Finding Carter | ✓

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter 23
Meet The Parents

Throwing up sounded good right now.

Every thought I had was heightened with anxiety as I thought about worst-case scenarios.

I shouldn't have invited him. It's too soon.

No, they need to meet him. He's staying in my life. They're my family.

My brain was considering every outcome until I started to get whiplash. Maybe he shouldn't come.

Stop it, Carter. Everything will be fine.

Jade's encouraging voice softened my nerves. The same nerves I expressed to her yesterday, when she was watching me pack for my weekend long visit to my parents' house. The trip I would be taking with Willow, Jade and... Daniel.

It wasn't a good idea. I was sure of it. But when I called mom a few days ago, asking if I could invite a friend she hasn't met yet, I expected her to say no. That her answer would be a sign for what I should do. Instead, she just chirped, "the more, the merrier."

Who was she?

My arms pumped a little faster as I quickened my pace. Should I be running in the evening, no. But I was close to hyperventilating in my apartment, and I needed an outlet so, running it was.

In my peripheral vision I realized I was nearing the beach, so I decided to change course and run on the pavement where the sand ends. However, it barely a few minutes later when a person popped out in front of me.

I gasped and came to an abrupt halt, barely catching myself before I could collapse.

I leaned forward and tried to calm my pounding heart before lifting my gaze. "Is it your life goal to scare me?"

Despite my accusation coming out rudely, Dallas smirked wickedly before crossing his tattooed arms over his chest. "Is that your way of suggesting that I should stay in your life?"

"No," I instantly snorted and moved around him. He followed, walking next me. "Why are you here, anyway?"

"I'm not stalking you, don't worry." He snorted before drawling casually, "I was dealing with something when I saw you."

"What were you doing?"

"Smoking."

I glanced in his direction and saw there was redness rimming his dark eyes.

When he didn't say anything else, I sighed and picked up my pace—which Dallas easily matched. I decided to be polite before asking, "So, what are you gonna be doing all summer?"

He laughed humorlessly. "Fucking work. It ain't like my good for nothing parents left anything for me before they died."

I stared at him with suspicion, unable to see him working in some store. "Where do you work?"

"Not some place you'd want to know," he snorted, and I couldn't help but focus on him for a moment. Even though Daniel wasn't adopted, Loretta was in his corner when I left, as well as Luis.

As much as he believed he was alone, he never truly was.

Dallas, however, spent his years growing up unloved, and because of that, I couldn't help but feel pity for him—because people weren't made the way there are. Although he was a major ass throughout the years I'd known him in our group home, he had a reason to be. We all did.

We all knew that the older we got, the less likely we'd be adopted. The realization that we'd always be alone and neglected doesn't make the happiest of people.