Page 116 of Easy Steal

He would do it.

For me.

I leaned in and wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him close and pressing my forehead to his. I exhaled deeply and felt the stress melt away as I closed my eyes and leaned into him.

“I can’t believe you did this.”

“Of course I did,” he said against my cheek.

His hand met the small of my back, his thumb stroking softly.

“You’ve absolutely stole my heart, Livie,” he breathed.

I chuckled, pecking him on the cheek and leaning back to look at him.

“Easy steal,” I shrugged.

He bit the inside of his lip and stifled his laugh, before shaking his head and pushing me away. He threw the car back into gear and swung around, launching down the road and heading back into the city. I leaned back in my seat, drawing my legs up under me and letting out a deep breath.

Everything that had happened, everything that I had gone through, had led to this.

Finally.

After never thinking that I would experience it - I was content.

***

We had take-out on the couch for dinner after we spent the rest of the day setting up the new shop. Sam turned the TV off after watching me play with the piece of paper in my hand for minutes.

He let me talk for an hour, rambling on about the pros and cons of ringing my mother. He never offered an opinion, or told me what to do - he just listened.

“So,” he said, throwing the remote onto the coffee table in front of us, “what have you decided?”

I shrugged.

He gave me a small smile and a nod.

I looked up at him and he sighed, grabbing my phone off of the table, and handing it to me.

I looked at it for a second, and bit my lip. I looked up at him again, and he nodded - and so did I.

Taking it from his hands, I stood and paced the living room. I let out a deep breath before I dialled the number that I had already half memorised from staring at it for so long.

Sam stood, and took the plates and rubbish to the kitchen, tidying up and giving me space.

I took deep breaths as the phone rang.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

I craned my neck and looked to the ceiling before pressing my eyes shut as it rang for the fourth time.

“Hello?” a voice said on the other end.

“Uh-” I choked, spinning around and searching for Sam.

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