Chapter Thirty-seven
Kenna
Hours later, spent, satiated, and one-hundred-percent fulfilled, Carter covers me with a blanket then stokes the fire. He returns, pulling the other blanket around him, then tucking in next to me on the air mattress that smells like sex warmed over.
He swipes a sweaty piece of hair off my cheek. “If you are going to Florida, I’m going with you.”
My adrenaline goes into overdrive. This was not at all what I was expecting him to say.
“What are you talking about? You want to help move us down there?”
“No, sweetheart.” He shakes his head. “I mean I’m going with you. To be with you. To live there. Or wherever you end up.”
I sit up, stunned. Not at the endearment—which I secretly love—but at his declaration. My words come out stilted and stuttered. “But… but… Christian. Your business. You… can’t.”
He sits up as well, working himself around the back of me, wrapping himself and his blanket around us in a cocoon.
“It’s why it took me so long to get back here today.
I had a talk with my family. I’m going to leave the business.
With how things are going, they’ll be better off with only three splitting the profits instead of four.
Between that and selling the cabin, even if they’re forced to refinance, they’ll be able to pay off the loan much quicker. ”
“But… what’ll you do?”
I can feel his shrug. “Doesn’t matter what I do as long as I’m with you. I can work at Jiffy Lube for all I care. Hell, I’ll work two jobs.”
I want to turn and face him in protest, but he hugs me tightly against him like he knows I’m about to change positions.
“What about Christian? He’ll hate you. Taking him away from Calloway Creek. From Bug. It’s so unfair to him.”
“Do you know how much he adores you? He’s told me on more than one occasion that he’d happily give up the basement to you.
” He rests his chin on my shoulder. “He knows how I feel about you. He wants me to be happy. Plus he’ll be sixteen soon.
He’ll be driving, which gives him more independence.
” He laughs. “He’s actually the one who came up with the idea of me going with you.
” His head shakes as if in disbelief. “I suggested simply moving you to Florida and then working my ass off three weeks of every month to spend the fourth with you. He assured me I wouldn’t be happy with that, and neither would you.
He reminded me how much he loved Florida so why not have him be the one to fly back and forth?
He could homeschool and split his time between wherever we end up and Calloway Creek.
I think he was excited about becoming more autonomous.
He has two uncles and an aunt he could stay with whenever he’s here.
And fun fact, Bug used to live in Florida, so I’m sure if we swear their celibacy to Asher and Allie, they’ll let her come visit.
I have some equity in the house, which could help us get into something down there. ”
I wiggle out of his arms and turn around, draping my calves over his thighs. “Why would you go through all that trouble? Selling the house? Giving up the business you love? Being away from Christian half the time?”
He chuckles and puts his hands on my shoulders.
“Are you so blind that you can’t see? Kenna, I love you.
I’m in love with you.” He lifts his chin toward the bedroom.
“I love Amelia. I want the four of us to be a family. If that means leaving this town, so be it. I want you any damn way I can have you. I don’t care where I live or where I work, as long as it’s you I get to come home to at the end of the day. ”
“But…” Tears flood my eyes at quite possibly the most romantic, most selfless gesture I’ve ever encountered. “You love your town. You love this cabin.”
“I do.” He rests his forehead against mine. “I love you more.”
My cheeks become drenched with tears. “Carter, I love you too.” I swallow, and it hurts because of the huge lump in my throat.
He smiles. “I knew it.”
“Which is why I can’t let you do it.”
“So let me get this straight. I love you, therefore I am willing to do whatever it takes to be with you. You love me, therefore you won’t let me do those things?”
I chuckle even though there’s really nothing funny about the situation.
“Seems we’re in a bit of a situation then.
” I press my head to his chest, trying hard to devise a plan of my own.
One that wouldn’t have him giving up everything he loves to be with me.
“Can we just sit with this for a while?” I look up at him, pleading.
“Don’t do anything yet. Don’t list the cabin or the house.
Don’t sign over the business to your siblings.
Don’t do any of it. Promise me. Not yet.
We have time. Please, if you love me like you say you do, just wait.
A week. Two.” I touch my palm to his face. “Please.”
He looks pained, like he wants to tell me something but can’t. He closes his eyes and sighs deeply. “Damn woman. How can I say no to you? Fine. A week. But mark my words, I’m going to be with you. And I’m going to do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”
“I know you will. It’s one of the reasons I love you.”
“One?” He cocks his head with a smile. “What are the others?”
“The way you love Christian. How you are with Amelia. Your complete selflessness.” I grin. “And definitely your tater tot casserole.”
He laughs. “Christ, I love you.”
I sharpen my gaze. “Did you by chance say that to me the other night when I was sick?”
“I didn’t think you were awake.”
“I thought it was a dream.”
He squeezes my thigh. “A good dream or a bad one?”
I lean in. “The best one.”
I turn back around and resume my previous position in front of him. He wraps me in his arms. We’re quiet for a few minutes, probably both reflecting on what this means for us. Our kids. Our future.
He’s the first to break the silence. “You wanted to tell me something earlier.”
“Yeah.” I tense up. “So about that…”
He must sense my hesitation as he kisses the side of my head. “Kenna, you have to know I don’t care about your past. All I want is your future.”
Hearing those words, suddenly everything becomes clear. I was going to tell him. I was going to tell him tonight. Now. Lay it all out there. But I can’t. Not now that I know what he’s willing to give up for me.
I’ll tell him. I will. But not before I sort something out first.