Page 22 of Carson

She studies my face, and her bottom lip slips between her teeth. My mother can read me like an open book, so I need to tread carefully here.

“I just stopped by to check on Tuffy, but I need to get over to the warehouse. Carver should be coming in with the bikes soon.”

Her hands remain where they are.

Dad sighs and picks up the suitcase she set down. “I’ll take these up while you interrogate our son.”

He pauses a few steps away from us, tipping his head to the side. He spins on his heel. “Where’s your brother?”

I can hear the worry in his tone.

“He’s down at the cabin …” I pause, steadying my voice, “with Rage’s sister.”

My parents’ brows pull together at the same time. “Rage’s sister?” my mother asks, letting her hands fall away from me.

I release the breath I’ve been holding, relieved that my mother has taken her focus off me.

“Yeah, Mila isn’t his only sibling. He has a stepsister. She’s our age. Her name is Luna.”

My dad sets the suitcases on the floor and waves me over to the couch. “Let’s hear it.”

“Don’t you guys have to go pick up Khloe?”

“She’s staying at Kelsie’s another night. We didn’t know when we’d get back,” he says, lowering himself to the sofa.

Mom takes my hand and leads me to sit down beside her. “I knew something had happened. It’s not like you boys to run out on your friend on his special day.” She gives my dad a “see I told you so” sort of look.

“She’s different, okay? I don’t know how to explain this, but she was hiding from Rage.” My mother’s eyes widen. “No, not hiding from him. That’s not really the right word. She was more like incognito. She was in town to make sure he and Mila were doing okay.”

“Why didn’t she want him to know she was there?”

I rub a hand over my head, not really wanting to think or talk about all of this right now. “They had a rough childhood, Mom.”

The lines around her face soften. “I’m sorry, finish your story.”

“Anyway, she broke down, so Carson and I got her van running again.”

“And you brought her here?” my dad concludes.

“Yep. All Carson’s idea by the way. Just so we’re clear when Rage shows up wanting to see her.”

My dad falls back in his chair. “Jesus Christ, what was Carson thinking?”

“What do you mean, what was he thinking? Obviously, he’s helping her,” my mother defends on Carson’s behalf.

“And you don’t think they should have taken her straight to Rage’s?” he shoots back, turning his eyes on me. “How did you get involved with this young lady?”

“She delivered the pizza we had ordered.”

“You ordered a pizza right before Rage’s wedding?” Her mouth falls open and she looks at my dad.

“I told you, you spoiled them too much.”

“Okay, well then, that’s the story. Her van is parked out where Grandpa used to have the camper.” I smack my hands down on my knees. “I’m going to head over and wait for Carver.”

“I didn’t see your truck outside?”

Fuck. I’m going to have to go back and get my truck.