Bound to the Wrong Carter

A NOTE BEFORE YOU BEGIN ❤️

Bound to the Wrong Carter is the direct sequel to The Carter She Couldn't Resist.

While you can follow Oliver and Lilly's story without reading Book One, I highly recommend starting there to experience their journey from the very beginning.

This story picks up right where Book One left off and contains spoilers for the first book.

Happy reading! ❤️

S. Tyteca

Oliver

Lucas stood directly in front of him, his helmet hanging from one hand. The stadium was still celebrating around them, music pounding through the speakers and thousands of voices bleeding together into a deafening roar. But the small circle of teammates surrounding Oliver had gone completely silent.

Even Noah had stopped laughing.

Lucas looked past him toward the stands. Toward Lilly. His gaze dropped to the small curve beneath Oliver’s oversized hoodie and stayed there.

“She’s pregnant.”

Oliver held his stare. “She is.”

Lucas looked back at him. For a moment, the anger disappeared beneath something Oliver couldn’t quite identify.

“You and Lilly.”

“That’s right.”

Lucas dragged a hand over his face. “Jesus Christ.”

He looked toward the stands again, as though seeing her a second time might somehow change what was right in front of him.

“She’s having your kid.”

“Our daughter.”

Lucas stopped.

Beside Oliver, Noah turned sharply. “A daughter?”

Oliver nodded. The news moved through the guys around them, but his attention remained on his brother.

Lucas stared at him. “You’re having a daughter.”

For once, Oliver had nothing smart to add.

“Lucas.”

Lilly’s voice reached them from the edge of the field. His brother turned. She had made her way down from the stands, Emma only a few steps behind her. Oliver noticed the way Lilly slowed when Lucas looked at her. One hand tightened around the sleeve of his hoodie, and the other rested instinctively over her stomach.

She looked nervous.

Not about the crowd. Not about the people watching.

About Lucas.

“Please,” she said quietly. “Can we just talk?”

Lucas let out a short, humorless laugh. “Talk?”

“Lucas—”

“Don’t.”

She stopped.

“I can’t even fucking look at you right now.”

Oliver saw her flinch. It was small, barely noticeable beneath the oversized hoodie, but he caught it. Her lips parted before closing again, and she lowered her eyes for a second. That was enough to make him move.

“Leave her alone.”

Lucas turned back toward him. “You don’t get to tell me what to do.”

“Then stop taking it out on her.”

Ethan stepped closer and put a hand on Lucas’s shoulder. Lucas shrugged him off.

“Get off me.”

For a moment, it looked like his brother might walk away. Oliver almost hoped he would. Not because there wasn’t anything left to say, but because nothing good was going to come from saying it here.

Instead, Lucas turned around.

“A year and a half.”

Oliver watched him.

“That’s how long we were together. A year and a half, and she never wanted to go there.” Lucas gestured toward Lilly. “She wanted to wait. She wasn’t ready. And now she’s pregnant with your kid.”

Oliver’s jaw tightened.

“She didn’t owe you sex, Lucas.”

“I didn’t fucking say she did.”

“You’re standing here acting like it.”

Lucas looked past him at Lilly. “So what? You suddenly changed your mind because it was Oliver?”

Lilly drew in a breath.

“Don’t do that,” Oliver warned.

Lucas ignored him.

“Did he push you into it?”

Oliver stepped forward.

“Lucas.”

Lilly’s voice stopped him. She was staring at her ex, her face pale but her eyes steady.

“No.”

Lucas looked at her.

“He didn’t push me into anything.” Her voice trembled slightly, and she swallowed before continuing. “I made my own choices.”

Oliver glanced at her. Her fingers were shaking against her stomach now. She lowered her hand, curling it into the fabric of his hoodie as though she could hide the movement.

“With Oliver, it just felt right,” she added.

Lucas stared at her. Something changed in his face. Oliver had expected anger. He hadn’t expected to see his brother look quite so devastated. Lilly saw it too. Her expression crumpled for a second before she caught herself.

“I’m not saying that to hurt you,” she whispered.

Lucas looked away, dragging a hand through his hair.

“Jesus, Lilly.”

She took a small step toward him.

“Lucas, I never wanted any of this to happen like—”

“Don’t.”

She stopped immediately.

Lucas shook his head. “You don’t even know who he is.”

Oliver’s attention sharpened.

Lilly straightened. “I know exactly who he is.”

“No. You know whatever version of him he decided to show you.”

“Lucas.”

“You really think you’re different?” He pointed at Oliver. “You think he’s suddenly some fucking saint because he knocked you up?”

Oliver moved closer, but Lilly spoke before he could.

“I never said he was a saint.”

Her voice was stronger now.

“I know what Oliver was like. I know how he treated me before. You don’t have to remind me.”

Lucas stared at her.

“But you don’t get to decide what our relationship is just because you don’t understand it.”

Oliver looked at Lilly. She was fighting to keep herself together. He could see it in the tension around her mouth and the way she kept blinking against the tears gathering in her eyes.

Still, she held her ground.

Lucas gave a bitter laugh.

“You’ll get bored,” he told Oliver. “You always do.”

Oliver kept his hands at his sides.

“Not this time.”

“You expect me to believe that?”

“Don’t particularly care if you do.”

Lucas stepped closer.

“You wanted her while she was with me.”

Oliver didn’t look away.

“I did.”

The answer changed something between them. Lucas’s face tightened. His eyes moved toward Lilly before returning to Oliver.

“She was mine, Oliver.”

Oliver’s expression hardened.

“She was your girlfriend, Lucas. Not your property.”

“Fuck you.”

“You can be pissed at me all you want. But don’t talk about her like that.”

Lucas shoved him. Hard enough to drive Oliver back a step. Noah moved immediately, but Oliver lifted one hand to stop him. He understood why his brother was furious. Lucas had just learned that his ex-girlfriend was pregnant with his older brother’s child, in front of half the football team. Oliver wasn’t going to pretend that didn’t hurt. But he wasn’t going to stand there and let Lucas humiliate Lilly either.

“Don’t do that again.”

Lucas laughed bitterly. “Or what?”

Oliver held his stare. “Just don’t.”

Lucas shoved him a second time. Oliver caught the front of his jersey and drove him backward. Teammates surged around them, hands reaching in, but Lucas ripped free and came straight back.

“Fuck you!”

Lucas lunged, and Oliver met him halfway.

“STOP!”

Lilly’s voice cut through the commotion. She reached Oliver first, both hands hitting his chest. He released Lucas immediately. Lilly pushed herself between them, one palm against Oliver and the other held toward Lucas. Her breathing was quick, and her eyes were bright with tears.

“What the hell is wrong with you two?”

Oliver looked down at her.

“Greenfield.”

“No!”

The word came out louder than he’d ever heard her use it with him.

Oliver went still.

She stared up at him. “Just stop.”

He stepped back. Her hand remained against his chest for another second before she lowered it. Then she turned toward Lucas.

“Please,” she said, her voice breaking. “Can we not do this?”

Lucas looked at her. Oliver watched the anger falter when his brother saw the tears spilling down her cheeks. For a moment, neither spoke. Then Lucas shook his head.

“You were supposed to be with me.”

Lilly pressed her lips together.

“Lucas…”

“I know I fucked up.” His voice rose again. “I know what I did. But I didn’t think—”

He broke off, looking between them. Oliver didn’t interrupt.

Lilly wiped at her cheek with the back of her hand. “Neither did I.”

Lucas gave a short, miserable laugh.

“Right.”

He looked at Oliver again, and whatever restraint he’d managed to find disappeared.

“This is my fucking brother.”

“Lucas, please.”

He surged forward. Lilly stumbled half a step as she tried to move out of his way. Oliver reacted instinctively, reaching for her, but Noah was faster. He caught Lucas from behind and hauled him backward.

“Enough.”

“Get the fuck off me!”

“No.”

“Callahan!”

“Nope.” Noah tightened his hold. “You’re done.”

Lucas struggled once more before going still. Lilly stood beside Oliver now, one arm wrapped protectively around her stomach. Oliver reached for her hand. She took it, but he could feel how badly she was shaking. That bothered him more than anything Lucas had said. Then Coach’s voice tore across the field.

“That’s enough!”

Every player around them went still. Coach strode toward them, took one look at both brothers and pointed toward the tunnel.

“Carter. Carter. With me.”

Oliver glanced at Lilly. Her cheeks were wet, and she was trying to wipe them dry before anyone else could notice. He hated that.

“I’m okay,” she whispered, apparently recognizing his expression.

He wasn’t convinced.

“I’ll be right back.”

She nodded. Oliver squeezed her hand once before releasing it.

***

Coach stopped them just inside the tunnel, away from the cameras, and turned.

“I don’t care which one of you started it. I don’t care who dated who, who cheated, or who currently wants to put his brother through a wall. That is family business, and family business does not get settled on my field.”

Neither brother answered. Coach looked at Lucas first.

“You understand me?”

Lucas gave a stiff nod.

“And you?” Coach turned to Oliver.

“Understood.”

“Good. Because I’ve got NFL scouts watching that field, and the last thing I need is my starting quarterback getting into a fight after a perfectly good scrimmage.”

Oliver held his tongue. Coach studied him.

“Believe it or not, Carter, that’s probably the smartest decision you’ve made in the last ten minutes.”

Noah made a noise somewhere behind them. Oliver didn’t turn around.

Lucas shifted beside him. “Can I go?”

Coach looked at him.

“Go cool off.”

Lucas started down the tunnel, then stopped briefly. Oliver looked over. For a moment, his brother seemed like he might say something. Instead, Lucas shook his head and walked away. Oliver watched him go. They’d fought before. Over football, cars, clothes, and just about anything else brothers could find to argue about.

But never like this.

He wasn’t sure what came after something like this.

“Callahan,” Coach said.

Noah straightened.

“Get out.”

“Gladly.”

He gave Oliver a quick look before following Lucas down the hallway. Oliver started to move too.

“Carter.”

He stopped. Coach rubbed a hand over his face.

“I’m not entirely sure congratulations are appropriate after watching you nearly put your brother through a wall.”

Oliver raised an eyebrow.

Coach pointed at him. “Don’t.”

Oliver closed his mouth.

“But congratulations anyway.”

That caught him off guard.

“Thanks, Coach.”

“A daughter?”

Oliver glanced toward the opening of the tunnel. Lilly was still visible on the field, standing beside Emma. He felt his expression change.

“Yeah.”

Coach noticed.

“Hell. You’re going to be a father.”

“Apparently.”

“Don’t sound too enthusiastic.”

Oliver looked back at him.

“I am.”

Something in his voice made Coach stop. Oliver didn’t elaborate. He didn’t need to. Coach nodded slowly.

“You’ve got a lot coming at you.”

“I know.”

“NFL teams aren’t going to care that your personal life just exploded.”

“Neither is the baby.”

Coach looked at him for a moment. Then a small smile appeared.

“Fair point.”

Oliver glanced toward the field again. Coach followed his gaze.

“Handle one thing at a time, Carter. And next time your brother wants to fight, walk away.”

Oliver nodded.

“Understood.”

“Go.”

He didn’t need to be told twice.

***

Lilly looked up the moment Oliver stepped back onto the field. She was standing with Emma near the entrance to the tunnel. Her arms were wrapped around herself, and although she’d wiped away her tears, her eyes were still red. When she saw him, she started toward him. Oliver met her halfway.

“Hey.”

She stopped in front of him. He reached for her hand, but before he could say anything else, she stepped forward and wrapped both arms around his waist. Oliver caught her immediately. She pressed her face against his chest, gripping the back of his jersey. For a few seconds, she said nothing. Then he felt the first uneven breath against him.

“Lil.”

She shook her head without lifting it. Oliver tightened his arms around her. He could feel her trying to hold herself together. Her shoulders trembled once, then again, and she pressed closer as though she was embarrassed to be crying in front of so many people. He lowered his mouth toward her hair.

“Look at me a second.”

She didn’t move immediately.

“Greenfield.”

Slowly, she lifted her head. Tears clung to her lashes. Oliver brushed one away with his thumb.

“You okay?”

She gave him a look that would have been impressive if she hadn’t been crying.

“Are you seriously asking me that?”

“Fair.”

Her mouth trembled. For a second, he thought she might laugh. Instead, another tear escaped.

“I never wanted to hurt him like that.”

Oliver’s chest tightened.

“I know.”

“He looked at me like…” She stopped and swallowed. “I don’t even know.”

Oliver glanced toward the tunnel. He knew exactly what Lucas had looked like. He’d never seen his brother that hurt. And Oliver knew he had played a part in it. But none of that meant Lilly deserved what had happened on the field.

“Lucas is angry,” he said. “He’s got reasons to be. Doesn’t mean he gets to take it out on you.”

Lilly looked down.

“I know.”

Oliver waited. She wiped at her cheek again.

“I just wish it hadn’t happened like this.”

He couldn’t argue with that.

“Me too.”

Her eyes lifted to his.

“You really mean that?”

“About you and me? Not a fucking chance.”

Despite herself, she almost smiled.

“About making Lucas find out in front of half the stadium?” Oliver continued. “Not exactly my smartest move. I don’t regret kissing you, Greenfield. But I could’ve handled that part better.”

Lilly nodded slowly. Oliver brushed his hand down her back.

“We’ll deal with him.”

“Oliver…”

“I said deal with him, not fight him.”

That earned him the smallest laugh.

“Good.”

He leaned down and kissed her forehead. Then his attention shifted past her. Both families were still in the stands. Caroline and Nate stood together, neither looking away. His mother looked worried, while his father’s expression was impossible to read from this distance. Beside them, Lilly’s parents looked anything but pleased. Her mother’s arms were folded tightly across her chest. Her father’s face was hard. Oliver felt Lilly follow his gaze. She went quiet. He looked down at her. Her earlier tears had barely dried, and now she was staring toward the people who had watched everything unfold.

“That’s going to be awful,” she whispered.

Oliver couldn’t disagree. His hand settled against her back.

“Probably.”

She turned toward him.

“That’s supposed to make me feel better?”

“No. Figured I’d save the lying for something important.”

A small, helpless laugh escaped her. Oliver smiled faintly. Then she leaned against him again. He held her there, ignoring the crowd, the cameras, and the occasional teammate still watching them. For months, he’d kept his distance whenever anyone might notice. Pretended he barely tolerated her. Walked away when he’d wanted to stay, and kept his hands to himself when everything in him had wanted to reach for her.

He was done with that.

Lilly slipped her hand into his. Oliver looked down at their joined fingers before lifting his eyes toward the stands again. Minutes ago, their relationship had been theirs. Their daughter had been theirs. A secret kept between hospital walls, bedrooms, parked cars, and stolen nights nobody else knew about.

Now everyone knew.

Lucas. The team. Their parents. Half the fucking stadium. He hadn’t expected it to be easy. But seeing Lilly standing beside him, her fingers wrapped tightly around his, he knew one thing for certain. Whatever came next, he wasn’t going to make her face it alone.

He’d gotten tired of hiding.

Now they were going to find out what being together in the open would cost them.