Chasing Carson

by Amanda Bennett

  “Sometimes I swear you’re gay.” I laughed. I knew he wasn’t, but he was always so interested in details when it came to guys and me. “Yeah, it was so random. It totally caught me off guard, but then he instantly regretted it and he said he should’ve known better. I swear guys are so fucking complicated it is unreal.” I flung myself back against his couch, covering my eyes with my arms. “Ugh, I just wish I could get away from him.”

  “Oh honey, you know you don’t. You wish you could get with him.” Trey started laughing so hard, so I slapped him across his arm as hard as I could. “Face it Carson, you got it bad for this guy.”

  I wanted to argue with Trey. I wanted to stand up and shout at him how wrong he was, but I couldn’t because I’d be lying. The truth was, I wanted Ruger like I’ve never wanted another guy. There was something so mysterious about him that had me yearning to find out more. Unfortunately, after that kiss, I’m pretty sure he was going to be staying as far away from me as possible.

  “See! Your silence tells me everything. So what’s the problem? I’m finding it hard to understand why you wouldn’t just go for it.”

  Trey sat there staring at me waiting for an answer, but the only answer that was popping into my mind was every reason that my father had given for the two of us to stay away from each other. “You know my dad would never approve. He barely approves of Ky. Could you imagine how he would react if I was all, oh hey Dad by the way, I’m dating the one guy you asked me to stay away from. There would definitely be a death in the family then.”

  Three

  Ruger

  I wasn’t particularly looking forward to goin’ over to the Caverly’s house this mornin’. Number one it was only eight o’clock in the mornin’, and number two, I wasn’t exactly sure what kind of reception I was goin’ to get from Carson. After what happened yesterday, I was pretty positive that she would have absolutely nothin’ to say to me for quite some time. Lucky for me, her sister was marryin’ my good friend so she wasn’t really left with any other option.

  I pulled up in front of the Caverly’s and sat starin’ at the window that was Carson’s bedroom. A million different feelings started flowin’ through me, but the one that stuck, was intrigue. Carson intrigued me in a way that words couldn’t explain. I’d never had a girl challenge me quite like she did. I knew that the age difference was somethin’ in question, but honestly, Carson wasn’t like any eighteen year old I had ever met.

  I stood at the enormous front door with my hand raised, ready to knock, when the door came flyin’ open and a sassy little blonde went runnin’ past me. It took me a second to gather my words before I started to run after her. “Hey, wait. Where ya goin’ so fast, lil Lyndley?”

  “I swear to Christ, if you don’t learn my name Ruger, I will be forced to junk punch you repeatedly. Got it?”

  I thought she would at least stop and insult me to my face, but she just continued runnin’ down the street. “Sounds good. See ya in a bit, sweetheart.” I shouted as she disappeared around the corner.

  I jogged back up the steps to the doorway that Ky now stood in. “Looks like you’re still leaving an awesome impression on Carson.”

  “She’s like putty in my hands, Wakely. You have no idea!” I slapped my hand down on his shoulder as I walked past him and into the house.

  “I’m pretty sure she has no idea as well.”

  “Oh that’s just for show. She loves me and she knows it.”

  Ky laughed as he walked with me towards the back patio where Lyndley and her parents were. “Is that why the minute she knew you were coming over, she took off for a run?” I stood there a little stunned and hurt. “That’s what I thought.” He smirked.

  As I walked out the back doors, Lyndley stood to greet me and I couldn’t help but take the opportunity to mess with Ky a bit. I wrapped Lyndley up in a big bear hug and spun her around a few times, before setting her back down and placin’ a chaste kiss to her cheek. “Good to see you, Lyndley.”

  “Kiss her again, and I’ll kill ya.”

  “Ah, someone doesn’t like a taste of their own medicine. Settle down there, Sally. Stop bein’ such a girl.” I pretended to slap Ky across the face causing Lyndley’s mom to clear her throat.

  “Well if you two imbeciles are done, can we please start this already?” Mrs. Caverly scared the bejesus out of me, so I quickly took my seat and shut my mouth.

  ~~~~

  What felt like days later, we were finally done with this incessant wedding bullshit and I was free to go and harass Carson. I excused myself from the table and made my way inside in search of the saucy, lil Lyndley. I was just about to head up the stairs when someone caught ahold of the end of my shirt.

  “Where the hell do you think you’re going?”

  I turned to face Ky and his accusatory tone. “I’m just goin’ to say hi to her. That’s all. I swear.” I held my hands up in mock surrender.

  “You’re full of shit, Ruger. Please just behave for the rest of the day.”

  “Wakely, I don’t even know why I’m here. Do you realize that I have what they call, a life? I could be doin’ so many other things than hammerin’ away at tedious details about a weddin’ that ain’t even mine?”

  “Well I’m glad you found it in yourself to make time for lil ol’ me, but I need you to do me a huge favor.”

  “Does it involve marryin’ Lyndley for ya?” I laughed.

  “No, asshole. I’m takin’ Lyndley and her parents to go look at the venue. Can you please stay here and keep an eye on Carson?” My eyes lit up like the fourth of July. “No, Ruger. Just keep an eye on her, don’t torture or torment her. Got it?”

  I nodded my head and headed back into the kitchen with Ky to meet up with Lyndley and her parents. “Are you sure y’all are okay with me stayin’ here with Carson?” I was just tryin’ to be polite, but apparently Lyndley’s father had a few words he wanted to share with me.

  He pulled me aside and started speakin’ in a hushed tone. “Look Ruger, I know it’s a lot to ask you to practically babysit Lyndley’s little sister, but I would feel much safer with you here with her. I have to be honest with you though, I think Carson has a bit of a crush on you. I’m telling you this for one reason and one reason only, if you touch even a hair on my daughter’s head, I will hunt you down and castrate you myself. Understand me?”

  I stood there flabbergasted and nodding. This was most definitely not the conversation I thought I would be havin’ with Mr. Caverly. Apparently my reputation preceded me in this instance. I swear if it was Ky who told him how I used to be, or what I was known for, I would hurt him. I didn’t care if Lyndley would hunt me down afterwards. I hesitantly shook Mr. Caverly’s outstretched hand and made my way back over to Ky.

  “Good luck with him as a father-in-law, Wakely.” I whispered to Ky as I patted him on the shoulder. He just looked over at me and nodded in agreement.

  I waved good-bye to them and made my way into the livin’ room. I kicked my boots off and propped my feet up on the table in front of me. I hadn’t heard any movement upstairs so I figured Carson was busy doin’ anythin’ to stay away from me, and I let her be…for now.

  I must’ve dozed off for a bit because when I came to, Carson was standin’ over me with a murderous look in her eyes. “Jesus Carson, scare guys much?” I sat up and watched her as she made her way onto the couch across from me.

  “Why are you here?” She growled.

  “I’m here simply to annoy you to no end.” I joked.

  “You’re hilarious. No really, why are you here?”

  “Ky went with your sister and parents to look at the wedding venue, and they asked me to babysit you.” I smiled wickedly.

  “Are you serious? What assholes.”

  I stood and straightened out my jeans, and happened to catch Carson checkin’ me out. “Find somethin’ interesting?” I chided.

  “I don’t find anything about you the least bit interesting, Ruger. You can leave now.”


  “Ah, but technically I can’t.” I jumped over the back of the couch that she was sittin’ on, slammin’ my head down onto her lap as I looked up at her. “Remember, I have to stay here with lovely little you.”

  “How could one forget?” She sighed. “God, I can’t wait to start school.” I could see her irritation with me flarin’ and I couldn’t help but smile at her frustration. I had her right where I wanted her.

  “Why do you fight what you feel for me? You act like I’m the devil incarnate.”

  “Sometimes I wonder if you are.” I thought she was serious, but a small smile tugged at her bottom lip and I smiled in return.

  “So…how’s life? Lookin’ forward to gettin’ as far away from me as possible?” I laughed loudly and her eyes immediately fell to mine.

  “Life is fine.” I could tell there was somethin’ else she wanted to say, but she stopped there. I knew I was treadin’ a thin line with her, but I couldn’t help it. The more her and her father told me to stay away, the closer I found myself wantin’ to be.

  She was still lookin’ down at me and I could feel her warm breath tickle my skin. I lay there, mentally capturin’ her image in my mind. Her lips parted just enough to let out a small sound that reached parts of me that should otherwise be under control. I briefly closed my eyes, remembering what her lips had felt like against mine and I found my hand reachin’ up for her face, to pull it down to mine. Our lips were merely centimeters apart when the front door came flyin’ open, causin’ me to jump up and run to lie on the couch across from her. Unfortunately, Ky came walkin’ in, lookin’ at both of us with doubt. All I could do was shrug my shoulders and sit up to pull my boots on.

  Four

  Carson

  It was a good thing that Ky came walking through the door when he did. Lord knows what would have happened, had they not come home at that moment. Ruger wasted no time running as far away from me as possible, and given any other situation I would have been pissed, but in this instance I was thankful. The last thing I needed was my father getting mad at me right before I headed off to college.

  “Hey Carson, what are you up to?” Lyndley was extra chipper today and I so wasn’t in the mood to deal with it.

  “Well now that I’m done being babysat, I think I’ll head over to Trey’s house for a bit.” I started making my way towards the front door, but Lyndley caught my arm and pulled me to a stop.

  “Is everything okay with you?” She looked genuinely concerned, but how was I supposed to tell my big sister that I was seriously falling for her soon to be husband’s best friend?

  “I’m fine.” I smiled and she eased up on her grip.

  “Can we go to dinner tonight or something? I feel like we haven’t spent any real time together lately with the all the wedding planning.” I could see the sadness in her eyes as she waited for my answer.

  “Of course. I’ll be back in just a little bit.”

  “Tell Trey I say hey.”

  “Will do. See you later.” I quickly gathered up my purse and keys and ran out of there as if my life depended on it. If I was forced to be around Ruger any longer, I swear I was going to spontaneously combust. The only problem I was going to run into is that I knew Trey was at work. I slammed my hand against my steering wheel as I chastised myself for not thinking out this plan thoroughly.

  I drove around aimlessly for a good half an hour before I finally started heading back home. I knew how lame I was going to look, but I wasn’t about to drive around wasting my gas over some guy. Just as I was about to turn onto my street, my phone began ringing from the passenger seat. I quickly reached for it, thankful that the screen was brightly lit with Amelia’s face.

  “Hey girl, what’s going on?”

  “Hey, hey, hey. It’s been a while since we’ve heard from you. Thought maybe you got abducted by aliens.”

  “Yeah, I totally was, but they let me keep my cell phone. I can talk for a few more minutes before they start with the anal probing.” I rolled my eyes in mock irritation with how dramatic Amelia could be. “It’s only been a week, you weirdo.”

  “Whatever, smart ass. So what are you doing tonight? I know what, huge party with your two favorite people, Trinity and me. Oh and Trey. He’s actually the one who wanted me to call and invite you.”

  “I’m supposed to go to dinner with my sister, but after that I’m free. I need a break from that place anyway.”

  “You’ll get a break soon enough, princess. We head to college in exactly three weeks.”

  “You don’t have to remind me. I’m practically counting down the days. So what time should I meet you guys?”

  “Like nine?”

  “Sounds good. Text me the address and I’ll see you later.”

  “Loves.”

  Before I could respond, Amelia had hung up. I wasn’t sure how excited I was to go to this party she had heard of, but if Trey was in, then it couldn’t be that bad. I threw my phone in my purse and parked in our driveway. As I walked past Lyndley’s car, I couldn’t help but wonder how much longer she was going to be staying at home? I knew she was having a tough time after everything that happened, but it was a little weird to have her back and watching every move I made. That, and Ky was beginning to be just as overprotective as her, and it was driving me insane.

  I walked in expecting a million and one questions to be hurled in my direction, but to my surprise nobody was home. “Hello?” I shouted. These days Ruger seemed to be hiding around every corner in my house, so I had to be sure. When no one responded, I practically skipped up to my room. At least now I would have plenty of time to get ready and not be harassed every five minutes. I swear, even though Ruger was twenty-six, he acted like he was ten.

  ~~~~

  “Carson, you here?”

  I was just getting out of the shower when I heard Lyndley’s voice floating up the stairs. “Yeah, I’ll be out in just a second.” I quickly wrapped the towel around me, and pulled open the bathroom door, just as Lyndley was about to knock.

  “Hey, I just wanted to warn you that the guys are downstairs.”

  I rolled my eyes as I made my way past Lyndley and into my bedroom. “Of course they are.” I muttered.

  “You going to be ready to go in like an hour?”

  “Yeah. I’ll be down in a bit.” I closed my bedroom door and flung myself onto my bed, landing on my back. As I lay there staring at the white-as-white-could-be ceiling, I couldn’t figure out how I had gotten so lucky to have my sister back, and her fiancé, and his annoying as sin friend? Ugh, life just wasn’t fair.

  When I came walking down the stairs, I couldn’t help but notice Ruger’s jaw drop to the floor in front of him. I gently tugged at the hem of my tight black dress as my gold heels clacked against the tile steps. As I glanced around the room, I suddenly caught sight of my father and the look on his face that was anything but pleased with what I was wearing.

  “What the hell do you think you’re wearing, young lady.”

  I shook my head as I made my way over to the entry table to grab my purse. “Oh Daddy, give it a rest. You do realize that in just a few weeks, you won’t get a say in anything I do, or wear?”

  “Well that day isn’t today. Get your scrawny ass back up those stairs and change, now.”

  “No.”

  “I think your dad is right. Maybe you should change.” Ruger’s voice caught me off guard as Lyndley and Ky quietly scoffed at his comment.

  “I’m sorry, and who the hell do you think you are? You don’t even live here.” Ruger quickly shut his mouth and turned back towards the television. “Anybody else want to say something?” When no one else responded, I took that as a sign that it was time to go. “You ready?” I asked Lyndley.

  “Yeah. Let’s go.” She smiled as she walked past all of the irritated men in our house.

  The ride to the restaurant was awkward and silent, and I couldn’t wait to be done with this whole dinner thing. As much as I loved my sister, I wasn’t about to live
my life for her. When we pulled into the valet, Lyndley gently grabbed my wrist to get my attention.

  “Carson, you know I love you right?”

  I was confused at her behavior, and it stunned me into silence for a brief second. “Of course. I love you too.” I smiled softly at Lyndley, and then exited the car.

  Lyndley and I didn’t speak for the first few minutes we were sitting down, but I didn’t mind. Talking was so overrated sometimes. After we both ordered and handed the waiter our menus, that was the precise moment my sister decided to start up the conversation.

  “You’ve been really weird lately, Carson. Does it bother you that I’m back?”

  I wasn’t quite sure what she meant by back, so I decided to go with the nicest definition. “Of course not, are you kidding me? When I thought you were gone, well…let’s just say, life wasn’t the same.”

  Lyndley’s hand reached for mine across the table, “I meant back home?” She let out a small laugh and I instantly laughed along with her.

  “Of course you did. I don’t mind. I just feel cramped.” It sounded weird the minute I heard it.

  “Cramped? Carson our house is nine thousand square feet.”

  “I just mean because Ky and Ruger are always there. I just feel like we don’t get to spend enough quality time together. Your wedding has practically taken over my life and I’m starting to suffocate.”

  “I get it.”

  I looked up at Lyndley in shock. “Really?”

  “Yeah. It’s a lot. I know, and I’m sorry. But speaking of the wedding.” I could see my sister physically cringe as she brought up the one thing she could tell I didn’t want to talk about, but I urged her to go on. “We’ve decided to change the brunch to tomorrow morning. I know it’s last minute, but I need you there. Say you’ll be there.”

  “Of course I will.” I just didn’t have the heart to tell her I may not make it on time, depending on how tonight went.