Page 50 of Carson

Again, she shakes her hands out. “This is why I’ve done life alone. I don’t have to worry about causing anyone unnecessary pain.”

She looks around us, and I know she’s wondering how the hell she got here. Honestly, I am too. My path used to be clear, but suddenly there are cracks beginning to form in the asphalt.

“I think it’s time for me to go out on an adventure of my own without my brother.” I tap the book she gave me against my palm. “I want to do this.”

It draws her attention to it. “We’re really doing this?”

My smile widens. “I think we are.”

She bounces on her toes, her nervousness giving way to excitement.

“You better go finish packing. We need to leave soon.”

“Oh, I’m already packed.”

It makes me chuckle. I point to my truck. “Go ahead and load up your stuff. I’ll just go finish up.”

She peeks around my shoulder into the cabin.

“Do you want to come in?”

“No. That’s okay. I’ll just …” She motions toward her van. “I’ve got a few things to do before we leave.”

I close the door behind me and rest my back against it.

Everything is about to change.

Cole felt it before I did.

We have to expect a few bumps in the road once in a while. Unfortunately, there are no streets paved with gold here.

But one thing my mother and father taught me is that broken roads can still lead you to beautiful places.

Chapter Eighteen

Luna

Carson motions for me to take the window seat while he lifts our bags into the bin overhead. I’ve never been on a plane, but this one seems small. Too small.

“The next one will be bigger,” he assures me, reading my mind.

He falls into the seat beside me, and suddenly I feel a little better. I know the irony of that. It should make me feel more claustrophobic sitting next to such a big guy, but it’s quite the opposite. Carson has a way of stilling my mind and settling my heart.

After everyone boards, the flight attendant goes through the safety demonstration. She does it with such ease that I’m sure she’s given it on hundreds of flights, and she’s still alive, so there’s that.

When the plane begins to move, I quit listening to her and close my eyes.

Oh my god. Oh my god.

Carson slips his arm around my shoulders and pulls me as close to him as he can without removing our seat belts. “Your very name suggests you should be able to leave the ground without incident,” he whispers.

I keep my eyes closed, but I’m no longer worried about the plane.

Carson smells so good. I breathe him in.

“There you go. Take another one.”

Don’t mind if I do.