Read The Carrier (The Carrier Series Book 1) for Free Online Page B

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Midwestern chain I could never remember the name of. In fact, there wasn’t one
of his banks in the county, and Dad had to travel as far as Madison or
Milwaukee almost daily. Although he was extremely busy and often spent time
traveling for work, when my sister and I were growing up he always made sure to
be home to tuck us in for bed most nights of the week. He saved all his
vacation days so he could take a few weeks off during the summer to spend time
with his wife and daughters. I had a feeling my mother never really liked Dad’s
job arrangement, but she supported him just the same.
    Mom had a plate of supper already in the
microwave when I entered the kitchen. “How was your day, honey? Did you have
any full boats?” Mom brought over a bowl of reheated spaghetti and a tall glass
of milk. She sat down in the chair next to me and sipped on a glass of ice water.
    “One at noon, but otherwise pretty slow.” I
took out my wad of money that was now considerably smaller since I gave half of
it to Jack. I stood up from the table and took it over to my dad, who was
sitting on the couch in the adjoining living room watching Jeopardy . He
loved to count every bill my sister and I brought home—banking was probably in
his blood. “Sorry, Dad, not too much to flash around today. Where’s Laura?”
    “She had to take The Owl.” Dad was flipping
bills around so they were all facing the same way. My sister, Laura, was an
Upper Dells guide. She really wanted to become a pilot, though, and was coaxing
her boat driver to teach her tips on docking every day. Although Laura was one
year younger than me, she was taller and smarter. She was beautiful and full of
confidence. I knew she’d one day become one of the best female pilots the Upper
Dells had ever seen.
    I had finished my spaghetti and was taking the
plate to the sink just as the doorbell rang.
    “I’ll get it, Mom.” An excited jolt ran through
my body. Could Nolan be at my door? No, why would I think that? He had no idea
where I lived.
    I opened the front door and my stomach
instantly dropped.
    “Aaron?”
    My ex-boyfriend stood at the bottom of the
concrete stairs outside of my parents’ front porch. He was wearing his summer
uniform—army green Duck shorts and a tucked-in white polo with the company’s
logo embroidered on the left breast. He had his hands in his pockets and looked
at the ground, moving his feet back and forth anxiously.
    “What are you doing here, Aaron?”
    “Ava,” he said, looking up at me finally. “Can
I talk to you?”
    I stayed on the top stair, but shut the porch
door behind me. “I’m not sure I have anything to say to you.”
    “Listen. I’m sorry about how things ended a few
months ago.”
    Angry memories of the last year flickered in
front of my mind’s eye like scenes from a film reel. I had spent too much time
agonizing over the state of the relationship with my first failed love.
    Then, unexpectedly, I saw a vision of Nolan and
felt something warm in my heart.
    “I don’t need your apologies. Have a great
summer, Aaron. I’ll see you around.”
    I turned towards the house and placed my hand
on the door handle.
    “Wait.” Aaron made up the space between us
quickly and placed his hand on top of mine.
    Shaking, I turned around to face him. His
familiar green eyes penetrated mine. I involuntarily relived the sweet memories
of our time in high school together. It was one of the happiest times of my
life.
    “I miss you,” he breathed. His was slowly
moving in towards me.
    I was so confused. Was this what I wanted?
    No. Heartache. He’s
nothing but heartache.
    “Ava.” Aaron slid his hand around my waist, to
my lower back. It felt so nice to be touched again. To be held tightly by a
man. His other hand found my neck, his thumb gently rubbing the sensitive place
under my ears. I closed my eyes, surrendering to the pleasant feelings rushing
back to me.
    I was well aware of his face inching closer and
closer to mine,