Page 45 of Chasing Honor

“Yes.”

“Holy fuck,” I whispered. “You never told me that. How long?”

“Years.”

“Boys,” my dad interrupted. “You tell him?”

“Yeah,” Carter answered.

“Not a word to your mother. I want her to enjoy introducing Honor to everyone.”

“Why does everyone keep making a big deal out of this?”

“Because, it is a big deal. My future daughter is meeting the family for the first time.”

Carter chuckled and pounded my back a few times before he walked away to mingle with the crowd. I caught Honor across the room talking to my Aunt Emily. They were laughing but that’s not what had my attention. My gaze went lower to Carson’s hand in Honor’s.

The love that had taken root and had started to blossom, exploded in my chest. I was no longer able to deny it. Honor was mine.

12

“What’s this?” Lily asked.

“Open it, Gran, it’s a surprise,” Carson told her. “Honor helped me make it.”

“I’ll take this out to the table,” Emily said, picking up a tray of burger fixings.

“Thanks, Em.” Then Lily took the surprise from Carson and inspected the wrapping. “Did you do this all by yourself?”

“Yep.” Carson stood a little taller. “All Honor did was hold the sides, so I could tape it.”

“Is there any tape left on the roll?” Ethan asked, joining us in the kitchen.

“Yes!” Carson declared, and I shook my head in the negative.

“What’s the occasion?” Lenox asked.

“Honor said you don’t have to wait for birthdays to give presents. Sometimes you can do it just because. To show someone you love them. So I made Gran a just-because surprise.”

“That was nice, Squirt.”

“I thought so, too.” Carson proudly smiled.

The gift had been her idea, I only helped with the execution.

Lily tore through the paper and gasped.

“Carson Rose!”

“Do you like it, Gran?”

“I couldn’t love it more.”

“Do you see? It spells love.”

Lily held up the sign for Ethan to see.

“Are those pictures from Savannah?” Ethan asked inspecting the letters.