The Risks We Take Duet Box Set

84. Carys

CARYS

I step outside into the backyard, the guilt over my conversation with Emerson eating me alive. “Are you sure you won’t hate me? I feel terrible leaving early. You’ve still got another week before Jack and Theo get back.” Elodie’s fussing in Emerson’s arms as Em and I FaceTime.

“I love you, CC. You need to focus on you and Cooper now.” She adjusts the baby and drops the phone. “Shit.” She grabs it and holds it in front of her again, and I watch Elodie grabbing at Em’s top. “Believe it or not, my mom saw the shooting on the news and called to say she was coming to stay with me for a bit. Didn’t even give me a chance to tell her no. I think it’s the first time in ten years she’s actually wanted to act like a mother. She even sounded excited to meet Elodie.”

Em murmurs something softly to Elodie and offers her favorite binky.

Which Elodie promptly spits out. She stops fussing long enough to scrunch up her adorable little lips and wail at the top of her not so little lungs. “Sorry, CC. I need to give this baby a boob, or she’s going to grow horns and a tail and stab me with a pitchfork. Take care of Cooper, okay? Elodie and I will come see you in Kroydon Hills soon.” Then she chokes up. “I wouldn’t have gotten through the past few weeks without you, babe.”

“Love you, Em. Kiss that baby for me.” I choke back my tears, so incredibly tired of crying. “I’ll see you soon.”

We hang up, and I stare at my phone.

I’ve missed calls from everyone. Aiden, Nattie, Declan, Chloe, Daphne, and Maddie. I’ve even had calls from numbers I don’t recognize.

My voicemail box is full.

I’m sure Mom and Coach will fill the family in, so I drop down onto the outdoor sectional and pull my knees up to my chest to text the girls.

Carys

Sorry for not calling you all. Coop and I are exhausted, but we’re okay.

Chloe

Don’t apologize.

Daphne

You’re coming home tomorrow, right?

Carys

Yeah. We’ll be home sometime tomorrow afternoon. Can you tell Max thank you for sending the jet? He didn’t have to do that.

Daphne

Yes, he did, if he ever wanted to sleep next to me again. I’d be on it now if he didn’t convince me that you might want some space.

Maddie

Do you need anything?

Carys

Yeah. A place to stay that isn’t a few rooms down from our parents.

Maddie

You could always move in with me and my brother now that D moved out.

Daphne

I have a better idea. Hudson just bought some property at Kroydon Falls. It has three houses on adjoining properties. He’s been rehabbing the one he’s going to live in.

Chloe

Hudson Kingston is knocking down walls with his bare hands? Where can I watch this happening? That’s got to be better than porn.

Daphne

Ew. It’s more like he’s paying someone to do it for him.

Maddie

I second Chloe. That’s got to be better than porn.

Carys

I miss you guys!

Daphne

Anyhoo, there’s nothing wrong with the other two houses. He just hasn’t decided if he wants to sell or rent them out. I can ask him if you could rent one while you’re figuring out what you’re doing.

Carys

That would be perfect, D. Would you mind checking with Hudson?

Chloe

You know your room here is still yours, right?

Carys

I do, and I love you for it! I just think we might need some space to ourselves when we get home.

Chloe

Fine. I guess that makes sense.

Carys

I’ll message when we get home tomorrow.

It’s hard to be in this yard and not think about the times we all spent here. Trick and Wanda by the grill. Linc and Em holed up in his room. Ford in the ocean on his surfboard. And Axel torturing me about our nonexistent future children. It feels like a lifetime ago and yesterday, all at once.

Cooper calls out my name, like he’s being chased by the hounds of hell.

I don’t take two steps before he flies through the back door, terrified, and wraps his arms around me. “Jesus. I didn’t know where you were.”

This man. This stubborn man, who swears he’s okay, buries his face in my hair and runs his hands over my body, like he’s making sure I’m real. Making sure I’m whole. This incredible, strong, amazing man, who I love more than anything in this world, doesn’t realize just how hard the crash is going to be when everything that happened today hits him and he finally processes that.

The thoughts choke the breath from my body as realization dawns.

When I was faced with dealing with an overwhelming trauma, I pushed him away.

I tighten my hold on his back and kiss his neck.

“I’m right here, Coop. I’m safe. And I’m not going anywhere.”