Page 70 of Save Me

I look at her again, her deep brown eyes alight with concern as she fidgets nervously.

“I think we need to talk,” I say, pushing the door open further and ushering her inside.

Sam follows me through the house to the kitchen, where I smell coffee brewing. My stomach twists in knots, both at the idea of asking her about Bryce, not sure I want to hear what she has to say, and the thought of Jax and Ryan grilling her about everything.

We enter the kitchen, and the first thing I see is Ryan leaning against the counter, a calculated look on his face as he gives Sam a once-over and me a look that saysgood luck.

I turn from him, and my eyes immediately find Jax, sitting at the head of the table, the air around him charged with an energy that sends a shiver down my spine. Anger, not directed at me, radiates from him as he quietly assesses Sam. He looks at her as if he’s trying to decide if she’s a friend or a threat.

Sam follows behind me and Jax stands as we approach the table, and I walk up to him. He leans over to kiss me before I sit down in the chair to his right. Sam stays at the end of the table, shifting nervously as she looks between us, unsure of her place in this world, in our world together.

“Welcome to our home,” Jax says, his voice not unkind, but not remotely welcoming either.

“I… I just wanted to check on Evi,” Sam says quietly.

I’ve never seen her this nervous, this unsure, before. I look to Jax, wondering what his next move will be, wondering how exactly he plans to get to the bottom of everything.

“It seems like we have a lot to talk about. Sit.” He motions to the chair opposite me as he takes a deep breath, reining in his anger. “Would you like a coffee? Tea?”

“I’m fine, but what’s this all about?” She looks at me. “We were fine, you were fine, and suddenly you bolt from my house.”

“I didn’t expect to see him in your family photo… Bryce.” I stumble over my words as my hands fidget nervously in front of me. “I didn’t know Bryce was your brother. I didn’t know your brother died.” I contain my emotions as best as I can, but thesorrow is audible in my tone. Jax’s hand comes to rest on mine as if reassuring me and comforting me simultaneously.

“Died?” Sam asks with confusion as she looks between us. “He didn’t die.”

She picks up her phone, texting quickly before I even have a chance to think of what to say next, of how to explain this to her.

A second later her phone chimes and she holds it up for me to see. “He’s very much alive. He just texted me back. Evi, what is this all about?”

I take a deep breath. “Bryce was there,” I say quietly.

She gives me a look and I continue, “Bryce was at Rhett’s. He stayed in the boathouse with me most of the time, making sure I didn’t leave. He caught me when I tried to escape and brought me back.”

She’s shaking her head no before I can finish my sentence.

“No, what? It can’t be… I know I said he used to get into trouble, but not like this… never like this… he wouldn’t.He couldn’t.He’s not a bad person. Maybe it was just someone who looks like him?” She sputters, looking between Jax and myself.

“How do you know he wouldn’t do something like this if you don’t know him well?” I look at Jax before looking back to Sam. “You always say you weren’t close with your siblings growing up, and that you’re not close with them now. How do you know what he gets up to?”

“Did he say anything Sam? Did he tell you he was going away for a while or seem suspicious at all?” Jax asks.

“I might not be best friends with Lockwood—Bryce—but I’ve known him myentirelife… he’s friendly, kind, and helpful. Someone I know wouldn’t be involved in this… mybrotherwouldn’t be involved in this,” she says, looking between the three of us in shock.

“Sometimes the people we love turn out to be the people who disappoint us the most,” Ryan says quietly.

Sam’s eyes dart to his, taking him in for a moment before she continues, “We may never have been close, but if he was involved in this—and I really hope this is just some huge mistake—then I don’t know anything about it. I could never know someone was involved in hurting you and not say something, not do something to help you, Evi.” She looks at me with tears in her eyes. “Besides the time I went out partying with him, which was the first and last time, I only see him at family dinners, and yes, I saw him at Thanksgiving, and he was the same as he always is—eager to leave as soon as the formalities were over. That’s how it’s been since I moved out years ago. If you think he was involved you need to talk to him.”

Her features crumple as she looks at me, wiping tears from her eyes.

“Let’s just invite him over for a cup of coffee, I’m sure he’d just love to sit down for a chat,” Ryan says, sarcasm dripping from his voice.

Sam glares at him as I shoot him a look that saysplay nice.

“Or we keep something of his until he comes and gets it,” Jax says quietly, the fire behind his eyes dancing.

“Like what?” Sam asks.

“You.”

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