Page 26 of Fall Back
“I’ll go grab it,” I try and tell her, but she’s already shaking her head.
She pats my chest, “You stay right here and try not to get beat up by my brothers. I can grab my drink.”
I don’t like it, but I nod my head because I know Carson is independent. It’s important to her and part of who she is. If I’m being honest, I love it about her.
Fuck. I love a lot about her. Like the way she studies things, her mind breaking it apart and piecing them back together in shapes so she can draw it. Then she does just that, always practicing her passion and striving to push her natural talents to the next level.
Like the way she thinks of others before herself. It makes me glad that I’m here now. I’ll make sure she’s taken care of and doesn’t deplete her own energy.
Like the way she manages to make the most mundane things and tasks feel exciting. Even when she’s cleaning, she makes it an event. Whether it’s the music blasting and making it feel like a party or a prize she has for when she’s done, she makes the tasks in life feel like a game.
And that same approach has rubbed off on me.
When Carson pulls away from me, the movement has my focus going to her. I don’t take my eyes off her as she heads toward the bar. Damn, it’s a good view.
“You’re lucky man,” Fletcher’s voice pulls my attention toward him. “Noel talked me out of taking you out back.”
“I would have taken it,” I admit to him. “She’s worth it.”
Fletcher looks at me, his eyes hard as he studies me. When he’s satisfied by what he sees, he gives a nod. “You better know what you’re getting into. Carson has always felt like an outsider.I should have done more when she was in high school to ensure she was anchored here. I failed her.”
“She needed to go,” I tell him honestly. “She needed to leave and chase her dream. She did and she made it happen. Then she allowed her talent to bring her home.” I shake my head and grin. “I’m so fucking proud of her. You should be too.”
He scoffs, “Of course I’m proud of her. I was proud of her before you were,” he taunts me, his voice a sneer.
I hold my hands up, not willing to get into it with him about who was proud first. I don’t care about that shit. The only thing I care about is Carson having the love and support she deserves.
When I look over at the bar, her drink is just getting delivered. She picks it up and is about to turn and head back to me, but a man steps into the empty space next to her. It’s a guy I’ve never seen before, and my vision goes red.
It’s not the fact a man is talking to her. I can’t say I’m thrilled, but what has me striding toward my woman is the naked terror on her face. She’s not looking at this man like a stranger.
The moment I wrap my arm around her waist, she jumps before melting into my side as she clings to me. Her entire body is shaking and the fear in her eyes is palpable.
I look back toward the man, but he’s gone. When I look around the bar, trying to find him, Carson’s nails dig into me, pulling my focus toward her.
It seems her time is up. She needs to tell me everything. I’ve known she’s been hiding something and keeping it to herself instead of coming right out with it, but I let it go. Now, I can’t anymore.
It all needs to be dragged out into the light.
CHAPTER 11
CARSON
I can’t shake the fear. I’ve been trying to for the last half hour, ever since Dave came up to me at the bar like it was totally normal for him to be in The Range Bar and Grill in Wintervale. It’s the absolute last place he should have been.
Yet there he was with a smile on his face while menace and retribution danced in his eyes. All he said was hello, but it was more than enough to freeze me completely and send my mind into a tailspin.
I didn’t even end up grabbing the drink I ordered, I don’t think. All I could do was stare at him with wide, unbelieving eyes until Jared came up to us and wrapped his arm around me.
The action snapped me out of my haze but did nothing to mitigate the fear coursing through me.
He found me. Dave found me.
He’s here. In Wintervale.
He came all this way for me.
These facts are the only thing I can think about. Even now with the Range behind us, while Jared drives us to my place after we said goodbye to everyone and made promises I only vaguely remember. I was too caught up my fear and shock.
