Page 134 of Carson

My family by blood, and the one by choice.

Chapter Forty-Four

Luna

The soft thud of the basketball in the driveway draws me to the window. I open it and then sit down, resting my chin on my arms as I look out.

Carson notices immediately and waves at me.

He doesn’t have a shirt on because it’s hot out today. Believe me, I don’t mind. A shiver trails over my skin as the warm air blows inside.

My brother and the twins are playing basketball. Mila and Khloe are digging in the sandbox and Dan and Lily are sitting in it with them. My little sister keeps dumping sand on Dan’s big feet, and he pretends he can’t get away.

Her giggle wafts on the breeze, begging me to go out and join them.

My attention drifts toward the back of the house where the garden lies. It’s not visible from here, but I know it’s there. I’m scared to go out and see it. Doubly scared to go back to the cabin.

I return to watching Cole and Carson kick my brother’s ass. It’s kind of funny. You can tell they’ve played together a lot. They’re so in sync in their movements.

Eventually, I make my way downstairs for a snack. I grab an apple but instead of heading to my sanctuary, I stand at the back door. Slowly I push the curtain aside and look out.

When Carson jogs around the corner, I jump a foot, startled.

He swings the door open. “Oh, there you are. You left the window …” He stops when he notices the look on my face.

He closes the door and takes my hand.

“He’s not there, Luna. My dad saved you.”

“I knew he would,” I whisper.

“Do you want to go outside?” he asks.

“I do, but …”

“I’ll be with you every step of the way,” he encourages.

I let him open the door, but I don’t know if I’m ready to leave the comfort of his parents’ home.

He crosses the threshold and then holds his hand out to me.

“Your brother could use some help. Cole and I are just kicking his ass.”

“I know, I saw.” I laugh lightly, rubbing my temple, but then I decide to accept his offer.

He leads me around the side of the house, joking about how he’s the better ball handler between him and his brother.

Cole hears us. “Fuck if he is. Come here, Luna, look at this.” He puts the basketball on his finger and spins it.

It makes me smile, and then he tosses it to me. “Now have him do it.”

Carson winks at me, because he knows I can do it too. It came up in one of the many conversations we had in Ireland.

“If it’s a competition, shouldn’t it be you against me? You and Carson are on the same side.”

“Oh, so you’re on Rage’s team now?” Cole asks.

“I guess I am,” I say, spinning the ball on the tip of my finger.