Page 130 of Carson

It sounds like everyone scrambles.

“You didn’t learn a damn thing, did you? I know I’ve told you a hundred times not to walk away from the stove when you’re cooking. It’s a good way to burn the house down,” Dan continues.

Lily covers her mouth, trying not to laugh.

I do the same.

“It sounds like they’re having a lot of fun down there. Are you sure you don’t want to join?”

I sigh, because I know this is Carson’s way of telling me I need to make a move.

And he’s probably right.

Reluctantly, I let her lead me down the stairs.

“Oh, something smells good,” she says, walking right up to the boys who are both standing at the stove.

“Luna, do you want to color with us?” Kelsie asks. She and her son are coloring with Khloe on the living room floor. Tuffy is lying right in the middle of them, happily wagging her tail.

Both boys turn toward me. Cole jabs Carson in the ribs and winks.

“Yeah, sure,” I say, shifting away from them, and lowering myself to the floor beside the girls.

When I look over my shoulder, Cole is patting Carson on the back. I’m sure he’s been worried about me. It’s just … I like it here, and I feel safe with his parents. I want to stay … for now.

The rest of the evening is nice. We eat, talk, and laugh.

“Movie. Movie. Movie!” Khloe begins to chant, wearing an empty popcorn bowl on her head.

“Did your brothers send you out here to say that?” Dan asks her, plucking the bowl off her head.

“Daddy,” she whines.

“It’s your bedtime.”

“Oh, come on, Dad,” Carson chimes in. He picks up Khloe and makes the cutest puppy-dog face with her. I don’t know how Dan could say no to that.

“It’s Friday night, old man,” Cole yells, banging the door on the microwave. A few seconds later, popcorn starts popping.

“Don’t forget the em-me-ins,” Khloe yells out to him.

“One M&M popcorn coming right up,” he hollers back.

Dan sighs and falls into his recliner. “I give up.”

Lily laughs and drops onto his lap.

Carson and Khloe sit directly in front of the TV and argue over the movie. I look up the stairs, wondering if I should go to bed and let them have their family time, but someone knocks on the door.

“Now who the hell could be at the door this late?” Dan mumbles.

“Could you get that?” Carson asks me.

“Yeah, sure,” I say, looking away from the stairs.

It takes me a few seconds to realize what I’m looking at. “What are you doing here?”

“Well, I heard my baby sister could use a big brother right now.” He nods toward the car. “You want to help me get Mila and our bags out of the truck?”