28. Chapter Twenty-Eight #2
Dan looks back at his house, and I know he’d prefer it if I was locked up safe and sound in my van before he leaves.
“I’ll be okay. I just want to look at the stars for a bit. They’re so beautiful out here. And then I’ll head straight to bed,” I say with a nod toward my van.
He’s still reluctant, but he wants to get back to his wife and daughter.
“Go on. I’m sure you both have a lot you want to talk about. I’m fine.”
“No running.”
I cross my fingers over my chest. “I promised your wife I’d stay and help her. I won’t back out on that.”
He nods, trusting me. “Don’t stay out here too long. You need your sleep. Carson is a big boy. He’ll be home when he gets here. My sons will do the right thing, sometimes it just takes them a little longer to get there.”
I smile because even though Dan is quite upset with his boys right now, he still speaks well of them.
“Good night, Dan,” I say quietly.
“Good night. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He shakes a finger at me and then turns and walks away.
It’s so quiet out here. If I really listen, I can hear the water rushing over the rocks down by the stream. I yawn out loud, covering my mouth, and lean back on the porch swing. I’ll just close my eyes for a minute.
I must fall asleep, because the next thing I know, I’m being shaken awake by my brother. “Luna, Luna, wake up.”
It takes me a few minutes to figure out where I’m at and what’s going on.
“I’ve got Carson in the truck. He’s shit-faced drunk. Can you help me get him inside?”
He hands me Carson’s keys and points at the door.
“Unlock the door, and I’ll get him out of the truck.”
I do as he asks, still rubbing my eyes.
“It’s my Luuunaaa,” Carson singsongs as Chance guides him past me and into the cabin.
“Why did you let him drink?” I ask my brother.
“He was this way when I found him.”
I hurry in front of him to open doors, looking for his room. The first bedroom I come to is messy. There are clothes on the floor and posters of half-naked women hanging on the walls. Something tells me this isn’t his room.
The next one I find is clean and organized. There’s a telescope pointing out the window toward the sky, and bookshelves filled with books, and wooden 3D puzzles.
I quickly turn down the bed so my brother can get him settled.
“Did Carver find Cole?” I ask.
“Yeah, he’s not in much better shape, but he managed to get him back to the warehouse.”
“That’s good,” I say, setting a trash can beside the bed.
Carson tries to grab me and pull me onto the bed with him, but Chance pushes him back with a finger to his forehead, and he falls against the pillows.
“Not happening, buddy. No sister of mine is getting into bed with a drunk asshole.”
Part of me wants to object. Carson isn’t just any drunk asshole, but I understand my brother’s concern.
“Hey, I’m not an ash … an ash … hole,” he slurs. “Cole is the ash … hole.”
Chance rolls his eyes. “You’re both assholes. Now go to fucking sleep.”
He takes me by my arm and gently urges me out of the room.
“But …”
“But nothing. He needs to sleep it off.”
I sigh, giving Carson one last look before my brother firmly shuts the door behind us.
When we get back out to the living room, I take my first real look around. It’s nice and cozy. I smile, knowing that Lily must have had a hand in the decorating.
Chance lowers himself to the couch, running his hand down his face. I plop down beside him.
“CC has a long road ahead of them,” he says with a frown.
“CC?”
He chuckles lightly. “Yeah, carbon copy. That was my nickname for them back in Cheyenne.”
I lay my head back against the cushions, studying the pictures on the mantel above the fireplace. “They don’t look that much alike.”
“Yeah, but close enough. They can finish each other’s sentences.”
I stand up and grab a photo of the two of them together. “I wouldn’t know. They’ve hardly been together since they picked me up back in Cheyenne.”
He’s quiet when I sit back down beside him.
“It’s all my fault,” I say, rubbing my thumb over the glass.
“They’re still on the same path, they’re just each looking at it a bit differently.”
“I don’t know.”
Chance takes the photo from me, setting it on the coffee table.
“Carson sees the path as suddenly blooming with new flowers. He only sees how much brighter it’s become.
But Cole, he’s focused on how much water all this new vegetation is going to take.
He’s worried about there not being enough resources. ”
“He sees me as a leech.”
My brother laughs. “Right now, he does, but only because he’s afraid. Once that dissipates, he’ll be able to see clearly again.”
“You should get back to Mila and Serenity. I’m going to head out to the van and get some shut-eye myself.”
He looks toward the window. “I’ll do that, but only if you sleep in here tonight. I’ll feel better knowing you’re behind a locked door.”
“My van door locks, you know?”
The big brother I remember hasn’t changed. He takes the blanket on the back of the couch and hands it to me. “Here, you’ll be nice and cozy right here.” He pats the couch.
“Fine, but only because I’m too tired to argue.”
“As long as I win, I don’t care how it happens.” He kisses me on the forehead. “We’ll talk more tomorrow.”
“Yeah, okay.”
He double-checks the door after I lock it and I roll my eyes, but secretly I’ve missed it.
I go back to the couch and lie down, holding the picture of Cole and Carson above my face.
“I don’t know how to get through to you, Cole, but I’m going to figure it out,” I say quietly. “I’ve got to, because there is no way I’ll ever be able to leave Carson … or your parents.”