Page 13 of Mud, Love, and Chemistry

“I don’t plan on looking at the gas station much.”

I whip my head up to find Sam staring at me, his brown eyes full of an intensity that shoots right to my core. My mouth goes dry. My brain can’t seem to form thoughts. Not coherent ones, anyway. “So, uh, your birthday is March 30th, huh? That’s Marie Curie’s birthday.”

“What are you, some kind of chemistry scholar?” Sam’s mouth ticks up on one side.

Something like that. “I’m impressed you know who she is, let alone that she’s a chemist.”

He shrugs nonchalantly. “When’s your birthday?”

“May 4th.”

Sitting up, he slaps his knee. “Like, as in, may the fourth be with you?”

“Ugh, yes.” I’m so tired of hearing that joke, but the fact that he understands the reference makes my heart soar. “Twenty-one I just turned,” I say in my best Yoda voice.

Sam throws his head back as he bursts into laughter. “That’s awesome.”

“Thanks.” I blush, pressing my lips together. “I’m still adjusting to drinking in public. It feels weird when I order alcohol sometimes.”

“Meh, that will go away. I turned twenty-two last March and I don’t give it a second thought now.” He gives me a sideways glance. “Do you want a drink, Brynn? I’ve got some cheap beers and an even cheaper bottle of tequila if you’re up for shots.”

I crinkle my nose.

“Or I have bottles of water, too.”

“A beer is fine with me.”

“Coming right up.” He winks before he gets up, and my stomach does that flip thing again.

When the slider door closes, I exhale. If ice cream didn’t do anything to cool me off, hopefully a beer will. My phone dings. I pull it out as Sam opens the door and I immediately cringe. “Shit.”

“What’s wrong?” he asks, handing me my beer.

“It’s Lisa. I told her I was coming back here to hang out, and she insisted I check in with her.”

“Is she one of those mother-bear type friends?”

I snicker as I shake my head. “No, usually the opposite.”

“So what is she freaking out about?” he asks before taking a sip of his beer.

“She wants the hotel name and your room number. Oh, and a picture of you.”

Sam frowns.

“For identification purposes. You know, in case I go missing.” I lift my phone and shrug a shoulder, giving Sam a pleading look.

He rolls those dark brown eyes, but they settle on me with an intense gaze. Shifting his position in his chair, Sam angles his face and gives me the sexiest smirk I’ve ever seen. My mouth runs dry as I drink him in. His strong jaw line curves perfectly as his curls frame his face, and I feel like I’m gawking at a work of art.

“Um, Brynn? You going to take the picture?”

My lungs begin to work again, and I choke on my breath. “Yeah, sorry,” I manage to say. With a click of the button, I take the picture and send all the info to Lisa. My phone almost immediately dings with a response. As I read Lisa’s message, I feel my cheeks getting red.

LISA: Ooh, girl, you better hit that tonight!

“What did she say?”

I whip my head up, wide-eyed and head shaking. “Nothing.” Tucking the phone away, I open my beer and take a big drink. Now I know my cheeks are red. I take another huge gulp.

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