Page 20 of Paradise

For my mom’s sake, and for Logan’s sake, I’ll give him a second chance, as long as that’s what’s going to make my favorite women happy.

“Yeah.” I nod. “We can.”

Gary smiles again, this time bigger, and he holds his hand out toward me. “I’m Gary. It’s nice to meet you, Carson.”

I laugh, taking his hand in mine and shaking it. “Nice to meet you, Gary. Don’t fucking hurt my mom or my girlfriend.”

He laughs, but when he nods, I see his resolution. “I won’t.”

Levi comes up then, lifting his arms at his sides. “You two girls work it out?”

I roll my eyes, and Gary laughs. “Don’t think you’re getting off easy, Levi. Sara has told me I inherited not one, but three stepsons in marrying her, and I’m ready to embrace it.”

“Hayden will bethrilled,” Levi jokes, clapping hands with Gary when he extends his to him. “Glad to have you in the family, Gary.”

“Glad to be here.” Gary waves over the caddies, who start driving toward us in the golf carts. “Now, let’s get through this course so we can get some food. I’m starving.”

* * *

Icheck my phone as we sit down at a table in the little restaurant inside the clubhouse, wondering why I haven’t heard from Logan.

I shoot her a text.

Me:We’re getting lunch at the golf course, but I’d rather be eating the meal between your legs :(

I smirk as I send it, then set my phone face down on the table so I can grab a menu.

Gary orders a round of beers for the table, telling us not to tell my mom again, and then we all go quiet as we look through our menus.

The food is pretty standard for a golf course, only with little Hawaiian flares to each dish. Pineapple relish on the burger, coconut on the salad, teriyaki chicken, and lots and lots of seafood.

We all go for fish tacos, then fall into casual conversation.

“So, Levi. What do you like to do?” Gary asks.

“Ummmm…” Levi says, swirling the straw around in his glass of water. “Surf, mostly.”

“Oh, yeah?” Gary questions, looking interested. “How’d you get into that?”

“I lived in the Outer Banks for a couple months when I was younger, and there’s really nothing else to do there. It just kind of stuck.”

“Are you going to surf while we’re here?” Gary asks.

Levi smiles from ear to ear. “Hell. Yes.”

Gary laughs, taking a sip of his beer. “How about you, Carson, do you surf?”

“Sometimes,” I say with a shrug. “I’ve been trying to teach Logan, but she hasn’t graduated from body surfing to an actual board yet.”

“Logan?! On a surfboard?!” Gary laughs. “That girl is about as uncoordinated as a newborn puppy.”

I laugh, and Levi chimes in. “Yeah, she mostly sits and watches.”

“I’m sure she’ll get it, though,” I add. “When she puts her mind to something, she doesn’t give up until she’s mastered it.”

“Oh, God, I know.” Gary chuckles. “You should have seen her doing ballet when she was little. The most horrible thing ever, but she justwouldn’tquit. She’s stubborn, if nothing else.”

I laugh, because I can see it now. A tiny version of the girl I love, trying to stand on her tippy toes and do spins, probably falling on her ass 100 times before she lands it.

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