows I’m here. I requested for a transfer to Camp Pendleton when you decided to move to San Diego, it got accepted right after you left. I got here on Monday.”

“Wait, you moved here because I was moving here?”

“Of course.”

“Did Sir make you do that?”

“Not at all. I just couldn’t let you go.”

“Oh shit.” Bree muttered.

Brandon sat up straighter, I didn’t have to look up to know he was glaring and sizing up Carter. This could get bad, I was about to say something when Carter spoke up again.

“I mean I can’t let my little sister go across the country alone, right?”

I smiled at Carter and felt Brandon relax from behind me. Sean, one of the guys that came with Carter, looked at the other two guys then back to Carter with a confused look and started to speak, but when he looked back to me and Brandon, he shut his mouth.

“So…I’m sorry what was your name again? Brady?”

I glared at Carter but remained quiet. I knew he could tell me everyone’s name that he’d just met. I’d always envied that he could remember anything as long as he read or heard it once.

Brandon’s arm tensed around my waist, “Brandon.”

“Right, my bad. So how did you meet my girl?”

“Through school. I live with Chase, Bree’s his sister and Harper’s roommate.”

Carter’s head tilted back a bit, his eyes lit up like he was just told valuable information, “Chase huh? Good for you two, I don’t judge.”

Brandon snorted and trailed his other hand down my arm to intertwine our fingers, “Hear that Chase? Apparently we’re together.”

“Ah. It all finally makes sense. Why you’re always at my house and such. Guess I should take you on a date or something.” Chase smirked but kept his glare on Carter.

I kicked Carter’s leg and gave him a be nicelook.

He smiled warmly at me and glanced above my head to Brandon again. “What are you going to school for?”

“I’m double majoring in financial services and accounting, and minoring in marketing.”

Carter seemed genuinely surprised by this. I had been too when Brandon told me he’d taken every core class he would need at a community college while he was still in high school, so all he had to focus on during his time at SDSU were his majors and minor. He was incredibly smart, and it only added to his appeal.

“That’s admirable I guess,” Carter said looking at me, “you can probably go into something to make a good living.”

“I make a good living now.” He pulled me closer into his body and I watched as the muscles in his forearm strained against the skin.

I rolled my eyes and was about to stop the testosterone filled interrogation when Carter spoke again.

“And how’s that? You a manager at McDonalds?”

My mouth dropped and I glared at my friend, why was he being such a jerk? Brandon stiffened and I shut my eyes. Here we go.

“I fight. And I’m damn good at what I do.”

I quickly glanced at everyone around us, it was like a bad movie. Everyone stopped talking and was staring at Carter to see what he would say.

“What kind of fighting? With open handed slaps and hair pulling?” Carter goaded.

“MMA.” Brandon said through what sounded like clenched teeth.

“Oh perfect.” Carter glanced down at me, “You managed to find an abusive hot-headed boyfriend, exactly what we tried to get you to stay away from.”