AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Sorry,” he explained. “I forgot to bring my clothes in with me and the robe is with you. I’ll just… grab a few things. Sorry.”
He quickly grabbed some clothes before rushing back into the bathroom. Samantha pulled the blankets over her head and tried not to die of embarrassment. She had definitely been caught ogling. She had buried her husband the day before and woke up half naked in his brother’s bed the following morning. Something had to be wrong with her.
She jumped out of bed and threw her clothes on before he could come back out of the bathroom. If he caught her undressed, it would be the end of her. Since the numbness of grief was beginning to fade away, and the unease of her difficult marriage was no longer lingering in the background, every emotion felt amplified. She couldn’t remember the last time she felt so awkward and unsure of herself.
The sound of his voice made her jump a few minutes later. “I have aspirin if you need it. You were pretty tipsy last night.”
“I think I was pretty far past tipsy,” she admitted. “Thanks for refusing to let me leave like that.”
“Well, I didn’t want to say it,” he said with a laugh.
“Nothing… um… happened…?”
The humor left his eyes and was replaced by what appeared to be hurt. He ran a hand through his nearly dry hair and cleared his throat before answering. “Just because my brother didn’t respect you doesn’t mean I don’t.”
She gasped in surprise, feeling like she had been slapped by his words.
“I’m sorry,” he said quickly. “I shouldn’t have said that. Of course nothing happened. Did I do or say something that made you uncomfortable? Something that would make you think that?”
“No,” she stammered. “It’s just that… I was in your bed, and I’m only wearing your t-shirt. I don’t know. I’m sorry.”
He walked over to his suitcase and began packing things up. “Samantha, you don’t have anything to apologize for. But I would never do anything like that. If I touch you, it will be with your consent and when I know you’ll remember it.”
“Oh,” she breathed, ignoring the heat building between her thighs. “Okay. Well, I better get going. Tell Rayelle I said goodbye and thanks.”
She tried to gather her thoughts while she gathered her things. If he were to touch her. Those words shouldn’t have made her instantly imagine him touching her, but she did. And she didn’t hate it.
“What is wrong with me,” she muttered to herself.
“You say something?” Bryce asked.
“What? No,” she answered quickly.
Her phone started ringing as she picked it up. A number she didn’t recognize appeared on the screen as it continued to vibrate. She shrugged an apology to Bryce and moved over to the window to take the call. She wasn’t expecting it to be anyone important, but she felt weird talking on the phone in front of Bryce. The awkwardness just kept getting worse.
“Hello,” she answered.
“Samantha Tate?” a woman’s voice asked.
“Yes?”
“This is Keira Swinton. The musical director for Rent. We would like you to come for a second audition tomorrow afternoon at two.”
“I made call-backs? When I didn’t hear anything… I’m sorry. Yes. I will be there. Thank you.”
“Thank you,” the woman said before the phone beeped, signaling the end of the call.
When she turned around, Bryce was watching her with a small smile. “Good news?”
“I have a second audition. Tomorrow afternoon. I can’t believe it,” she said the last part to herself.
“That’s great!”
Before she realized what was happening, he was pulling her into a hug and swinging her around. Laughing, she held on tight until he righted her in front of him again. She straightened her shirt and looked up to see Rayelle leaning against the counter watching them with a small smile of her own.
“I got called back to do a second audition for Rent,” Samantha explained.
It was Rayelle’s turn to join in the celebration. She, too, pulled her into a hug. “Congratulations, girl! You better get me tickets once it opens.”
