Page 37 of Until the End (The Lost Letters #3)

Ginny

L aughter fills my house. It’s the best sound in the world. Watching the women of my family tease and joke with each other has always been one of my favorite sights. It’s been a long time since I’ve attended a proper girls’ night.

We’ve put together a paint-and-sip activity for tonight. I found a video tutorial for us to follow, but I highly doubt we’ll end up finishing it. Usually by the time we’re halfway through, we’re too buzzed to keep painting. It’s still one of our favorite activities.

My living room furniture has been pushed to the outer edges to make room for the long table.

There are paint palettes at each space, along with easels and canvases.

There are too many of us to get our schedules well-matched, so not all of the girls were able to attend tonight, but most of us will be here.

Lottie, Gia, and I work together to put everyone’s drinks on the table while our moms get the food gathered. Adalaide helps Carson’s mom with divvying up the paint bottles, and in just a few minutes, everything is ready to go.

“What are the boys up to tonight?” Addie asks when she sits next to me .

“They’re playing laser tag.” I smirk at her.

“Is the freezer stocked with ice packs?” she teases.

“I brought several when Tucker told me what they had planned,” Carson’s mom, Natalie, says about her husband.

She’s always prepared for the guys to disrupt our girls’ nights with their antics.

Tonight is going to include a whole lot of babying.

The guys always go a little nuts when they play laser tag.

If only one of them comes back with an injury, I’ll be shocked.

Lottie’s mom, Quinn, leans around Addie. “Cooper scoffed at me when I told him I refilled my travel bottle of Tylenol.”

“It amazes me that they wholeheartedly believe this time will be different from the last,” Lottie says.

“Carson said he’s going to make sure no one breaks something,” I tell them.

“Oh, god,” Natalie groans. “Tucker was so stubborn after spraining his ankle the last time they played. If he comes back with an injury, I’ll kill him myself.”

The whole table starts giggling at that. Aunt Natalie has always been a force to be reckoned with. I would not envy Uncle Tucker if he comes back hurt.

“Hey, speaking of my son,” Natalie says to me. “Is he treating you right? You’re happy with him? If not, let me know. I’ll remind him how he should be treating his girl.”

I grin at her. “He’s been great. We’re both insanely happy to be home.”

“Are they planning another tour for your new album?” Quinn asks.

“Of course. But it shouldn’t be as grueling as the last one. Plus, if Carson can go with me, it’ll be even better.”

“He better go with you,” Natalie insists. “He’s the only one I trust to take care of you like you deserve while you’re on the road. ”

She’s not wrong. Carson would be an amazing asset while I’m touring.

He’d make sure every single one of my needs is met.

But what about his needs? It would be incredibly selfish of me to constantly be the taker in our relationship.

He needs to be taken care of, too. Our relationship has to be reciprocal, otherwise it’ll fail.

Gia wiggles her finger at me. “What’s that face about?”

“What face?” I deny.

“The one that looks like you’re about to cry.”

I roll my eyes. “I’m not about to cry.”

“You aren’t thinking happy thoughts, that’s for sure.”

“Talk to us, hon. You know we’re always going to be on your side, no matter what.” Natalie’s words make me smile. Despite the fact that I’m in love with her son, I have no doubt she’d side with me if he was being a jerk.

I bite the inside of my cheek, debating on whether or not to share my worries or keep them to myself.

In the end, there’s no reason to hold back with the women I love the most. “I’m worried that Carson is going to get sick of always having to cater to me and my career.

Why would anyone be willing to drop their entire life and live on a tour bus for months on end?

It doesn’t seem fair to me. Carson would be giving up everything, and what am I giving back to him? ”

Gia wraps her arm around my shoulders. “He’s getting you, Gin. It’s the only thing Carson’s wanted since we were kids.”

“Gia’s right,” Natalie says. “Carson has always loved you. Now that you guys are together, I think he’d be willing to do just about anything to keep you.”

“But how can I make him happy long-term?”

“You love him as much as he loves you.” Natalie shrugs.

“That’s easy.” I huff out a laugh.

“You don’t have to have everything figured out right now. This is the time when you get to bask in the wonder of a new relationship with your guy. Enjoy it. The future will handle itself as long as the two of you keep open communication.”

I smile at Natalie. “Now I know where Carson gets it. He’s been the communicator extraordinaire.”

Natalie’s smile is proud. “That’s my boy.”

My front door opens to a clatter of men’s voices. Teddy’s got Cooper’s arm wrapped around his shoulders as he helps him over to my couch.

“Oh, boy,” Quinn murmurs. I fold my lips into my teeth to keep from laughing out loud. She heads straight for her purse while Natalie goes to the freezer.

The rest of the guys come in behind Teddy and Cooper. Tucker is rotating his shoulder, my dad is massaging his lower back, and Carson is shaking his head, amusement clear in his eyes.

It might be time to ban laser tag from guys’ nights.

Carson rests his hands on my shoulders and presses a kiss to the top of my head. “We’re never playing laser tag again.”

I snort. Tilting my head back, I smile up at my handsome man.

His mom’s words roll around in my head. Have I been catastrophizing our relationship because I’m scared it’s going to end?

Given how my relationship with Weasel went, it would make sense.

I’ve been so caught up in worrying about the future, I haven’t let myself enjoy our present.

“That’s probably for the best. It’s only a matter of time before one of them gets seriously injured.”

“Looks like you guys haven’t made much progress.”

I look down at my blank canvas. This is pretty typical of paint nights, actually. “Nope. Too busy talking to paint.”

Carson leans down to whisper in my ear. “How long will it take to get everyone out of the house?”

I glance around the room. With the exception of Cooper and Quinn, everyone has gathered in my kitchen to talk. “Longer than we’d probably like. ”

“We could always just sneak upstairs. They’d lock up when they left.”

“We can’t do that.”

“Why not?”

My first thought is that it would be rude, but this is our family, not a bunch of random guests. They’d probably laugh at us first and then clean up my house before heading out. We’d be treated to an endless amount of teasing, but I think I could handle that.

“You’re a horrible influence on me. Let’s give it an hour. I want to make sure my dad didn’t mess up his back too badly.”

Carson gives me a look. “One hour. If they’re not gone by then, I’ll throw you over my shoulder and carry you upstairs myself.”

I shiver at the thought. I can’t decide if I want everyone to leave right now or if I want them to force Carson to follow through on his threat.