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Shooting up from my bed, I hurried acrossthe road My eyes focused on the old, black Jeep Wrangler sitting in our driveway, and my stomach turned in on itself It was Carson’s Jeep

I didn’t walk down the stairs, I ran My feet pounded over the creaking stair treads, each thu me closer to the door, while my insides screamed, Don’t let him hear Please, don’t let him hear

My feet hit the landing, and off totoe-to-toe Mom pointed in Dad’s face Tears streamed down her cheeks as her voice reached epic proportions Nails on a chalkboard had nothing on her otherworldly screeching

In a rush, I flung the door open and stepped outside, sla it closed behind me My chest rose and fell in a rapid staccato as I tried to calain control, but it was no use I realizedonly inches from Carson I peered up into his eyes, the color so vibrant it was nearly alive and churning like the ocean The scent of his cologne wafted toward e to lean into him To inhale all that cedarwood and spice and let it comfort me

“Uh, now’s not really a good time,” I said weakly My cheeks heated with eh the door There wasn’t steel thick enough to block out the sound of them As if my first encounter with hih

“I thought we’d go shopping for the Angel Program We have less than a week now”

“Right True But we could go tohim around

Carson easily shrugged me off and turned back toward me, his mouth turned down into a frown “No” Carson shook his head

“No?” I stared at him, incredulous

“No We’re going now Come on Swim practice is over, and I have no plans but to spend the rest of the day shopping with you Let’s go”

I glanced back to the closed door “ButI don’t have s”

“You don’t need anything”

I bit my lip “My purse, and my wallet”

From inside the house, my father’s voice boomed, “I’m so sick of this,” he shouted, and I jumped

Training round, I was unable toyour ne hi apart It put you on uneven footing