Page 2 of A Montana Fake Marriage

“I’d rathernotget a concussion.”

They entered the cafeteria and together got their food. She was probably right. Somehow, most of the people in their social circle and some outside of it knew just how close they were and just how unromantic the relationship was. Sitting across from her at a table while they ate, he smiled. He couldn’t ask for a better friend. If he’d ever needed anything, she was there—she’d drop everything to be there for him. And he’d do the same.

Beside him,Sammie screamed. She jumped up out of her seat, her hands to her mouth. “Go, Josh!”

Caleb smirked at the energy she put into the games. Southern girl through and through. He’d loved her accent from the first moment she spoke. It made him feel comforted and like they’d been friends even before they met, which was ironic due to their differing backgrounds.

A girl with a trust fund and access to anything she could ever dream up, and a cowboy who was raised to understand how valuable a good coupon could be. She was definitely spoiled, but she didn’t rub it in anyone’s face. The only thing that showcased just how different she was was in her lack of budgeting. Anytime they went out, all she had to do was pull out Daddy’s credit card.

She turned her bright smile to him. One day soon, she’d go off and marry some rich dude, and he’d go back to Montana to help his family. He’d miss her.

Sammie dropped down on the bleachers with him and bumped her shoulder into his. “Thanks for coming with me. My roommates think I’m just boy crazy.”

Caleb chuckled. “I would tend to agree.”

She gasped. “How dare you?”

He laughed again and turned his attention to the game. Football was okay. He’d been to his share of nailbiters, but it wasn’t where his heart was. Real entertainment came from watching a guy riding a bull and holding on for dear life. It came in the form of seeing how fast a cowboy could wrangle the calf. There were events that were more dangerous and more exhilarating than football, in his humble opinion. He was careful not to say this too loud in the south. Football was in just about everyone’s blood down here. He had to admit he liked their dedication to their college sports.

Sammie startled and pulled her phone from her pocket. She plugged one ear, and her brows pinched. “Hello? Dad?”

Caleb glanced over her at the exact moment the color fled from her face. The phone slipped from her hands and clattered to their feet. He scooped it up, but when he turned to face her, his heart stopped.

Her lips trembled, and she stared at nothing.

He lifted the phone to his ear, barely able to hear the voice on the other end.

“Sarah Ann? Sarah Ann, are you there?”

“Hello?”

“Hello? Who is this?” Sammie’s father demanded. “Where’s Sarah Ann?”

Caleb’s eyes cut to his best friend, and that sinking feeling inside him grew heavy. “She’s here. I don’t know if she can talk right now.”

Her father let out a curse. “Will you tell her she needs to call me back? We have to make plans for the funeral.”

“The…” Caleb’s eyes narrowed, and his throat went dry. “The funeral?”

Sammie’s father sighed, impatience and sadness lacing his tone. “Her mother just passed away. Look, I’m at the hospital right now. I can’t deal with this. Just tell her to call me back so she can get the details.”

The ringing in Caleb’s ears made it impossible to hear the rest of what he had to say. Sammie had never been close to her father. She didn’t mention much about him besides that she never lived up to his expectations. She adored her mother, though. And now her mother was gone.

Caleb registered the sound of the phone call ending, and he shoved the phone into his pocket with shaking hands. “Sammie?” he whispered.

Her eyes cut to his, red. Tears streamed down her face.

“Do you want me to take you home?”

She didn’t answer. Her body looked limp, like she wouldn’t be able to get to her feet even if she wanted to.

“Come on.” He slipped his arm around her back and placed hers over his shoulder. “I’ll take you home.”

She didn’t argue, but by the time they’d headed down the steps of the bleachers and made it to the parking lot, she was sobbing. When they got to his truck, she turned her face into his chest and clutched at the fabric of his shirt.

Her body shook with uncontrollable sobs, and all he could do was wrap his arms around her and hold her close. He let her cry like that, letting time slip away. Her mother was gone. The one person she talked about with a smile on her face—the one advocate she had at home. Based on the way her father spoke to Caleb on the phone, he could tell why Sammie didn’t talk about him much.

The guy was cold. Then again, he’d just lost his wife. He was grieving. They both were. At least Caleb was here to ease some of the ache in whatever way he could. His arms tightened around her, and he knew he couldn’t just drop her off at her dorm.

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