Chasing Carson

by Amanda Bennett

  “Yeah, but her clothes were half off, and when I opened the door, she started to button her dress back up. Your shirt was untucked and half unbuttoned too.”

  “Listen Ruger, I know how fishy this whole thing sounds. I’m sure if the roles were reversed I would think it was all bullshit too, but I swear to you, nothing happened between Rowan and me. I don’t know what else you want from me, dude.”

  “Honestly, I don’t even know why it bothers me anymore. I mean I have a great girl now and I don’t think she would ever do anythin’ like that to me, but man I was a fuckin’ wreck for a long time after that. I couldn’t trust anybody. Do you know how hard it is to not trust people in our line of work?”

  “I really am sorry, Ruger. I’m not sure what else to say.”

  “There’s not really much else you can say. Thanks for the apology, man. I appreciate it more than you know.” I let out a small laugh. “The only reason I decided to bring it back up is because I actually saw Rowan a while back.”

  “No shit?”

  “She was my surgeon when I got shot, the first time.” We all laughed in unison. “She was sayin’ how she wanted me back and that what happened with you wasn’t what it seemed and it was so long ago that I should just get over it.”

  “Wow, sounds like someone hasn’t changed.”

  “Nope, not one damn bit. I actually kicked her out of my room and refused to let her be the doctor who checked me out. Ha, no pun intended.” We all laughed again and it felt awesome to be talkin’ to one of my oldest friends again. “Look, I don’t want you to leave Carson’s detail just because of me. You askin’ for a different case is only gonna look bad on you, and I’d hate to see you throw your career away like that. Just stay on her. Just know I’ll be watchin’.” I said the last part with a sinister tone to my voice, and I couldn’t help but laugh at myself.

  “Thanks Ruger. I appreciate it.”

  “No problem, Xander. Seriously.”

  “So, where does this leave us?”

  I wasn’t at all prepared for the question, only because we were guys and we didn’t talk like that, but I guess it was a fair enough question to ask. “We’re good. Dude, I’ve known you too long to keep hatin’ you the rest of my life.” I stood and gave him a half hug. “It seems to be the month for forgiveness and startin’ over.”

  “Aw, I’m so glad the two of you made up.” Ky joked as he pulled us both into a big group hug. “Well now that that’s all sorted out. Xander you have to come to my wedding this Saturday. Lyndley won’t take no for an answer, trust me.”

  “Sounds good. Well, duty calls. I gotta head back to the house to check on Carson. I’ll see you guys there?”

  “Yep. We will be there shortly.” Ky and I waved as Xander went back to his truck and took off.

  “Wow, that was very big of you.”

  “Don’t I know it. I’m growin’ in my old age.” I laughed. “All right, let’s get the fuck outta dodge.” I tossed my empty coffee cup into the wastebasket and headed out to the truck. “Three points, and nothin’ but net.”

  “Just get in the fucking truck Michael Jordan. Hey, so are you and Carson like together together, or no?”

  “Oh my gosh, I was totally waitin’ for you to ask. We seriously had such a cray cray night. It was ah-mazin’. Like for sure. I totally hope she wants to be my girlfriend again.” I broke out in a fit of laughter because I couldn’t keep goin’ on with the valley girl voice. “You’re such a girl, Wakely. I don’t know. We didn’t really talk about it. That’s one thing I absolutely love about Carson, she’s not a “let’s talk about us” kind of girl, but we definitely had a fun night. If ya catch my drift.” I joked as I wiggled my eyebrows at him.

  “I’m pretty sure the entire house knows.”

  My eyes shot open and I snapped my head in Ky’s direction. “Are you fuckin’ shittin’ me?”

  “No, why are you freaking out?”

  “I don’t need her mom and dad hearin’ that shit.”

  “Calm down, their room is downstairs and like a wing away. I think you’re safe.”

  I rubbed the fake sweat from my brows. “Thank god. Hey, I’m just curious, you guys gonna move into Lyndley’s place or what? I can’t imagine the two of you would stay livin’ with Mom and Dad.”

  “We’ve talked about it a little bit. She still doesn’t feel comfortable living in that house, but I do believe I have solved that conundrum.”

  “Oh yeah, and how is that?”

  “I bought her a house.”

  “I’m sorry, you did what?”

  “I didn’t stutter dumbass. I said I bought her a house. It’s nothing compared to what she’s used to living in, but I think she’ll like it.”

  “Where is it?”

  “Well, that’s the part I’m not going to tell you.”

  “What? Why the hell not? It’s not like I’m a thirteen year old girl and I’m gonna go tell my bestie.”

  “I’m not telling you because you’ll make fun of me for forever.”

  “Obviously yes, but it’s not like you can hide it from me.”

  “You’ll just have to wait like everyone else. Speaking of living situations, what are you going to do when the wedding is done and you have to go back home? Carson only deferred for a semester, and I’m assuming she’s gonna live at home until school starts for her.”

  “I haven’t really thought about it.”

  “You’re full of shit. Come on, you can tell me.”

  I glanced over at Ky waitin’ for his judgmental comments to start, but he just sat there waitin’ for me to answer. “You’ll just have to wait to find out when everyone else does.” I threw my head back in laughter, and Ky punched me in my arm.

  “You’re a dick.”

  “So I’ve been told.” I laughed.

  Thirty Eight

  Carson

  Wedding Day

  “You have to go back to your room before we get caught.” I tried to push Ruger out of my bed, but he wouldn’t budge.

  “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

  “It will be a very bad thing if it were to be my dad who caught us.” That had his attention.

  “Can’t we just tell everyone we’re together already? It’s not like they can’t tell.”

  “I know, but I don’t want to take away from Lyndley’s day. She would kill me if I turned it into something about me, today of all days.”

  “Fine.” Ruger stuck out his bottom lip and leaned over sucking it in between my teeth and gently biting down. “Get out of my room ya big baby.”

  “Alright, alright, I’m gettin’.” He stood up from my bed bare naked and I sat back admiring the perfectly sculpted man before me. “You can stop starin’ at me now. You know, I’m not a piece of meat that you can just ogle whenever you please.” He pretended to be all offended.

  “That’s exactly what you are.” I stood and smacked his tight ass as I walked past him to grab my bathrobe.

  “You ain’t so bad yourself.” He wrapped his arm around my back and bent me backwards. “Ah, pure perfection.” He whispered against my neck before pressing his lips to my overly sensitive skin. I let out a small giggle and he instantly pulled me back up. “I’ve got dibs on the shower first.”

  “I need to go first so my hair can dry.” It was too late to argue with him because he was already streaking down the hallway, and then back into the bathroom. I stood against my doorframe with the widest grin plastered to my face.

  “Happiness looks good on you, Carson.”

  I turned towards my sister and smiled even wider. “Thanks, sis. Happy Wedding Day.” I shouted as I picked her up in a bear hug and swung her around. “You getting nervous?”

  “I don’t think nervous is the right word to use. I think I’m more relieved. Relieved that this day has finally come and if anything is going to go wrong, there’s absolutely nothing I can do to fix it.”

  “How’s that soon to be brother of mine doing?”

>   “Well you could just ask him yourself.” Ky replied. He walked straight over to my sister and picked her up, and planted a long slow gentle kiss on her lips.

  “Isn’t it bad luck to see the bride before the wedding?”

  “I just couldn’t wait that long. Let me guess, Ruger is in the shower?”

  I nodded with an annoying look on my face. “You would be correct dear sir.”

  “Super.” He replied sarcastically. “All right, well I’ll go get my stuff together and use the bathroom downstairs. Oh hey I almost forgot to tell you Carson, Xander said he will be here in about an hour or so.”

  “Okay, thanks. Lynd, I’ll meet you down in the front room for hair and makeup as soon as I can get in the damn shower.” I suddenly remembered that Lyndley still hadn’t shown me the dress I would be wearing. She hadn’t even let me try it on. Instead she had me try on a dress that was the same style but that was it. “Hey, where’s my dress, and do I get to see it before I’m supposed to walk down the aisle? I joked.

  “It’s hanging up in your room. I’ll see you downstairs in just a bit.”

  I waited to look at my dress. With all the secrecy of the dress, I wanted to draw it out as long as possible. Obviously there was something extremely special about it that made Lyndley not want to show me. As soon as Ruger was out of the shower, I didn’t see him again until I was headed downstairs to get my hair and makeup done.

  “Hey beautiful?”

  I turned and saw him standing at the bottom of the stairs. “Yes?”

  “Just wanted to say hi.” He smiled. “Oh and give you this.” He pressed his lips gently against mine, and then took off out the back doors.

  I walked into the front room where Lyndley was already getting her hair done, with a mega watt smile on my face. “Lynd, I love your hair. It’s going to look amazing when it’s all done.”

  “Thanks Carson. Okay, you’re getting your makeup done first. So come sit in this chair next to me.”

  “Where’s Mom? I thought she was getting her stuff done too?” I was suddenly concerned about her. I hadn’t seen her yet this morning and I wasn’t sure how she was feeling.

  “I just saw her while you were in the shower. She said she would be back down in about thirty minutes. She wanted you to get your makeup started first.”

  “How does she feel today?”

  “She looks great, and seems to be feeling fine. I think she’s finally sick of us asking all the time.”

  “I get it, but it’s hard not to wonder or worry. Unfortunately, her disease moves fast and aggressively.” I took a seat in the chair across from my sister. It made it much easier for us to carry on a conversation. As I took a seat, some random person brought me a cup full of coffee, just the way I like it. “Oh my god, thank you so much whoever you are.”

  Lyndley laughed. “That’s Clara, she works for the salon.”

  “Nice. And apparently she’s the one doing my makeup.” I laughed as Clara sat in front of me and started applying all sorts of makeup to my face. “I just have one request.”

  “Of course, what’s that?”

  “Just no bright red lipstick. It just doesn’t look right with my olive skin and blonde hair.”

  “I wasn’t going to do red anyway.” She smiled. “Your lipstick has to match your dress.”

  “Oh I see. Well seems how I have no idea what the color of my dress is or even how it looks, then surprise me.” I teased.

  I sat back in my chair and was practically falling asleep when I heard a knock on the door. I didn’t want to open my eyes, not because I actually couldn’t because she was applying my eye shadow, but I really just wanted to stay in this solitude of zenness. Unfortunately, whoever was at the door, wasn’t giving up any time soon.

  “Come in.” Lyndley shouted.

  “Hey, sorry to interrupt. I just wanted to let Carson know I was here. Wow! Lyndley you look…gorgeous.”

  “Why thank you Xander, you’re too sweet. Carson, did you hear that Xander is here?”

  “Mmmhmmm.” Was my only response.

  “Just go find the guys. You can hang with them until we all get ready to leave for the venue.”

  “Sounds good.”

  As soon as Xander closed the door, I knew that the inquisition was about to start. And three…two…one. “So what’s the scoop on him and Ruger?” Right on time.

  “Apparently Ruger thought Xander had slept with Ruger’s ex-fiancé at their engagement party.”

  “What a whore.”

  “It didn’t really happen, Lynd. She’s the one who made Ruger believe it did. She is a crazy bitch, that’s all I know.”

  “Sounds like it. Well they seem fine now.”

  “Yeah, I guess they had coffee the day of the almost fight, and since then have been great.”

  Since the day at the tux shop, Ruger seemed to be in a better mood all around. I didn’t know if I could contribute it to the mending of his friendship with Xander, but if the shoe fits. Now Xander hung out at the house with all of us. Not that he didn’t have to be here anyway, but at least now he was cool with the guys. We were all one big happy family, and that made me happy.

  “Okay ladies, time to switch seats.”

  “All ready? Fine.” I was just about to take another nap, but instead I was forced to move chairs.

  “I already told them how I want your hair done, so just sit back and try not to be a control freak. Got it?”

  “Man, you’re bossy. Does Ky like that? I bet he likes it a lot in the bedroom, huh?” I poked Lyndley’s leg as I teased her.

  “He sure does.” She laughed.

  “So are Reese and Claire coming?” I glanced over at Lyndley and she suddenly looked a bit sad. “Oh my god, seriously? He’s like your oldest friend.”

  “I know, but after everything that happened, we just haven’t been talking as much. Yeah they’re coming, but I honestly don’t think he wanted to.” Lyndley turned in her chair so she could face me. “I just feel like I’ve lost touch with so many of my friends. I’m not blaming Ky by any means, but every time we do go out to meet up with people, it’s like he’s always in Marshal mode. You know what I mean?”

  “Yeah. I get it.”

  “I don’t know. I just wish he would ease up a bit. Everyone is either dead or in jail now. I just wish he could see that the threat is gone.”

  “I know, hun, but you have to understand how he thinks. To him, there’s always going to be a new threat, and it’s his job to make sure he protects you or whomever he’s assigned to. I think it’s just going to take some getting use to.”

  “Anyways, enough about that heavy shit. How are you and Ruger?” She did her little eyebrow raise and I knew she wasn’t just asking about our feelings.

  I started to laugh and was about to answer her, but then our mom came through the door. “Morning ladies. How are we feeling today, honey?”

  “I feel great Mom, you?” She kissed Lyndley on the cheeks and then came to me and did the same.

  “Oh you know me, I’m feeling great. Today I get to marry one of my daughters off and hopefully shortly after I can marry off the other.” She laughed.

  It was so good to see her joke around again. “Funny, Mom. I’m pretty sure the guy has to ask the girl to marry him first.”

  “Not true. We could always do an arranged marriage.” She winked at me and I busted out laughing.

  “Aren’t you a funny old lady?” I teased.

  “So I’ve been told.”

  “Oh my god, you have been hanging out with Ruger far too long. You’re starting to pick up on his cocky sayings.”

  “What can I say, I want to get to know my other future son-in-law.” Lyndley and I gasped at her comment. “Oh please, don’t act like you don’t want to marry him and have like a thousand of his babies.” Lyndley and I just stared at each other as we laughed at how funny our mom was being. It finally felt like it used to when we were younger. We were laughing and joking around, and enjoying one a
nother’s company.

  “Time to head to the hotel and get dressed ladies. The guys are already on their way there. Come on, come on, I don’t have all day.” Lyndley was back in full-blown bridezilla mode.

  “Settle down, honey. It’s not like he’s going to marry someone else if you’re late.” Mom joked. I had missed this so much, and I would crave it when it would no longer be possible for us to do it. I could feel the tears welling up, but I pushed them down. I refused to cry today for that reason, because although I knew she didn’t have forever, she still had now, and that’s all that mattered.

  Thirty Nine

  Ruger

  “You look nervous, man. You okay?” I pushed a glass of whiskey over to Ky who looked like he was about to pass out.

  “I’m good, but thanks.” He picked up the glass and downed the entire contents in one gulp. “Another.”

  “Wow Mr. Manners, can I get a please?” I joked. “Are you sure you’re okay? You don’t look so hot.”

  “Well thanks for that, but no I’m fine.”

  I passed him another glass and he downed that one just as fast. “I’ll give you one more but that’s it. Lyndley will kill me if I send you out there wasted.”

  “Oh whatever.” He looked up at me as though he had somethin’ to say, but instead he drank down his last glass, and then stood to straighten out his tux jacket. “Hey Ruger?”

  “Yeah, Wakely? I was nervous about what he might say next.

  “Am I making the right choice?”

  I walked over to him and turned him around so he was facin’ me. I straightened his bowtie, tryin’ to keep myself occupied while I answered his question. “I absolutely do. I think you and Lyndley were meant for each other, and you know I don’t usually say that girlie shit.” I looked back and saw Xander just hangin’ out by the door. “Hey, can you go get us some water please?” Xander nodded, and then disappeared out the hotel room door.

  “I don’t know, man. I don’t know.”

  I put my hands on Ky’s shoulders, tryin’ to calm him down. “What’s really the problem, Wakely. Because I for one know that this isn’t just nerves.”