Page 43 of Carson

Chapter Sixteen

Luna

“You’re worried about your wife,” I say as Carson’s dad helps me set up my camp.

He opens a lawn chair and plops his butt in it to watch me finish up. “I’m sure it’s nothing.”

“So, it’s a doctor’s appointment?”

“Yeah, but like I said, I’m sure it’s nothing. We’re just getting older and we need to accept that with that comes a few changes.”

“Well, if it’s any consolation, you both look fabulous.” I begin to set up my griddle, because my stomach is super unhappy with me for neglecting to put any food in it. “I’m going to make myself a breakfast sandwich, do you want one?”

He rubs his stomach. “One thing you should know about my boys and me is we will never turn down food.”

Just then Cole pulls into the driveway, followed by Carver.

“Luna’s showing off her outdoor culinary skills,” Dan yells over to them. “Do you boys want some?”

Carver starts walking in our direction, but Cole heads toward the cabin. “I’m good. I’ve got to pack.”

“No way am I cooking for him.” I point my spatula at the man who stuck his knife in my tire this morning.

“Why not?”

“She’s just bent out of shape that I caught her sneaking away,” Carver says, relaxing into the chair next to Dan.

I narrow my eyes at him but throw a few more slices of bacon onto the griddle. “I thought we were keeping that to ourselves.”

Carver shrugs.

Dan looks between the two of us.

“He didn’t catch me. He saw me, and I’m the one who decided to come back, so don’t give him credit for anything other than giving me a flat tire.”

Dan rolls his eyes. “I don’t want to know. As long as you’re back, all is well.”

I crack an egg, wondering if that’s true. Between my mother’s premonition and the way Cole has been acting, I’m not so sure.

“What is Cole packing for? Where are you boys headed?”

“Jackson’s sending us down to Texas to do a little intel.” The look he gives Dan tells both him and me that it’s something he can’t discuss in my presence.

Cole comes back out with a duffel bag slung over his shoulder. He shoves it in the back of his friend’s truck. “You ready?”

Carver chuckles. “I guess I’m going to have to pass on breakfast.” He slaps his hands on his knees and stands.

Dan rises with him. “Where’s Carson?”

“Back at the warehouse.”

“He didn’t need to come home and pack?”

Carver rubs his hand over his head, wincing as Cole gets in the passenger side of Carver’s truck, slamming the door shut. “Carson’s not going with us.” He pats Dan on the arm. “I’ll look after him.”

I busy myself putting the sandwiches together as Dan walks Carver over to the truck.

He opens his son’s door, and they have a conversation.