The drive home was quiet, but I didn’t mind the silence. My mind was too foggy from the pain and the exhaustion to think clearly, but one thing kept drifting in and out of my thoughts: Carson.
I glanced over at him as he drove, his eyes focused on the road ahead, but there was something comforting in the way his hands gripped the wheel, steady and sure. He always seemed to have this way of making everything feel okay—even when everything wasn’t. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt so scared and helpless, but somehow, with him beside me, the weight of it had been just a little lighter.
He must’ve noticed me staring because he gave me a quick glance, a small smile playing on his lips. “You doing alright?” he asked, his voice soft, as if not wanting to disturb the peace that had settled in the car.
I nodded, though I wasn’t sure how convincing it was. “Yeah, just... tired,” I muttered. My whole body ached, not just from the tooth but from the emotional rollercoaster of the day. It was almost like everything I’d been holding in had finally caught up to me. The fear, the pain, the uncertainty. It was all just... too much.
Carson nodded, his smile softening as he turned his eyes back to the road. “I know. You’ve been through a lot today. But you did great.”
I wanted to argue that I hadn’t really done anything great—that it had been so much harder than it needed to be. But I knew he didn’t mean it like that. Carson always saw the best in me, even when I couldn’t see it myself.
We drove in silence for a few more minutes, the steady hum of the tires on the road the only sound between us. But I couldn’t help myself—I had to ask.
“Carson,” I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper. “What would I do without you?”
He glanced at me again, his eyes filled with the same warmth and quiet reassurance that always seemed to surround him. “You’d do just fine. You’re strong, Rae. You always have been.”
I shook my head slightly, unsure whether he was just saying it to make me feel better. “I don’t feel very strong right now.”
Carson’s expression softened, and he reached over, giving my hand a gentle squeeze. “You’re stronger than you know. I’m just here to remind you when you forget.”
I felt my chest tighten at his words, a lump forming in my throat. It wasn’t just the tooth, or the pain—it was everything. The way Carson always took care of me, the way he never let me feel truly alone. I didn’t say anything, but I squeezed his hand back, the gesture quiet but meaningful.
The rest of the drive passed in a comfortable silence, and by the time we pulled into our driveway, I could already feel my body yearning for rest. Carson was the first to get out, coming around to my side of the car and opening the door for me.
“Come on,” he said gently, his hand extended to me. “Let’s get you inside. You can crash on the couch, and I’ll get you something for the pain.”
I took his hand, feeling a strange sense of relief wash over me. I had been dreading the aftermath of the day, but with Carson here, it didn’t seem so bad. His care, his presence—it made everything feel a little more manageable.
As we walked into the house, Carson guided me to the living room, where he helped me settle onto the couch with an ice pack in hand. I sank into the cushions, exhaustion weighing down on me like a heavy blanket.
“Just rest for now,” Carson said, pulling a blanket over me. “I’ll get you something to eat in a bit, but for now, just close your eyes. You’ve earned it.”
I didn’t even try to fight it. My body was screaming for sleep, and I knew that as soon as I closed my eyes, I would finally be able to relax. Carson’s voice was the last thing I heard before I drifted off, the soft rhythm of his movements in the kitchen lulling me into a peaceful haze.
