Page 65 of This Loving Feeling (Mirror Lake)

“No, it’s an exercise. It helps you examine your priorities.”

“I don’t make decisions based on one hour of great sex.”

“Well, maybe you should.”

“And maybeyoushouldn’t.” Jess’s face fell a little.Oh, nuts. “I’m sorry,” Sam said. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

“Fine, maybe I deserved that. I never said I wasn’t screwed up.”

“I just see you keep searching for a guy like Trevor—beefy, good-looking, super athletic—and for the most part, you find guys exactly like him. Including the asshole factor. Maybe it’s time to pick someone a little different for a change.”

“When Trevor broke up with me, I was devastated. But guess what, I didn’t break. I didn’t die. I survived and I’ll never stop taking the chance. I keep hoping I’m going to find a guy who’s the whole package, you know? Someone smart and kind and good-looking who worries more about me than himself. And I know he’s out there, Sam. I just know it because I’m not a quitter. I’d rather take the chance and fail than settle for someone who doesn’t fit. And so should you.”

“It’s too risky to want a man whose day job involves being surrounded by beautiful screaming women. Come August, he’ll be off to travel the world and become an even huger success.” He was also a man who carried her a mile through the woods because she couldn’t walk. Who promised to stop by this afternoon to check on her.

“You used to take risks, remember?”

“That was when I was young and stupid.”

“No, that was before you got hurt by the bullying. And before Kevin died and you decided to never rock the boat again. But Sam, you get a second chance to get it right—how many people get that? You deserve more than a lukewarm life. No pun intended.”

Just then there was a knock on the glass doors that led out to the deck. Lukas and Stevie stood on the other side waving. Lukas opened the door and Stevie bolted into the room, carrying something behind his back.

“Hi Stevie,” Jess said as Stevie tore by. “And Studly. Oops, I mean Spike.”

“It’s Lukas,” he said, deadpan-seriously.

Stevie ran to Sam and hurled himself down next to her on the couch. He smelled like a warm spring day plus a coating of dirt.

“Hi, babe,” Sam said, scooching over as much as she could with the Aircast and giving him a kiss on top of his head.

“Does it hurt?” he asked, wide-eyed, pointing at her foot.

“Just a little. It’s going to be fine in a couple of weeks. It’s not broken or anything.”

He shoved a bouquet of cornflowers and dandelions at her. “We went and picked these for you.”

She glanced up at Lukas, who turned a peculiar shade of red.

“Well, Stevie did,” he mumbled.

“No, Uncle Lukas, you’re the one who drove us to Effie’s old garden and helped me pick ’em. Aunt Alex told us they were weeds but they’re pretty anyway.”

“Busted,” Jess said with a grin. “Well, little family, I’ve got to be going. See you around, Lukas. Bye, Stavros baby.” She hugged Stevie and as she passed behind Lukas, she waggled her eyebrows from behind his broad shoulders. “Bye, Sam.”

“Thanks for the wine,” Sam said. She turned to the boys. Funny, she almost thought of them asherboys. That was scary. “Thank you for the flowers. I love them,” she said, hugging Stevie. She tried to catch Lukas’s eye but he was very busy studying his feet. Or something. “So, did you take all your stuff to your new house?”

“Yep. Can I tell you a secret?” Stevie asked with a covert grin.

He stood up and walked around to the end of the couch and leaned over so he could whisper in Sam’s ear. “I wish we could stay here with you.”

Something cracked in her chest. Oh heck, it must’ve been her heart. She drew Stevie close and patted his back. “Hey, you’re going to love your new place. And I get to do your room, remember? Black with flames?”

“Okay, Bud, we’d better head out,” Lukas said. “Sam, can I get you anything before we go?”

“You know, I’d love a glass of water. Thanks, Lukas.”

“So how’s Bobby doing,” Stevie said, copping a feel of the satiny corners of his blanket between his thumb and forefinger.

---