Page 42 of Dotted Lines (Runaway 5)

Until he was gone.

My heart ached. I knew what I had to say, and I knew the words would taste like acid on my tongue. “You should go. Leave early. Start exploring the world and live your life.”

Karson’s gaze met mine and softened, then he let go of my hand to cup my cheek. “I’m not ready to leave you yet.”

I leaned into his touch as my heart flipped. “I’m not ready either.”

Not when I’d just found him. There was so little time left. I didn’t want to cut it short.

A muted curse came from beyond the tent’s walls. Karson pulled his hand away and I inched backward, putting space between us, right before Aria poked her head inside. “I stubbed my toe.”

“No shower?”

She lifted the soap, towel and washcloth in her hand. “I decided to water my plants again first. It was hot today. And I was just thinking that maybe we should tell Lou. Warn him about your mom and the cops.”

“Yeah,” Karson mumbled. “Probably a good idea. I’ll tell him in the morning. He’s better in the mornings.”

Lou rarely came outside in the afternoons or evenings. It was something I hadn’t noticed for a long time, not until Gemma had pointed it out.

“Okay. I’m dealing with the stink that is me,” Aria said.

“I’m going to hang out here for a while.”

She nodded, then left us alone with a wave.

I turned to Karson, waiting until her footsteps disappeared. Then he was there, kissing me. His hands framed my face and his lips consumed mine. I melted into him, shifting closer to wrap my arms around his waist.

God, I wasn’t ready to say goodbye.

I wanted time. I wanted more kisses. I wanted . . . Karson. I wanted him to be the one.

A whimper escaped my throat as Karson dragged his lips away. I opened my eyes to find his hazel irises waiting and full of lust.

“Did you tell Aria?”

I shook my head, breathing, “No. I wasn’t sure what we were.”

“I get it.” He dropped his forehead to mine. “We’d better slow down.”

“Yeah,” I muttered.

Aria would know if I showed up at the truck with swollen lips and flushed cheeks. I loved my sister, but Karson was mine, and I didn’t want to share. Just this one thing I wanted as my own.

I didn’t want to hear her warnings. I didn’t want to answer her questions.

How long? What about Londyn? Do you love him?

“I better go,” I breathed.

He nodded and let me go, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed. If there were time, if I were braver, I’d lick the column of that throat. I’d taste the saltiness of his skin, like so many of the characters did in my books.

I stood and walked to the doorway on shaky legs. Walking away from Karson was like waking from a dream. I longed to go back, to kiss him again. Because with him, I could get lost in another world. A world without junkyards and dead parents and peanut butter and honey sandwiches.

How was I supposed to leave him for Las Vegas? How was I supposed to walk away from the only person who could make reality disappear?

I couldn’t. He had to come with us. If he tried Vegas, he might like it.

“Karson—”