Chapter 8

"What's Austin's anchor?" I asked my dad as I walked into the kitchen.

"Excuse me?" My dad asked quickly, looking up from his laptop in shock.

A frown crossed my face at the apparent nerve that it struck on my dad.

"At the game on Friday, I heard you and Coach Barnes talking and he said that Austin was playing so well because his anchor was there or something." I said carefully. "And we were just wondering about that?"

"It's nothing that concerns you, don't worry." My dad shrugged, returning to typing on his laptop. "I'm assuming Austin's not going to be at film today?"

"Nope, we're going to get his x-ray now actually." I said, looking down at my watch. "I've got to get back over there before his siblings destroy the house, with his help no doubt." I laughed.

"Alright well keep me posted." My dad said, closing the laptop. "I have to get going too actually."

"You're both leaving me?" My mom asked with a laugh, appearing in the kitchen.

"Sorry momma, Austin and I basically have our own children to deal with now." I teased, heading towards the door.

"Robert..." My mom gave him a look. "You always disappear all day Saturday... Just bring the boys here for goodness sake. We have a big enough living room and enough food to feed an army with the rate Carter shops." My mom laughed.

"Rude." I gave her a laugh, not waiting to see my dad's response to inviting the whole football team over to our house.

That was preposterous.

I just shook my head, walking towards the back door that went out to the backyard.

I pulled on my jacket as I quickly walked across the lawn towards Austin's house.

The back door was open just like I'd left it.

Sure enough, Austin was still sitting on the couch wearing just a pair of sweatpants, his leg propped up on a pillow on the coffee table and a bowl of cereal resting on his stomach.

Kate was wearing just a pull up, sitting on the floor in front of the television as she ate her cheerios.

Luke was playing on the iPad, this time only wearing a power rangers shirt and his underwear.

"Alright! We have to leave in five minutes so we're going to get ready as fast as we can!" I said excitedly, scooping Kate up from the ground. "Austin go get dressed, use the damn crutches I can't wait on you hand and foot."

Austin shot me a look but I busied myself with getting the kids ready.

"Enough iPad for now." I told Luke, taking it out of his hands.

"Hey!" The eight year old protested, a frown forming on his face.

"Come on." I scooped him up into my other arm and headed towards the stairs.

Both of them were relatively small for their ages, meaning I could hold them both with only a little bit of difficulty.

I set Luke down on his bed and while still holding Kate, tossed a pair of jeans, a captain america t-shirt, and a grey sweatshirt on the bed next to Luke. I grabbed some socks as well and handed them to the angry eight year old.

"If you're not dressed by the time I'm done with Kate you're going to be in major trouble." I told the kid before leaving the room.

"Put on some underwear, okay?" I said to Kate as I set her down on the ground.

I walked over to her dresser and pulled out a pair of leggings and a long sleeve top with sequins that I knew she loved.

When I turned back around, she was sitting on the floor completely naked, watching me expectantly.

"Katherine." I said with a frown, trying not to laugh.

Five minutes later she was dressed and her hair was in a ponytail.

When I walked out of her room, Luke was waiting there expectantly, his arms folded across his chest.

"Come on, let's go see if your brother is ready." I said as we walked to the stairs.

By the time we were at the first floor, there was a loud crash from the guest room followed by a loud swear.

"Luke, go put shoes on your feet and on your sister's feet." I said with a sigh before walking towards Austin.

"What the hell are you doing in here?" I laughed, walking into the room.

Austin was sitting on the floor, with a hand in his hair and the other resting on the ground.

"And why the hell are you just wearing your underwear?" I raised my eyebrows, crossing my arms.

Austin glared at me, pushing his hair back from his face.

"Why don't you try putting on underwear with only one working foot." Austin snapped.

"Oh for goodness sakes get up." I sighed, holding out my hands to him.

Austin avoided eye contact as I helped him to his feet.

"Sit down on the bed and put your pants back on. I thought you were just going to put on a t-shirt." I frowned, tossing a t-shirt at him.

"Well I wasn't about to go in public with no underwear on, Carter." Austin sighed, pulling the t-shirt over his head as I handed him the sweatpants.

"Wow, too much information." I shook my head, reaching for his crutches.

"We're gonna be late, let's go. I'm driving the truck." I replied, walking out of the room.

Austin's truck was so much nicer than mine. His had an actual backseat, which had carseats for both of his siblings. And the backseat was also cluttered with a variety of football items, some of my things, various CDs, and some random trash.

In the time it took Austin to get into the passenger seat, I'd gotten Kate and Luke buckled up in the back and had the car started and ready to go.

~*~*~

"I have to pee." Kate said quietly, looking up at me with big eyes.

"I thought you went before we left!" I replied, looking down at her.

"Well I have to pee again." Kate crossed her arms.

"There is a bathroom right there, you can go." I told her, pointing to the bathroom. "But come right back." I said as she ran off to the bathroom.

"You really are like a mother." Austin told me, not looking up from his phone.

"She's like, she's like our second mommy." Luke commented, climbing up onto my lap. "Like we have a mommy who gave birth to us and takes care of us but then we have this mommy who plays with us and puts us to bed."

Austin looked up at that, a look of hurt flashing through his eyes.

"Carter's not your mom, kid." Austin said suddenly. "She's just a damn good person."

I felt a smile cross my face.

"Your kids are gonna be really lucky one day." Luke said with a grin.

"My kids?" I raised my eyebrows.

"Well yeah yours and Austin's." Luke nodded enthusiastically.

Austin looked up again, his eyebrows raised higher than I'd ever seen them.

"I'm not having kids with her, dork." Austin said to his brother, putting down his phone.

Luke's face instantly turned into a frown.

"But that's what people do when they love each other very much. That's how babies are made. So you and Austin will make babies." Luke told me with a frown on his face as if he didn't understand what was going on.

"Different kind of love." I replied softly, smoothing down his hair. "I love Austin like Austin loves you."

"Oh..." Luke nodded slowly. "Well mommy and daddy always say you guys are gonna get married so maybe you guys just don't see it yet. Mommy and daddy are in love so they know how to see other people in love too." Luke shrugged before sliding off of my lap and walking over to the toys.

Since Austin was still seventeen, he was at the pediatric x-ray center at the hospital, meaning the waiting room was filled with toys.

"The kid is so oblivious." Austin shook his head, picking up his phone again. "My parents haven't been in love for as long as I can remember. Somebody kill me if I'm stuck in a damn relationship like that. And yeah, as if we'd ever have kids." Austin snorted, glancing up at me. "The thought of having sex with you, yikes."

I couldn't help but instantly feel hurt by that.

I mean it's not like I ever expected anything to happen between us but there was always some part of me deep down that figured Austin and I would end up together someday.

I mean Harry fricken Styles thinks we're dating, that's gotta count for something?

But of course I was dumb for thinking that.

Nothing would ever happen with Austin.

He's made that very clear.

Kate came out of the bathroom and my mind was preoccupied with her, the thoughts of Austin going away to the distant part of my brain that they seemed to always stay.

"Austin Ryan?" A nurse asked, walking into the waiting room.

"Be back." Austin said to me as he got up from the chair.

I watched as he crutched after the nurse, leaving me behind with Kate and Luke.

~*~*~

"Good news, it's not broken." Austin said to my dad as we walked in the front door of the house.

"Where are the little ones?" My mom asked with worry, standing up from the chair she was sitting in.

"Both at play dates." I replied reassuringly. "We didn't forget them at the hospital or anything."

"Not broken? What does that mean?" My dad asked seriously, lowering his laptop screen.

"I bruised a few ligaments, with a tiny sprain. I'll be out for a week, tops, the doc said." Austin said to my dad.

My dad let out a low breath.

"Thank goodness we have a bye week." My dad shook his head. "Listen, you rest that ankle up this week. Until your parents get home, Carter will stay with you guys and make sure you're resting up."

"Shocker, I have a life." I said suddenly, annoyance bubbling up in me. "I'm not just a pawn to be used whenever it most suits you for your football needs."

Everyone in the room turned to look at me in shock.

Even Peanut looked up from her bone at me, as if my outburst was so uncharacteristic that even the canine noticed.

"Carter what the hell is wrong with you?" My dad frowned, slowly standing up from his seat.

"There is nothing wrong with me, I'm just not Austin's personal slave and you can't just employ me for whatever football issues you're having! There are things I want to do with my life that don't involve the damn game!" I exclaimed before walking towards the hall.

"Carter!" Austin exclaimed after me.

I ran up the stairs, my heart pounding in my chest.

I heard footsteps on the stairs behind me but I ran into my room anyways and slammed the door as loud as I could.

"Carter what the hell is going on?" Austin said outside of my door.

I was absolutely fuming as I climbed through my window out to the roof.

I didn't even know where all of this anger was coming from but I was sick and tired of everybody not treating me like an actual person.

I loved Austin with all of my heart but there was only so much supporting him I could do without any support for me.

"Are you okay?" Austin asked quietly as he climbed out onto the roof next to me.

"Just dandy." I snapped, leaning against the side of the house.

Austin let out a sigh, sitting down next to me.

"Do you want to talk about what's wrong?" Austin asked, turning to look at me.

"I dunno, maybe you should figure that out on your own. Or wait... Just kidding. Apparently I only exist for the benefit of your game." I said harshly, standing up.

"Carter sit down before you hurt yourself." Austin sighed, grabbing my arm and tugging me back down.

I sat down harshly, yanking my arm away from his.

"You are acting like Kate when she doesn't get enough sleep." Austin said quietly, his eyes meeting mine.

I let out a sigh, pushing my hair back from my face.

"I'm overreacting over nothing, I'm sorry." I said quietly. "It's just... I dunno. What you said earlier, it reminded me of Connor and just struck a nerve." I shrugged.

Austin instantly tensed.

"What?" He asked harshly. "What the hell did I say that resembled that ass wipe?"

I looked up at Austin, raising my eyebrows.

"Nothing, nothing just never mind." I shook my head. "Listen you should go home and ice that ankle. I just need some time to myself today. I'll pick up Kate and Luke before dinner and get a pizza on the way home or something."

"Carter, talk to me, what's going on?" Austin said quietly.

"Nothing." I whispered, my eyes scanning his face.

Just looking at him was different now.

All I could think about was what everyone else was saying. We would make a damn good couple.

But the look in Austin's eyes was purely friendship. It was a plutonic love that I knew I'd never move past.

"Nothing." I repeated with a smile on my face. "Let's get inside before you fall off the roof and hurt your ankle even more."