Emergence (Awakening Series Book 2)

by Hayes, Olivia

  "That sounds nice to me," Lou said, leaning into me with her shoulder. "Hey, thanks for letting me sleep this morning, and for feeding and entertaining Carly. I can't tell you how much I needed that extra hour of rest."

  "Don't mention it," I told her. "I was happy to do it. I know you've been overwhelmed lately and anything I can do to help take some pressure off you, I'll do gladly."

  She stopped washing a pan, and set down the dishrag, shaking out her soapy hands and turning towards me to wrap her arms around my waist.

  "I love you Carson," she told me, burying her head in my chest. "I'm not sure what I did to deserve you, but I'm thankful for you every single day." Her arms tightened around me and I could see tears slipping down her cheeks.

  "Hey, what's going on," I asked her quietly, not wanting to alert her family to her being upset.

  "Nothing," she said, pulling back and smiling up at me through her tears. "I'm just happy, that's all."

  Lou's face fell a moment later when we heard footsteps on the stairs. Her sister, Charlie, who had taken an extreme disliking to me, or maybe to any man in her sister's life except Derek, bounded into the kitchen with Margaret on her hip.

  "Good morning, Charlie. Can I fix you a plate? We've all eaten already," I said to her, trying to keep the peace. "We've got bacon, eggs, and cinnamon rolls, or I could make you some toast, if you prefer."

  I watched her eyes travel around the empty room, to Lou, and then back to me.

  "Morning Carson, bacon, eggs, and a cinnamon roll sound great. Thanks for cooking, and sorry I'm running late this morning. That bed is really comfortable," she said, giving me a tentative smile.

  "Should I make a plate for Margaret too?" I asked.

  "Yes, please."

  "Alright. Go have a seat in the dining room and I'll bring your food in."

  As Charlie walked out of the room, I glanced down at Lou's face and her mouth was curved upward in a small smile. I hoped that, for Lou's sake, this moment was a turning point for Charlie and me.

  I released Lou, made a plate for Charlie, and a small one for Margaret and made my way to the dining room, setting the plates down in front of them.

  "So, Lou and I were talking about heading out to the beach this morning. It's not warm enough for swimming, but the sun is out, so it should be a really nice day. We thought the girls would like to play in the sand and look for shells," I said, my eyes roaming the room, to garner reactions from our guests.

  "I think that's a lovely idea, Carson," Deedee said. "And this evening, Chuck and I would like to spend some time with our grandbabies, so you should take Charlie and Lou out on the town."

  I thought that sounded like a great idea. Lou and I had never really gone out to the bars, and I knew she could use a break. I also hoped that getting a drink or two in Charlie would help loosen her up so maybe I could get on her good side.

  Chapter 33

  Lou

  My parents insisted on watching the girls so Carson, Charlie and I could go out. I had spent a good hour going through every item of clothing that Caroline had lent me and finally dug out the blue top that she'd worn to Deuces the night I ran back into Carson.

  I had paired it with some black skinny jeans and a pair of Louboutin's that I was seriously coveting. I was going to loathe having to return them to Caroline one day, but for that moment, I was loving them.

  Carson looked seriously delicious in his long sleeve black Henley with his jeans. The shirt stretched across his chest hugging his muscles expertly, while his jeans hung low on his hips, hitting him in all the right places and making his ass look incredible.

  We sat in the bar at Churchill's, the place we'd met, while we waited for Max and some of Carson's other friends to show up. It was early still, but people were starting to file in the door, and I soon realized that we were lucky to have gotten seats at the bar. I sipped on my vodka grapefruit while Carson drank scotch and Charlie a martini.

  When Max finally arrived I scanned his entourage for any familiar faces and came up empty. I guessed he and Rebecca must have split up by the fact that he had some fake blonde hanging off his arm.

  "Hey Lou, good to see you again," Max said, turning to Carson. "You two have been laying low. I never see you anymore, dude. Where you been?"

  "I've been around, I assure you. I just haven't been doing the bar scene," Carson said.

  "Oh yeah, that's right. You two have been playing house."

  I tensed at Max's words. Was I holding Carson back from doing things he wanted to do?

  "Come on Max, it isn't like that and you know it. I haven't been big on the bar scene in a long time. We're out tonight because Lou's family is in town, and we wanted to show her sister a good time."

  I took that as a cue to introduce Charlie and Max, who promptly shrugged off the blonde and took my sister's hand, pouring on the charm.

  "It is very nice to meet you, Charlie."

  She raised a challenging brow at him and Max's smile widened as his eyes travelled from Charlie's eyes down to her toes and back again.

  "Can I buy you another drink?" he asked her.

  While I'd been distracted by the exchange between Max and Charlie the blonde had migrated to Carson's side and had practically wedged herself between our chairs.

  "Brittney, I'd like you to meet someone," I heard Carson say as he reached for my hand.

  Brittney's dull brown eyes turned on me, taking me in from head to toe and instantly going feral.

  "Hi, I'm Lou," I said, pretending not to notice the hostile look she was giving me.

  "My girlfriend," Carson added for effect, scooting my chair closer to his now that Brittney had moved out of the way.

  "Nice to meet you," Brittney said through clenched teeth, not fooling me at all. "If you'll excuse me, I need to use the ladies room."

  As I watched her disappear into the growing crowd, I looked at Carson who's eyes danced with amusement. "Thanks for saving me from her. I thought she was going to try to hobble my ankles and keep me in a remote cabin for weeks on end."

  I busted out laughing. "Is she one of your groupies from back in the day?"

  "Unfortunately, yes. And she's probably not the last one we'll see tonight. I wish I could spare you from it, but..."

  "It's okay, Carson," I said, resting my hand on his knee. "I know you have a past from before we met, and I can't hold it against you."

  "Plus," he said, leaning into me. "The only woman I want held against me is you. You know I love you and there's not a woman in the world who compares to you in my mind."

  Then he kissed me and I felt warmth unfold in my belly as I sank into him.

  "Do you two ever quit?" Max asked, slapping Carson on the shoulder.

  I leaned back laughing good-humoredly while Carson shoved Max's arm off him.

  "Have y'all been watching the Bulldogs lately?" Max asked.

  "Nah, man, it's been too crazy. We haven't had a minute of spare time between Caroline's wedding, the fire, working on the house and Lou's family visiting. They've been doing pretty well though. I've tried to keep up with them online," Carson said.

  "Yeah, season's off to an okay start. After that big win at LSU today, I'm excited to see what's in store for the rest of the season," Max said.

  "Who do they play next?" I asked.

  "Tennessee next weekend. I'm having a few people over if you two think you can make it," Max invited.

  I looked to Carson, letting him make the decision for us. I hadn't seen any games this season, but I was really excited to catch up and possibly get to Athens with Carson one of these days.

  "Sure man, we'll be there," Carson said and then excused himself to the bathroom as Max turned to greet a trio of women who'd just come into the bar.

  I shook my head at him and turned back to Charlie.

  "You having a good time?" I asked.

  She brushed her bangs out of her face and toyed with a strand of her boy short hair at the nape of her neck.

  "Ye
ah, I'm glad for a break from Margaret. I love that kid, but sometimes I feel like the only person I ever talk to is a three year old. You know?"

  I eyed her, concerned. "Is Aiden still spending a lot of time away from the house?"

  "Even more than usual. He claims it's part of the job though. The real kicker is that he says if he works all these long hours it will pay off eventually, but I don't see how that can work. Usually when you get promoted, you have more work to do, or at least more responsibility. I feel like that would take him away even more. I just don't feel like he loves us the way he used to."

  My heart sank for her. I knew she wasn't happy, but she was unwilling to do anything about it, and I knew there was nothing I could say to convince her otherwise.

  "I'm sorry. I wish there was something I could do to make it easier for you," I said, getting the bartender's attention and ordering us some shots.

  Once he placed them on the bar in front of us, I turned to her. "Here's to the men we love; here's to the men that love us; if the men we love don't love us, well, fuck 'em, and here's to us!"

  She giggled and downed her shot as I followed, slamming my glass back to the bar top.

  "Thanks Lou, I needed that," Charlie said. "I'm gonna hit the bathroom, be right back."

  I nodded as she walked off, checking my phone, which was on silent, to see if Mom had called or texted. A few minutes later Charlie returned with a grim look on her face.

  "Lou, I don't want to have to be the one to tell you this, but I think you should probably go back towards the bathroom. Carson's back there with a girl."

  "What?" I asked.

  "I wouldn't lie to you. I know you two are supposed to be in love and all, and you want him to be a father to Carly, but I don't think he's up to the challenge," she said, wrecking me. "Once a player, always a player."

  My heart lurched and my body stiffened as I swiveled on my bar stool and stalked off toward the bathrooms. As I made my way to the back hall, I could see Carson leaning against the wall with his back to me. There was a pair of arms wrapped around his waist, and one of his arms was obviously wrapped around the girl, with the other tucked into his pocket. I saw his face descend toward hers and my pulse sky rocketed.

  I felt like I was going to throw up as I continued to approach them. My neck and chest felt hot and there was a ringing in my ears. My eyes were watering and I felt destroyed before I'd even announced myself.

  "How could you?!" I asked in a low and eerily calm, yet shaky voice.

  He straightened at the sound of my voice and turned toward me.

  "What's wrong?" he asked, seeing the look on my face, dislodging himself from the woman I still couldn't see and reaching toward me.

  Tears threatened to overflow as I took a step back from him and raised my hands up. My heart was breaking.

  "Lou?" I heard from behind him and a moment later Caroline sticks her blonde head around his form. "Is everything okay?"

  "Caroline," I state, relief flooding through me. "I thought..." My eyes drifted up to Carson's and I watched his features cloud over and his mouth thin out as he realized what I had thought was happening.

  "Luke and I just had dinner on the roof deck with Eva and Nick. I came down to the restroom and ran into Carson. I wish I'd known y'all were planning to come out, we could have all gotten together."

  "Maybe next time," I suggested, schooling my features and managing a smile for her.

  We said goodbye to her as she headed back up to the roof deck and then Carson leveled me with his gaze. Before he could say anything I started talking.

  "Charlie came back from the restroom and said that you were down here with some woman. I couldn't see who she was when I walked up and... I'm so sorry Carson."

  Chapter 34

  Lou

  When we arrived back at the house, Charlie went up to her room and I went to Carson's and mine. The ride home had been silent, Carson not saying a word to me since we left the bar. I knew I messed up, and I couldn't believe I allowed my trust in him to be so easily swayed. I shouldn't have made a snap judgment like that. I felt like a fool.

  After changing into a little tank and some sleep shorts I walked down to Caroline's room and knocked softly. Charlie opened the door and ushered me inside, holding her finger up to keep my voice low since Margaret was asleep in the bed.

  "So, what happened?" she asked.

  After I had confronted Carson at the bar, he had stormed back to our chairs, gathered up our things and declared that we were going home.

  "It was his sister, Caroline," I said, softly.

  "Oh, Lou. I'm so sorry. I could have sworn it looked more intimate than that," Charlie said. "I never have been a very good judge of character though, have I?"

  I shook my head lightly.

  "So, what did he say when you confronted him?"

  "He pretty much hasn't said anything to me since then. I feel awful, Charlie."

  "Look, it's completely my fault. I thought I saw something I didn't see. You can blame it on me. If he's as awesome as you say, he's bound to believe you, right?"

  I rolled my eyes, exasperated with my sister's warped view of the way the world worked.

  "Charlie, it isn't about him believing me. Obviously he knows it was an honest mistake and that I'm sorry. The issue is that it shouldn't have been an concern to begin with. He's never given me any reason to distrust him, he's been nothing but amazing to me, and he's stood by me through all this mess with the fire, and now, letting you all visit.... And the first time his loyalty is questioned, I pounce on him, instead of believing in him, and trusting that he wouldn't hurt me."

  "I'm sorry," she said. "I shouldn't have said anything."

  "Charlie, you don't need to apologize. You were just looking out for me. My reaction was the problem. I should have gotten all the facts before I jumped to conclusions, and.... well, I just hope that he doesn't stay mad at me forever... Anyway, I just wanted you to know it was his sister, and nothing was going on. I'm going to go back to my room now and hope he'll talk to me."

  She nodded as I opened the door to the hallway. "Get some sleep, you've got a long drive tomorrow," I said to her.

  "I'll try," she said. "And for what it's worth, I really am sorry, Lou."

  I gave her a small smile as I pulled the door closed behind me and made my way back to my room.

  A few minutes later Carson came in, but he wouldn't look at me and kept his back to me the entire time he changed out of his clothes. When he finally turned and met my eyes, the devastation on his face was obvious.

  "Will you talk to me?" I asked, choking back a sob.

  "I don't know what to say Lou," he sighed. "Have I ever given you any reason to doubt me?"

  I shook my head, my tears spilling over. Carson had never done anything aside from build me up, love me and take care of me.

  "No," I squeaked out.

  "So what was that back at the bar?" he asked.

  "Charlie saw you with Caroline and she thought something was going on. When I walked back to see for myself I jumped to conclusions when I found you with a woman's arms wrapped around your waist. I know it was the wrong reaction, Carson. I do. But I've been hurt before, and as much as I love you, trust you and believe in us, there's still that niggling in the back of my mind telling me that something is going to go horribly wrong."

  "You have to let go of the past, Lou. I'm not Derek. I'm not going to cheat on you or try to convince you that I love you while treating you no better than the dirt under my shoe." He walked around the bed, pulling me into his arms and I breathed a sigh of relief at the contact. "I could never hurt you Lou, that would be like wounding myself. We made a promise to each other months ago that we wouldn't keep secrets from each other, that we'd be open and honest about everything, even if we thought it would hurt the other. Remember?"

  I nodded against his warm chest.

  "I will never break that promise to you Lou. I love you, and I want you to be a part of my life. I am
yours and you are mine. I would never do anything to destroy what we have. When are you going to get that through your thick skull?" he said, pulling back to look down at me with a soft smile.

  I laughed lightly through my tears. "I think I just did."

  As happy as I was that Carson and I had worked through this issue, guilt assailed me that I was still keeping a secret from him, and not just any secret, a life changing one.

  **

  Saying goodbye to my parents was tough. I promised I'd fly out to visit them in Texas the first chance I got, Carson swearing he'd make it happen.

  My goodbye with Charlie was a little more bittersweet. I was glad that she was leaving because she'd caused nothing but trouble between Carson and me since she'd arrived, but on the other hand, she was my sister, and I loved her regardless.

  "Call me, okay?"

  "I will. I promise," I assured her. "You take care of Miss Priss and enjoy the five hours of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse I'm sure is on your agenda for today."

  "Ugh," Charlie groaned. "Don't remind me."

  She turned to buckle Margaret into her car seat and shut the door afterwards, opening the driver's side.

  "I love you, Lou," she said. "I really am sorry about everything."

  I shook my head at her to let her know it was forgotten.

  "I love you too, Charlie. Have a safe trip home," I told her, leaning in for a hug.

  I heard the door to the house close behind me and Carson walked out into the driveway with Carly.

  "Thanks for letting us stay Carson," Charlie said to him.

  "Don't mention it," he said, bouncing Carly on his hip and kissing the top of her head.

  Charlie smiled wistfully as she climbed into her car and shut the door behind herself. I took a step back and Carson wrapped his arm around my shoulders while I waved to Charlie as she backed out of the driveway and disappeared down the road.

  Chapter 35

  Lou

  Two weeks after my family's visit, I was laying Carly down for a nap when I heard the doorbell ring. I closed the door to Caroline's room and headed for the stairs.