12. Chapter Twelve
Chapter Twelve
Cole
Goddammit. I grab my phone, looking at the time. Fuck, it’s five in the morning.
“Hey, man, I ran into a little snag over here in Carson City,” Carver says as soon as I answer.
“Shit, you’re making good time.”
“Was. I was making good time.”
“What’s the problem? Did you break down?” I sit up, reaching for my jeans. I stayed at the warehouse last night. It wasn’t because of her. It was for Carver. I knew he’d be running ahead of schedule. I just didn’t know how early he’d arrive.
“No. We’re all good there. I just pulled over to top off the truck when a traveling van with a very interesting driver pulled up next to me.”
Fuck. It’s Luna. She’s running.
“I thought I better give you a call, because last we talked she was with you. Did plans change?”
“No,” I say, running my fingers through my hair. “She’s supposed to be parked out at our cabin. She must have snuck off.”
“You want me to keep her here?”
It would be so easy to say no. She would disappear back into the world, and everything could go back to the way it was pre-Luna.
My mind takes me back to the way my brother was looking at her when I left yesterday. He’s already fallen in love with her.
“I’m on the way,” I say, slipping my shirt over my head.
“I’ll drop you the location.”
He hangs up, and I already know he’s making it happen. The man is reliable. I just hope he doesn’t scare her, but he knows she’s Rage’s sister so I’m optimistic he’ll be cordial. He won’t want to face Rage’s wrath.
I glance at my watch as I’m heading out, wondering if I can get back with her before Carson gets up. It’s worth a shot. Maybe I’ll luck out and he’ll sleep in this morning.
What if she doesn’t want to come back with me?
She’ll have to, because no way am I letting her break my brother’s heart.
An hour later I’m pulling up beside her van. Carver gets out of his truck and heads in my direction. I notice she has a flat tire.
I glare at him. “You slashed her fucking tire?”
He shrugs. “You wanted her kept here. I’ll put the spare on while you talk to her.”
I see he already has it out.
“She figured out who I was, so she tried changing it herself. I stopped her after she got the slashed one off. She was getting a little too close to being able to pull out of here.”
“How did she take it?”
“Surprisingly well. It’s a shame your crazy women are going to corrupt her.” He laughs so he can brush it off as a joke if I’m offended, but we both know it wasn’t.
I knock on her door, but she doesn’t answer.
“I’m coming in,” I say after opening it a crack.
Again she doesn’t respond, but I didn’t expect her to.
Unless she somehow managed to slip Carver, I’m going to assume she’s hiding in her closet.
I lower myself to the bed, lightly rapping my knuckles against the wooden door.
“Nobody’s home,” she snips from the other side.
It makes me smile.
The door opens and she unfolds herself, standing in front of me.
She crosses her arms over her chest, furious.
“I was turning around to go back until your crazy friend slashed my new tire! The tire you fuckers put on. I don’t fucking like it when I don’t have a way to leave!
I’ve been stuck in Cheyenne and now you leave me stranded at a truck stop! ”
She doesn’t give me any time to speak before continuing.
“I knew he was one of you when I saw the bike trailer. Does driving on two wheels make you guys nuts? Does it? Because I don’t know why any of you think I’m going to stay in one place.
Chance has been hounding me for years, and now … ” She waves her hand over me. “Now …”
“Now what?” I ask, focused on the way her bottom lip trembles.
Luna turns from me and makes her way to the front seat before falling into it.
I follow her, dropping into the passenger side. “Why did you run?”
She lets out a long breath.
“Was it because of the way Carson has been acting toward you?”
Her head snaps my direction. “No. Why would you think that?”
“Well, I mean, obviously he likes you.”
“I like him too.”
I shake my head. “Okay, then what the fuck is this about?”
She turns away from me.
“Were you really turning around?” I ask instead.
“No, but I was thinking about it.” She chuckles, giving me a shy smile.
“My brother is going to freak when he sees you’re gone.”
Luna stares out the windshield, watching a semi turn into the parking lot. “You don’t like me very much, why did you come for me?”
“I like you. What gave you the idea I don’t?” I say, sitting a little taller in my seat.
She continues to watch the traffic coming into the truck stop. “You’re tense around me, and I don’t think that’s your factory setting.”
“I’ve just been tired,” I lie. How can I explain to her that she is the reason my entire world is about to turn upside down, and I don’t know why Carson doesn’t see what’s about to happen.
She lays her head back against the headrest. “I think you and I are scared of the same thing.” She pauses to face me.
“Oh yeah? What are you scared of?” I ask, knowing that we are definitely not scared of the same thing. I’m scared I’m losing my brother. She’s scared of what? Finding a great guy? A family? A home …
“Everything is about to change,” she says, halting my racing thoughts.
I release an embarrassing snort, turning away from her.
Luna sits forward, trying to catch my eye. “Just say the word and I’ll go,” she says, trying to put her escape on me. “Everything will go back to the way it was before you guys ordered that pizza.”
Who knew a simple pizza order would be the beginning of the end for my brother and me.
What she’s suggesting is tempting, but again, I can’t do that to Carson.
“Don’t put this on me. I’m not making the decision for you,” I tell her simply. “Why don’t you just go back and see what happens?”
“I know what happens,” she whispers.
“No one knows the future.”
Carver bangs on the side of the van. “You’re good to go,” he yells.
“What’s it going to be?” I ask Luna.
For a moment, she looks resigned to her fate, but then she surprises me with a smile that could light up a room.
“So, you really think your brother likes me?” she asks shyly.
“Does the sun chase the moon?”
Her head dips and her cheeks turn pink.
A switch inside of me flips, and I can see so clearly that she belongs with my brother. She’s perfect for him. I want him to be able to see her smiling face every day, but I know that it will come at a cost … and I don’t know if I can afford it.
“I’ve never …” She tightens her grip on the steering wheel. “I’ve never … you know … talked to a guy before, but he makes it so easy.”
It takes monumental effort to keep a straight face, something I’ve learned from having a sister. I remember the first time I laughed at Kelsie and made her cry. Besides, this is nothing to laugh at. She’s being vulnerable with me.
“Well, Carson is a good guy to start with,” I say, conflicted between helping her with this or getting in her way.
What if whatever this is between them grows? Or, what if it doesn’t and it breaks his heart?
“I mean of course I talk to guys. I’m talking to you.” She waves a hand over me like I’m just another average Joe. “Unfortunately, males account for half the population.” She smacks herself in the forehead. “Not that I have anything against men … not really. But anyway, Carson is different …”
Her entire body seems to soften when she says his name. I try like hell not to be mad about it. I know this may be the first time she’s ever felt comfortable with a man in a more intimate way. How the hell they got to this level of connection in a few days is beyond me.
She doesn’t have to tell me Carson is different. I know he is. There’s no one like him. He’s my favorite person in the entire world. And I’m pretty sure he feels the same about me.
But now that she’s here …
“You’re right. I should go back,” she says, reaching down and starting her van.
Wait … what?
She’s shielding her eyes from the sun, blinking at me. “Thank you for talking me through this. I just got spooked when I saw the sunflowers, and then I met your dad, and it’s silly but I thought my mom’s premo …” Her words trail off at the look on my face. “What’s wrong?”
Fuck. This is really happening.
“Nothing. I just …” I run my fingers through my hair, wondering how I can reel this back in before it’s too late. “Maybe I shouldn’t have pressured you. I’m sorry. Carver and I shouldn’t have interfered. I’ll let you get on your way. I wish you the best on your travels.”
I don’t give her a chance to respond before jumping out and slamming the door, ending the conversation, and hopefully everything else when it comes to her.
I motion for Carver to get his wheels turning, and then I hop in Dad’s truck and follow him out of the lot.
My brother will get over her. She’s a nomad. No different than the nomads in the club. She’s used to living life on her terms. It’s hard for people to leave that kind of freedom behind.
This is what’s best for her.
And for him.