Page 26 of Sinner's Binding
“I don’t know how else to say this other than to be blunt. Sam, I want to continue being friends if you want, but I don’t want there to be any expectation that we’re heading for anything more. What we have is friendship. If you thought it was more, I’ll take the blame for that. It was never my intention to lead you on or hurt you.”
There was silence for a moment or two, then he replied.
“I’m coming over there. We need to talk. This conversation isn’t one to have over the phone. We’re more than friends, Stasia.” Sam’s voice was hard, impatient.
“No, Sam, we’re not. And while you’re right, we should speak of this face-to-face, I can’t do it right now. I’m still recovering. Once I’m better, we can. But it won’t change my mind, Sam. Friendship is all I can give you. I did it this way because I don’t want either of us passing up an opportunity, if it presents itself, to go out with someone who is meant to be our permanent partner.”
“What the hell happened? I know this isn’t what you wanted a few days ago. We can fix this.”
“No, we can’t. Please, we’ll discuss this in depth next week. I have to go. Take care of yourself, Sam.”
Without waiting a beat longer, I hung up. I felt like crap for doing this to him, but prolonged arguing wouldn’t change anything for me. I wanted a chance with Reign. Sam called back immediately. I didn’t answer. When he couldn’t get me to pick up, he sent me a text reiterating what he’d already said. I chose not to answer him.
Unable to sit and wait on Reign, I got up and went to do laundry. As long as I didn’t pick up heavy baskets of clothes, it wasn’t too much. I typically did laundry and cleaned my place on weekends. I knew mopping, running the sweeper, or scrubbing the tubs and such was a bit out of my range at the moment, but laundry, dusting, and keeping the dishes washed weren’t too much.
My phone buzzed. I checked it out of habit, even though I figured it was Sam. It wasn’t. This time it was Reign.
Reign: I’ll be there in ten minutes. Just have to stop by the store to grab something.
I replied,Great. Drive carefully.
I got a thumbs-up emoji back. Filled with eagerness, I put the last of my clothes in the washer and started it. Then I went to the kitchen to make a fresh lemonade and strawberry drink. I’d prepped the lemons and strawberries, and all I had to do was take the lemon-and-berry mixture, add water and ice, then add the simple syrup mixture. I then thoroughly mixed them until I created what I considered a perfect strawberry lemonade.
Some people would strain it, but I liked the pieces of fruit and pulp in mine. I tasted a spoonful. And smiled. It was the perfect balance of sweet and tart. I put the pitcher on a trayand then the two glasses of crushed ice. The clock showed two minutes until Reign was due to arrive.
That’s when I heard the knock on my door. I left the tray on the kitchen counter and hurried to answer it. I knew I was grinning like a nut as I swung the door open, but I was happy to see him. As it registered who I faced, my happiness dimmed. Sam stood there, wearing an angry expression. But he wasn’t alone. Behind and to his side stood Arish.
“What’re you doing here?” I asked both men.
“We’re here to talk. You need to be straightened out,” Arish said, but it was Sam who pushed past me into my home, with my brother bringing up the rear, where he roughly kicked my door shut.
“Have a seat, Stasia. We’re talking, and you’re going to listen,” my brother snapped.
“Get out. I’m not listening to anything either of you has to say,” I retorted.
“You can’t kick me out! I’m your brother. And Sam is your boyfriend. You’re acting irrationally. I’m here to make sure you don’t destroy your one chance at a good life with whatever silliness this is,” Arish growled.
I refused to back down or be intimidated by either man, even though they did dwarf me. I glared at them.
“I can kick anyone out. You don’t pay rent or own this place, Arish. As for Sam, he’s not my boyfriend, and after this stunt, if there were even an iota of possibility that I’d change my mind and accept him, it’s gone. I decide what a good life is for me, not you, not him, and not the family!” I shouted at my brother.
“Calm down! There’s no need to get dramatic and yell. You’re not thinking clearly since the assault. Clearly, you have head trauma. If you won’t sit and talk like a rational being, you leave me no other recourse but to call an ambulance. You’re adanger to yourself and others,” my brother said with infuriating self-righteousness.
As I gaped at him in disbelief, Arish gave Sam a chin lift. “Go ahead and hold on to her so she doesn’t do something to hurt herself.”
Automatically, without missing a beat, I opened my mouth and screamed at the top of my lungs. Both of them swore, but the roar of a third voice eclipsed their words. Whipping my head around, I saw Reign charge into the room. Fury was written all over him. Sam’s arm had landed around my shoulders only to be torn away as Reign reached me. I was tugged into his arms and cradled there as Reign shot fire from his eyes.
“Get your motherfucking hands off her!” He bellowed.
“Who the hell are you?” Arish shouted.
“You have no right to be here. You’re filling her head with nonsense,” Sam yelled.
“Leave before I call the cops and have you arrested,” my brother added pompously.
That was it. I was done. I tugged myself partially free of Reign’s hold. I faced my intruders.
“The only ones the cops will be arresting are the two of you. You weren’t invited and entered my home without permission. Leave, or I’m calling them,” I warned.
