Page 31 of Carson

She doesn’t give me any time to speak before continuing. “I knew he was one of you when I saw the bike trailer. Does driving on two wheels make you guys nuts? Does it? Because I don’t know why any of you think I’m going to stay in one place. Chance has been hounding me for years, and now …” She waves her hand over me. “Now …”

“Now what?” I ask, focused on the way her bottom lip trembles.

Luna turns from me and makes her way to the front seat before falling into it.

I follow her, dropping into the passenger side. “Why did you run?”

She lets out a long breath.

“Was it because of the way Carson has been acting toward you?”

Her head snaps my direction. “No. Why would you think that?”

“Well, I mean, obviously he likes you.”

“I like him too.”

I shake my head. “Okay, then what the fuck is this about?”

She turns away from me.

“Were you really turning around?” I ask instead.

“No, but I was thinking about it.” She chuckles, giving me a shy smile.

“My brother is going to freak when he sees you’re gone.”

Luna stares out the windshield, watching a semi turn into the parking lot. “You don’t like me very much, why did you come for me?”

“I like you. What gave you the idea I don’t?” I say, sitting a little taller in my seat.

She continues to watch the traffic coming into the truck stop. “You’re tense around me, and I don’t think that’s your factory setting.”

“I’ve just been tired,” I lie. How can I explain to her that she is the reason my entire world is about to turn upside down, and I don’t know why Carson doesn’t see what’s about to happen.

She lays her head back against the headrest. “I think you and I are scared of the same thing.” She pauses to face me.

“Oh yeah? What are you scared of?” I ask, knowing that we are definitely not scared of the same thing. I’m scared I’m losing my brother. She’s scared of what? Finding a great guy? A family? A home …

“Everything is about to change,” she says, halting my racing thoughts.

I release an embarrassing snort, turning away from her.

Luna sits forward, trying to catch my eye. “Just say the word and I’ll go,” she says, trying to put her escape on me. “Everything will go back to the way it was before you guys ordered that pizza.”

Who knew a simple pizza order would be the beginning of the end for my brother and me.

What she’s suggesting is tempting, but again, I can’t do that to Carson.

“Don’t put this on me. I’m not making the decision for you,” I tell her simply. “Why don’t you just go back and see what happens?”

“I know what happens,” she whispers.

“No one knows the future.”

Carver bangs on the side of the van. “You’re good to go,” he yells.

“What’s it going to be?” I ask Luna.