Page 1 of Paradise

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LOGAN

“Happy last day of school!”

I openly groan at Sara’s grinning face as I walk through the kitchen. “Sara, it’s 6:30 in the morning, chill.”

“Aren’t you excited for the last day?!” she asks with too much pep, watching me as I go to the fancy coffee maker to set it up for an iced latte.

I shrug. “It’s just like every other day.”

The machine starts making noise, so I turn around to look at her, my eyes focusing on the countertop for the first time. There’s an assortment of breakfast foods laid out on the marble, almost as if she’s had someone cater.

“What is all this?” I laugh, waving a hand toward the counter.

“Tradition,” Carson answers, walking through the threshold of the kitchen and grinning at me. He’s dressed in a simple black t-shirt and jeans, but damn he looks good.

“Tradition?” I question, eyeing him as he grabs a pastry and takes a big bite.

“Every year, on the last day of school, we have a big breakfast to celebrate the start of summer,” Sara explains, grabbing some plates from the cabinet next to the stove and shoving one at Carson, who is dropping crumbs down the front of his shirt.

“It’s the best breakfast of the year, babe,” my boyfriend says with his mouth full, and once he swallows, he continues. “It’s something my dad started, then after school we plan our summer trip.”

My eyebrows lift in curiosity. “Summer trip?”

“Yep.” Sara smiles, handing me an empty plate and tipping her head toward the food. “Get some breakfast, grouchy.”

Taking the plate, I roll my eyes playfully and return her smile as I step toward the layout to fork some pancakes onto my plate. After I’ve doused them in syrup and berries, I finish making my coffee and meet Carson and Sara at the table.

Cutting into my breakfast, I eye Sara. “Not to spoil the mood, but are there any updates on theGaryfront?”

Carson chuckles at my use of my father’s first name, and Sara gives me a slightly admonishing look before answering. “He’s going to come over this evening, actually.”

Carson drops his fork, uninterested in the conversation, as he uses his hand to fold a pancake in half before he shoves it into his mouth. My lip turns up as I watch him, “Carson—are you an ape?”

Sara sighs, leaning forward to grab a cloth napkin from the center of the table to throw at him. She shakes her head at me. “He loves last day breakfast.”

“So, Dad’s coming over tonight?” I question, reaching forward to drink some of my latte.

“Yes,” Sara answers with a shrug. “I think after six months, it’s time for him to rejoin the family.”

“We were wondering if he would ever come back, honestly,” Carson says as he chews on his food.

I nod to agree. “It’s been a long time.”

“I haven’t bothered the two of you with the details. It’s not like I haven’t been speaking with him. We work together, for Pete’s sake.” Sara pops a berry into her mouth. “It’s been hard to break through the Logan/Carson bubble of love anyway. I’m surprised you guys even noticed he wasn’t here.”

I laugh, glancing at Carson from the corner of my eye to find him already looking at me. He narrows his eyes at me, then blows me a kiss that makes my stomach bubble with butterflies.

“See what I mean,” Sara adds, making me huff as I turn to look at her again.

“So what’s the summer trip?” I ask, taking another bite of my breakfast.

“Vacation,” Carson answers, standing up to get more food.

“Obviously,” I retort.

“Someone woke up with an attitude today,” he says from behind me, making me press my lips together. “My palm is tingling.”

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