Page 8 of Paradise

Sara nods. “For six months now.”

“You didn’t tell us,” I say, looking at Sara.

“I didn’t want to get your hopes up in case it didn’t work, honey.” She smiles softly, and I nod at her.

We all fall silent again, and after a deep breath in, my dad continues.

“We havegraduatedfrom therapy.” He turns to Sara, smiling, like he used to when we first moved to Luxington, with child-like joy sparkling in his eyes. “And we have decided that it’s time for me to move back in.”

A weight lifts off my shoulders, but there’s still an anxiousness thrumming through my system that I can’t seem to calm. I slide my hand into Carson’s, and he squeezes it once our fingers are twined together.

“I hope that with me being back in the house, I can start to repair our relationship, Logan,” my dad says, then he looks at Carson. “I know that our relationship has been really rocky, Carson, but I want to start fresh with you as well… I hope you know how much your mom means to me, and I can see how much you mean to both of my favorite ladies, so I think it’s time we get a bit closer.”

Carson clears his throat, sitting up a little straighter. “We can give it a shot, Gary.”

My dad smiles, holding a hand out for my boyfriend to shake, and it makes me feel warm from my head to my toes when Carson’s face lights up with a genuine smile. He shakes my dad’s hand, and I look over at Sara. She’s smiling too, her eyes watering a little, and I give her a really big grin in support, even with my nerves still running rampant.

Sara has become incredibly important to me. She’s slipped into the role of being my parent when I’ve really needed it, and I feel like it’s my turn to support her and her happiness.

Once Carson has dropped my father’s hand and grabbed mine again, I scoot a little closer to him so our thighs are touching.

“There is one more thing I wanted to discuss,” my dad says, pulling my attention. “I wanted to apologize for my behavior when I found out the two of you had become…close.”

I snort, and Carson squeezes my hand.

“You’re growing up, Logan, and that scares the shit out of me. After your mom died, I felt such a huge responsibility to make sure we never disappointed her, and thinking of you being involved with your stepbrother sent me falling off this cliff.” He sighs. “I don’t ever want you to get hurt. The thought of you getting your heart broken clouded me, and I turned my anger toward Carson.”

“I will never hurt her,” Carson states firmly, his back going straight.

I rub my thumb on his, reminding him I’m here and it’s okay.

“She is everything to me,” Carson says, looking at me. “I will protect her until the day I die.”

My gaze connects with his as my stomach flutters with joy, and a smile spreads across my lips before I turn my attention back to my dad. “You can’t control what I do. If I’m going to get hurt, I’m going to get hurt. That’s part of life.”

“I know,” my dad says, nodding. “You’re not a child anymore.”

The room falls silent, and I admire the way my dad looks at me. His eyes are clear, like he’s healed, and it makes me smile. He seems truly happy again, and that isn’t something I’ve seen since the wedding.

“Are we all okay?” Sara asks the room.

I look at her, taking a deep breath. “Yeah, Sara. We’re okay.”

She smiles really big, her eyes lighting up. “Good. Now, for our summer trip.”

Carson wiggles in his seat, getting excited, and it makes me laugh. “I’ve been thinking about it. I’m voting for Italy.”

“Well, we’ve already decided, actually,” Sara answers.

“Oh?” I muse.

“Well, we never got to go on our honeymoon, so we’re going to Hawaii. All four of us,” my dad says, smiling.

“A double honeymoon?Sick,” Carson says, grinning as he looks at me, his eyebrows wiggling.

My dad groans, “Oh God.”

I laugh, and Sara sighs. “No. A family vacation, Carson.”

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