Page 102 of Carson

“I think you should talk to someone about it,” he continues, pointing at a cabin in the distance. “You could talk to Katie. She was a child when …” He drops his chin, not finishing his sentence.

“This is awkward. I’m sorry, I should go.” I try to pull my bag away from him, but he doesn’t let go of it.

He finally faces me. “You’re still trying to protect her.”

“Who?”

“The little girl inside of you.”

A knot forms in my throat, making it hard to breathe.

“She’s safe here. With the club. With me. With Carson.”

“I know that.”

“Your heart knows, but your mind is a little bitch. It tells you things that aren’t true. It even provides memories to validate it.”

“How do I make it stop?”

Cole laughs lightly. “That’s the part I don’t know. If you figure it out, let me know.”

“Are you trying to protect the little boy inside of you?” I ask, looking around his messy room.

He hands me my bag. “No. He had the perfect life.”

“Maybe you’re trying to protect him from losing that.”

“Maybe.”

I stand, picking my way through the mess back to the door. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?”

“Practice breeds confidence,” I tell him.

He laughs. “You sound like my basketball coach.”

I open the door and step out, but then I turn back. “Oh, and Cole, your mind is also a little bitch. It’s been lying to you too.”

As soon as I get outside, I make my way around the lake, looking up to find Cole watching me from the window. He suggested I talk to Katie, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.

I want him to know I trust him.

Charlotte comes running up to me as I approach their cabin.

“Luna!” She falls into step with me, rattling on about the boy who just moved here with his dad and how much of a jerk he is.

“Right, I remember you telling me about him.” I laugh lightly, because it’s just nice being here with her.

“Mom and Dad are putting the girls down for a nap. I don’t have to take one.”

“You’re missing out. Naps are the best.”

She wrinkles her nose. “Only old people say that.”

This makes me laugh.

“I think it’s really cool that you know sign language. We’ve been practicing what you and Natalie taught us,” she continues.