AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The thought crossed my mind that Olivia had been telling the truth. Maybe he was on his way to the beach that very second.
Talk about eating crow.
No, I told myself. I couldn’t think like that. Even if Carson did stand me up and go to the party on the beach, it didn’t negate the things I said to Olivia. They were still true. For the most part.
When I rang the doorbell one last time and no one answered, I called Ethan. Pressing the phone to my ear, I sighed in relief at the sound of his voice. “’Sup, my lady friend?”
“You out with Beth?”
“Yeah, why? What’s up?”
I sighed. “I guess you don’t know where your brother is, do you?” I asked.
“Oh, man. He’s not home?” Ethan asked in a gentle voice.
“If he were home, would I be standing outside your house in the cold waiting on him?”
“Okay, I sense you’re on the verge of a breakdown. So, deep breath,” he said, inhaling and exhaling loudly into the phone.
“Ethan!” I stomped my foot even though there was no one to see.
“Okay, okay. Just trying to help, but I thought he was home before I left. If you need help, Beth and I could come for a bit. Just say the word, and we’re there.”
Ugh. That’s all I needed was to be a third wheel right now.
“No. I’m fine, but all the stuff is in your house. I can put it in my car, but I still need inside to get everything.”
“Say no more. I’ll text you the code to get in.”
“Thanks,” I said, wishing I felt more relief. But, really, I hated doing this alone. I hated that Carson hadn’t shown. He was probably at the beach right now, flirting with Olivia.
“And Mia?”
I startled, thinking he had already hung up. “Yeah?”
“I don’t care if he is my brother, I’m kicking his ass when I see him.”
“Thanks, Ethan,” I said with a weak smile.
I hung up and waited as the text came through. Once I punched in the code to the keypad on the side door, I went inside and surveyed the living room. All the boxes Carson and I had packed together were still scattered throughout.
I made my way toward one and traced my finger over Carson’s sloppy handwriting, and it all hit me. My parents. Carson. Even my confrontation with Olivia stirred a painful ache inside my chest I couldn’t squelch, and the tears I had suppressed all day rose to the surface. Being dateless for the Snowflake Ball was the least of my worries.
I crouched in front of the boxes labeled “Adams Family” and reached for the first one as a tear slid down my cheek. Wiping it away, I stood, balancing the heavy box in front of me when the front door slammed.
I turned around, expecting to see Ethan. He had come after all.
“That was fast . . .” My words trailed off, lost in the lump in my throat. Because it wasn’t Ethan. It was Carson.
His dark hair was more rumpled than usual, and his cheeks slightly flushed from the cold. He moved closer, coming to stand in front of me. Something about the way he held himself, the way he couldn’t seem to meet my eyes told me he was nervous.
He reached up and tugged on the drawstrings of his hoodie, looking more adorable than was fair.
“You came,” I said.
“Here, let me get that.” He reached for the box, then set it on the ground next to him. Once he stood back up, he shoved his hands in the pockets of his joggers and stared at me. “Were you crying?” he asked, his voice gruff as he reached out and brushed a thumb over my damp cheek.
“You didn’t show yesterday with Mr. Bell, then today at Lakeshore Market—”
