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“We’re always going to be in each other’s lives, Sam. Especially now that we’ve got you to hold us together. All I’m doing is taking a step into a different field. I’ve lived with barely controlled chaos and danger for so long. I just can’t do it anymore. I want peace and quiet for a change.”
“What about you and Kris? Are you two going to be okay? I’ve never seen you guys argue like that.”
“I’m sorry you were there to see it,” I murmured against her forehead. “I’ll talk to him in the morning and apologize. I got a little heated there, but I can see where he’s coming from now that I’ve calmed down. He was right. Taking unnecessary risks at a time like this wasn’t the smartest decision we’ve ever made.”
Sam kissed the tip of my nose. “I just want to make sure you’re not angry at each other. I can’t stand the thought of you fighting.”
“We have disagreements sometimes, Sam. It happens. We always work it out eventually, though, you have nothing to worry about.”
She exhaled, settling in the crook of my shoulder. “I’m glad. I think I’ll talk to Kris tomorrow, too. Make sure that we’re okay.”
“I’m sure you are. I think one of the reasons Kris reacted the way he did was because he didn’t want anything to happen to you. He adores you too much. Kris doesn’t like it when things happen and he’s not there to step in. He trusts us to take care of you, but he’s always been a hands-on kind of guy. He hates missing out.”
“I see.” She sounded hesitant, unsure.
“Sam?”
“Hm?”
“Get some rest, sugar. No point in dwelling on it.”
She kissed me tenderly on the lips. “Okay. Goodnight, handsome.”
“Goodnight, Sam.”
It was easy drifting off with her warm body next to me, like hugging a warm cloud on a summer’s day. She fell asleep before I did, offering me the sound of the faintest, cutest little snores. I loved the soft curl of her hair and the silhouette of her shoulders. I loved how safe I felt when I was with her, like I could tell her all my secrets and know that she’d never once judge me for the truth. I loved that when I was with Sam, I could see my future so much more clearly. I wasn’t afraid to tackle the unknown knowing she’d be there supporting me every step of the way.
“I love you,” I murmured against the back of her shoulder, closing my eyes to finally go to sleep.
“I love you too,” she whispered back sleepily, hugging my arms that much tighter around her.
27
Sam
Iwoke up around three in the morning. I wasn’t sure if it was because my brain had tried and failed to relax, or because I was a very light sleeper and the slightest sound roused me from slumber.
I carefully slipped out of Charlie’s arms and tread quietly out into the hall, allowing my eyes the time to adjust to the dim light coming from the kitchen area. I could hear the faint click clacking of a keyboard. I wasn’t at all surprised to see Kris seated at the kitchen island, still working away well into the night.
He looked, in a word, exhausted. There were dark circles under his eyes, his hair a tousled mess. What he was still doing up at this ungodly hour was anyone’s guess. I expected him to be doing last-minute prep for the gala tomorrow evening, but instead found him scrolling through some random school’s homepage.
“Shouldn’t you be in bed?” Kris asked me, not taking his eyes off the screen.
“How’d you know it was me?”
“Your footsteps.”
“My footsteps?” I echoed, amused. I made my way over and sat down on the bar stool next to him. He smelled so nice, and his skin was so warm. I leaned my cheek against his shoulder tiredly, my way of testing the waters. He didn’t pull away and even kissed my temple, so I knew he’d calmed down significantly from earlier.
“The guys sound like elephants when they walk,” he explained. The low murmur of his voice was comforting, a low vibration in my ear. “Stomping around like they’re trying to wake our downstairs neighbors. But you are quite the opposite.”
“Like a mouse?”
Kris nodded.
I continued to lean up against him, watching him scroll through the school’s website. It looked like an impressive place. There were pictures of the building ? very modern, clean and bright ? as well as pictures of the students, all in uniform, going about their classes with a smile.
“What’s all this?” I asked.
