Page 26 of Carson

“I was just trying to decide whether or not I was ready to meet your parents.”

A beat passes before we both bust out laughing.

“Okay, so that was weird. Not what I meant.” She waves her hands in front of her face, fanning her red cheeks. “I just didn’t know how social I was feeling tonight. Not that I thought you were taking me there to meet your parents.”

“I know what you meant,” I assure her, hoping to ease her embarrassment. “They aren’t home anyway. They’re in Cheyenne. They were at Rage’s wedding.”

Her eyes widen. “Your parents know my brother?”

“Of course they do. Rage is like family to my brother and me. They’ve become honorary grandparents to Mila and baby Rio.”

“Oh, that’s so sweet. I’m glad my sister has so many people in her life that love her.”

“My mom’s been dying for more grandchildren, so it’s kind of taken the heat off my siblings and me.”

“Do you want children?” she asks.

“Um …” I’d like to know how she would answer that question, so I can adjust my response to hers. Never mind, that’s stupid, and wrong.

“Oh gosh, I did it again. Don’t answer that. That was too personal of a question. I barely know you.” She slaps her palm over her forehead. “I’m sorry. As you can tell, my social skills are a little rusty at best.”

I reach out and grab her hands before she can start fanning her face again. “Yes, I would like to have children someday, but I also know the universe might have different plans for me. Some things are beyond our control.”

“That’s a great way of looking at life. I guess our lives don’t always play out the way we envision them.”

“How have you envisioned your life going?” I ask, tugging her to her feet.

She thinks about it as we start down the road that leads to my parents. “I guess I’ve always pictured myself traveling around in my van. I figured I’ll be one of those wise gray-haired old crones who camp in the woods at night, making the locals uneasy.”

I laugh at the image. “There is no way you’re turning into a crone.”

“Could happen.”

“You’re too pretty to ever be considered a crone.”

Her head dips and I catch that shy smile I’m slowly falling in love with.

We walk quietly. The only sounds are the gravel beneath our feet, the crickets, and the occasional croak of a frog.

“It’s quiet out here.”

“It is. My brother and I debated building a cabin at the lake. It’s where our clubhouse is, but it gets kind of crazy over there at times.”

She nods along as I speak.

“We’re so far from the main road, not a soul knows we’re back here.”

“It’s nice that your whole family is on the property.”

“Yeah, it took my brother and me a while to realize how lucky we were to have such a close-knit family.”

Her feet begin to slow when she notices the lights on inside the house.

“It’s just Cole. He probably fell asleep when he came up here to check on Tuffy.”

She stops completely.

“It’s okay. The rocks are over here,” I tell her, happy that mom’s sunflowers are blooming. It will make it a prettier sight.