Page 107 of Always Love You More

I watch as she brings the cigarette back up to her lips, taking another drag.

“You guys ready to go?” Billy asks, his words filled with anticipation. “How fast does she go, anyway?”

Johnny looks between Billy and me. “You’re not gonna find out tonight.” He points at Sam. “Not with her in the car.” He raises a brow. “Are you?”

I shake my head as Billy mutters, “Buzzkill.”

Johnny levels me with a hard stare. “Are you okay to drive?”

“Just had one drink,” I assure him. “I’m good.”

“Can you cover for me if you need to?” Sam asks. “We might be a while.”

“Bug …” Johnny starts.

“Come on,” she pleads. “It’s Jameson’s birthday.”

“I don’t—”

“It’s Friday,” she pushes. “And I’ve been good. Come on.”

“Fine.”

“Wait, really?”

He nods. “Yeah, really. Just don’t … you know, do anything I wouldn’t do.”

“You mean, there are things you wouldn’t do?” she teases.

Johnny rolls his eyes. “Smartass.”

“So, can we go now?”

“Yeah, yeah,” Johnny says. “Go ahead.”

Billy walks off to tell Luke that we’re leaving, and I go tell my old man before we meet Sam back at the car.

I drop the front seat for Billy, setting the jacket Luke gave me in the back. “Get in.”

He folds himself into the back, and I right the seat, stepping away so Sam can sit.

She tilts her head. “Hmm.”

“What?”

“Just didn’t know you were such a gentleman.”

“Oh, fuck off.”

“Don’t worry,” she leans in conspiratorially, lowering her voice, “I won’t tell anyone.” She slides into her seat slowly, like she wants me to watch. So, I do.

I trace her legs all the way up to the tiny skirt she’s wearing and suddenly wish Billy wasn’t in the back seat.

She tsks. “That’s not the way a gentleman is supposed to look at a lady.”

“Then good thing you’re not a lady,” I say, my voice low.

She laughs. “And thank fuck you’re not actually a gentleman.”