Page 40 of Always Love You More

I think about how her brother brought her with him that first day I met her. How she had to stay at the garage for hours.

I nod. “Makes sense.”

When we come up to the park, the guys start hollering at us. Billy races over to them, but I stay next to Sam.

Everyone is gathered around a picnic table. Some of them are sitting on top of it, while a few groups stand around. They all watch Billy approach, but one of the girls breaks away and starts toward him. It’s Madison, the blonde he was hanging around with at school.

“Is that Billy’s girlfriend?” Sam asks, watching the girl stop in front of him.

I shake my head. “Billy doesn’t do girlfriends.”

She glances over at me with a look that says,Do you?

I keep talking, just to fill the space, suddenly feeling restless. “She’s turned into a real cling-on.”

“A cling-on?”

“Girls know what they’re getting with him. He never promises them anything.” I look over at where they’re standing. “Some of them can’t take a hint.”

I expect her to think that’s harsh, but she only nods. “I’ve heard some girls talk about him,” she admits.

Has she heard people talk about me?

She seems to know that’s what I’m thinking because she continues on quickly. “They act like he’s a thing.”

I tilt my head. “What do you mean,a thing?”

“Like he’s not even a person.” She watches Billy with Madison. “But maybe that’s what he wants.”

We reach the table, and the conversation stops. Everyone glances from me to Sam, their eyes lingering on her. The way some of the guys are staring makes me tense, but I have no claim over her. Still, I take a step closer to her side.

As much as it pisses me off, I’m not surprised by their reactions. Sam’s the kind of pretty that you can’t help but notice. It’s not just on the surface, either; she’s got this way about her, this confidence, that you just … I don’t know … get pulled in by.

“Who’s this?” Mason asks.

“I’m Sam.” She pauses. Then, like she needs to offer more of an explanation, she adds, “I work at their garage.”

“Do you go to Lincoln? I’ve never seen you before.”

I watch his eyes trail her body, and I have to fight to stand still.

“I’d definitely remember if I had.”

“Yeah,” she answers. “I’ll be a sophomore this year.”

He watches her with interest. “Well, hope I see you around.”

Did he not see me coming over with her? Carrying her bag? Standing right by her fucking side?

I move even closer and lean down so just she can hear me. “Want a drink?”

“Sure,” she says.

I lead her over to a cooler. There are a few sodas and a couple cans of beer floating around in melted ice. She reads the question on my face and answers, “I’ll take a beer.”

I hand her one and grab a soda for myself. She cracks it open, the can hissing before she takes a sip.

“We can stay over here if you’d rather,” I tell her.