Page 32 of Carson

For a moment, she looks resigned to her fate, but then she surprises me with a smile that could light up a room.

“So, you really think your brother likes me?” she asks shyly.

“Does the sun chase the moon?”

Her head dips and her cheeks turn pink.

A switch inside of me flips, and I can see so clearly that she belongs with my brother. She’s perfect for him. I want him to be able to see her smiling face every day, but I know that it will come at a cost … and I don’t know if I can afford it.

“I’ve never …” She tightens her grip on the steering wheel. “I’ve never … you know … talked to a guy before, but he makes it so easy.”

It takes monumental effort to keep a straight face, something I’ve learned from having a sister. I remember the first time I laughed at Kelsie and made her cry. Besides, this is nothing to laugh at. She’s being vulnerable with me.

“Well, Carson is a good guy to start with,” I say, conflicted between helping her with this or getting in her way.

What if whatever this is between them grows? Or, what if it doesn’t and it breaks his heart?

“I mean of course I talk to guys. I’m talking to you.” She waves a hand over me like I’m just another average Joe. “Unfortunately, males account for half the population.” She smacks herself in the forehead. “Not that I have anything against men … not really. But anyway, Carson is different …”

Her entire body seems to soften when she says his name. I try like hell not to be mad about it. I know this may be the first time she’s ever felt comfortable with a man in a more intimate way. How the hell they got to this level of connection in a few days is beyond me.

She doesn’t have to tell me Carson is different. I know he is. There’s no one like him. He’s my favorite person in the entire world. And I’m pretty sure he feels the same about me.

But now that she’s here …

“You’re right. I should go back,” she says, reaching down and starting her van.

Wait … what?

She’s shielding her eyes from the sun, blinking at me. “Thank you for talking me through this. I just got spooked when I saw the sunflowers, and then I met your dad, and it’s silly but I thought my mom’s premo …” Her words trail off at the look on my face. “What’s wrong?”

Fuck. This is really happening.

“Nothing. I just …” I run my fingers through my hair, wondering how I can reel this back in before it’s too late. “Maybe I shouldn’t have pressured you. I’m sorry. Carver and I shouldn’t have interfered. I’ll let you get on your way. I wish you the best on your travels.”

I don’t give her a chance to respond before jumping out and slamming the door, ending the conversation, and hopefully everything else when it comes to her.

I motion for Carver to get his wheels turning, and then I hop in Dad’s truck and follow him out of the lot.

My brother will get over her. She’s a nomad. No different than the nomads in the club. She’s used to living life on her terms. It’s hard for people to leave that kind of freedom behind.

This is what’s best for her.

And for him.

Chapter Thirteen

Carson

My parents don’t fucking understand how serious this is.

“Just calm down, son,” my dad says, guiding me to sit on the front step.

“I’ve got to find her,” I say, pulling away from him. “She could be anywhere!”

My mom taps around on her phone, looking at the cameras on the property. She gives my dad a funny look before telling me what she’s found. “I’m sorry, baby, but it looks like she packed up and took off around four this morning.” She hands me her phone. A video from their front porch shows Luna pulling out onto the main road in the dark of night.

“Okay, so she couldn’t have gotten terribly far.” I glance at my watch, but inside I’m dying because she could be hundreds of miles away by now.