Page 9 of Paradise

“Tomato,to-mato,” he says with a shrug.

“And we thought that since this is our first official family vacation, that it couldjustbe the family this year…” Sara adds, hesitating, making Carson’s head snap to the side to look at her, his amusement officially gone.

“What doesthatmean?!”

“I don’t think Hayden and Levi should come this year, Carson,” Sara tells him, matter-of-factly.

I suck in a breath as I feel Carson tense up at my side.

“Nah, nah, nah, Mom. Hayden and Levi always come with us. Theyarefamily,” Carson argues.

“Carson…” Sara says with hesitation, but he speaks again before she can continue.

“You’re just going to leave them here? To be by themselves all summer long? That’s so fucked up, Mom.”

“I thought maybe I could pay for Levi to go to New York with Hayden instead, so he still gets a summer trip,” Sara suggests, laying her hands flat on her thighs.

“Levi’s foster parents won’t let him go if you aren’t going to be there, Mom. Youknowthat. And Hayden can’t just come back here and spend the rest of the time in his empty house. Wealwaystake them with us. They are our family!” Carson yells the last part, making me grip his hand tighter.

“Carson—” Sara starts, but I cut her off this time.

“Sara, you can’t be serious. They’re basically your children too, and you guys will be busy in honeymoon heaven. You’ll barely see them.”

Sara sighs, looking at my dad. They spend a few breaths having a silent conversation with their eyes, and then my dad speaks. “Fine, they can come. We’ll book another room at the hotel.”

I grin, and Carson lets out a long breath. “Thank you.”

Sara sighs, shaking her head a little, but she smiles nonetheless as she stands up. “We’re leaving on Monday, so start packing. I’ll email you the information so you can get Hayden to book his ticket from New York.”

Carson springs from his seat and hugs his mom. “Thanks, Mom. You’re the best.”

She pats him on the back as she hugs him. “I know I am.”

We all laugh, and I stand up when my dad does to step toward him. He smiles at me, searching my face. “I missed you.”

I nod, my eyes watering. “I missed you too, Dad. Welcome home.”

He reaches me and wraps his arms around my shoulders to embrace me, and I hug him back as a tear slips from my eye. “I love you so much, Logan.”

My voice is muffled against his chest. “I love you too, Dad.”

* * *

“Hawaii?” Levi exclaims when we tell him where we’re going. “I’ve never been to an island before.”

Carson swallows his mouthful of beer, putting the bottle down on the counter we’re standing next to in Hayden’s kitchen. “Last year we went to the Bahamas, dipshit.”

I laugh, and Levi gives me a dirty look.

“I’m high as fuck, shut up,” Levi grumbles, his lips tipping up in a smile anyway.

Hayden snorts, tapping him on the shoulder to get his attention so he can hand him the blunt we’ve been passing around.

Carson’s fingers play with mine at my side, making bubbles fill my belly. When I catch his eye, he smiles at me before returning to conversation. “You excited to see Travis, Hayden?”

Hayden nods, drinking some water. “I am. We booked three full days of tattooing, and I finally get to meet Olivia.”

“You didn’t meet her when you went a few months ago?” I ask, taking the blunt from Levi when he hands it towards me.

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