I open the door and the sight hits me like a gust of wind.
“Hey, beautiful.”
Just those two words make my heart melt. Now that he’s standing in front of me, it seems like it’s been forever since I last saw him. His short brown hair is styled differently, and he’s sporting a nicely trimmed beard now. But those green eyes still sparkle with promise. Carson is even better looking than I remembered. And he most definitely still has that swimmer’s body.
His big strong arms surround me for the warmest hug ever. I’m tall for a girl at five-eight, but his six-two is just about perfect for hugs. He smells amazing, and I try to decide if he’s switched colognes. His mesmerizing scent makes me glad I showered again after doing all that cooking.
My mother greets him like her long-lost son, which he practically is since he spent so much time in this house when we were kids.
For the next hour, as we make final dinner preparations, there’s much animated conversation about his life.
“You’re still single?” my mom asks. When he says he is, she gives me the most obvious wink in the history of winks. I just laugh and shake my head, then give Carson a look of bemusement.
As my parents get the dining room table prepared, Carson and I have a moment alone in the kitchen.
“So how’s life?” he asks.
“Mmm… it’s okay. Work is work.”
“No new guy?”
“Not at the moment. You have someone?”
“Nah. Too busy lately.” As he’s talking, he casually picks up the turkey baster from the counter. “Hey, don’t throw this out. We can use it as the artificial inseminator.”
I laugh out loud, surprised that he even remembers that conversation. “Don’t be gross.” Then I amp up the teasing. “Does the actual inseminator not work well these days?”
Carson grins. “Better stick to this. I’m not sure you could handle the real one.”
“Oh, trust me. I could handle it.”
My mom walks back in and stops when she sees him and I standing near the sink. “I always thought you two should be a couple.”
“That’s the second time she’s said that today.”
“Well, it’s true,” Mom says.
“Your daughter’s awesome, Mrs. Thompson. She’s like a comfortable pair of shoes.”
I immediately hit him on the bicep. “I am not a pair of shoes.”
We gather for dinner and the dining room is festive and filled with amazing smells. Dad begins to carve the turkey. Brianne is being way too nice to Carson and it bugs me in a way that’s hard to explain.
“Here, you two. Make a wish.” I look away from Brianne to see Carson taking the turkey’s wishbone from Dad.
“Is that still a thing?” I ask.
“Don’t disparage lucky traditions,” Carson says. “Take one side and make a wish.”
I grab my side of the wishbone and close my eyes as I try to come up with a wish. I’m surprised as hell at the thought that pops into my mind. I seriously doubt I’d be brave enough to go through with it if I ever had the opportunity.
But maybe, just once, under the right circumstances.
Just once. Then I could stop thinking about it and quit wondering what it would be like.
I open my eyes and see Carson giving me a very strange look from the other side of the wishbone.
“Ready?” I nod. “Okay… go!”
It doesn’t take long before I’m left holding the smaller piece.
“What did you wish for, Carson?” Brianne asks with a trace of a dirty tinge to her voice.
“If I tell you, it won’t come true,” he responds, then winks at me.
What was that wink for?
Dinner is wonderful and delicious and amazing and sitting next to Carson makes it that much better. I have missed this guy so much more than I ever realized.