Page 136 of Always Love You More

Luke must know. He has to.

Pulling up in front of Billy’s house, I turn to face him. “It’s not any better?”

“Worse.”

“Fuck, man.” I shake my head. “I’m sorry.”

“It is what it is,” he answers, tapping Sam’s seat. She moves, dropping it down so Billy can climb out.

He runs inside, emerging a few minutes later in new clothes and an umbrella in hand.

It’s a quick drive to the garage, the car quiet without Billy’s incessant chatter. After dropping him off, I start for Sam’s house.

“We still going to the movies?” I ask.

We planned on a whole day tomorrow, bouncing between theaters. It’s the first Saturday we’ve both had off in I can’t remember how long.

“Course.” She nods. “You sure Billy can’t come, too?” she questions. “Maybe we should ask again or talk to Luke. He’s not …” She hesitates. “I think he could use a break.”

I drop my hand to her knee. “I’ll ask.”

“I hate seeing him like this,” she says quietly.

I trace slow circles against her skin. “Me, too.”

“You think his parents will split up?”

“Don’t know. They haven’t yet, so …”

I pull into her driveway, and she moves to take off my flannel.

I hold out a hand. “Keep it.”

She smiles, and I lean forward, tracing her bottom lip with my thumb.

“Come over after the fight,” she breathes.

I lower my hand, tilting her head back and bringing my lips to hers, dragging her bottom lip between my teeth. “It might be late.”

“Doesn’t matter,” she murmurs. “I’ll be up.”

I shift in my seat, clearing my throat. She smiles at me again, but this time it’s fucking devious.

“I’m obsessed with you,” I tell her without thought.

She laughs, and it only makes me want her more. “I know,” she says then slides out of the car.

Chapter 32

Sam

Ipushthefrontdoor open, even more drenched than I was when I got into Jameson’s car. I wrap his flannel around myself tightly as a shiver rakes through my body.

My father, unsurprisingly, is on the couch, his foot propped up in a boot from when he fucked up his ankle on a construction job. The only positive has been the steady disability check. Otherwise, it’s only given me more to do around the house.

He got off his crutches last week, so it’s been a little easier, but he still can’t drive.

“There you are,” he says as I walk into the room. “I need you to run to the store for me.”