Page 17 of Sam
Aunt Maya finally turns up around two-thirty, and I’m relieved. I was starting to get worried that she wouldn’t make the three o’clock deadline.
I finished work and am shutting down my computer when the door buzzes. Looking at the monitor, I see Aunt Maya and my sister Emy on the screen. Pressing the buzzer, I let them in, smiling as my sister throws her arms around me. “Missed you, Ally,” she beams at me.
“Hi, little sister. I missed you too, thanks for coming with your mum for a visit,” I tell her, hugging her tight and blowing a raspberry on her cheek, making her squeal with laughter and push me away as she wipes at her cheek and pretends to scowl atme. At nearly thirteen, I make the most of teasing her because I know before long, she won’t want us messing around like this.
Maya smiles as she watches us. She has my leathers in one hand and a small bag in the other.
“I hope I got everything. Are you out tonight?” she asks curiously. “You know your uncles will want to know.”
“I’m not sure yet,” I tell her truthfully before explaining, “Sam’s taking me for a ride this afternoon, and I’m considering seeing if Ellie would mind if I spent the night at the Manor with her rather than driving home.”
“Okay,” Maya nods, hesitating a touch, and I can see she wants to say something. It’s not what she says next because she still looks a little worried after she tells me, “Let us know what you’ll be doing so that nobody worries and sends out the cavalry.”
“What’s wrong, Aunt Maya?”
She bites her lip, and her eyes flit to Emy. As usual, she’s got her nose stuck in a book, totally engrossed and not paying the least bit of attention to us. Not that I’m surprised; my little sister is a bookworm.
“It’s just,” Aunt Maya starts, then stops, muttering something that I don’t catch under her breath. I’m amused. It’s not often that any of my aunts hold back if they think you need to know something. She must come to a decision because she looks at me, and I can read the concern on her face when she warns, “It’s just, Sam Crow is lovely, and I know he’s a good man, but he was also in love with another woman not even a year ago. One he’s been in love with most of his life. I don’t want to see you hurt. You’ve been hurt enough. I want you to be careful. I’m not sure we’ll be able to hold the O’Sheas back if he hurts you.”
Wrapping my arms around my aunt, I once again realise how lucky I am in the family I’ve found myself in. “Love you, Aunt Maya.” Gripping her shoulders, I lean back slightly and tell her, “You’re not telling me anything I haven’t said to myself. The thing is, I feel safe with him, and for now, we’re friends. If it evolves from there, I guess I’ll deal with it then. I’m going into this with my eyes wide open, and I’m guarding my heart, but it’s hard to do that when he makes me feel safe and beautiful all at the same time.”
Aunt Maya’s gaze softens as she looks at me. Cupping my cheek, she tells me, “You are beautiful, baby. I’ll keep the faith for you, lovely. I’m glad to see you looking more like your old self. Whatever happens, know that you have a family that loves you.
“Now,” she steps back, “go get dressed and enjoy the ride. I’ll wait to hear from you about where you’re staying tonight.”
“Thank you,” I tell her and wave goodbye after she calls Emy to her and they leave.
Grabbing up my leathers, I hurry to the bathroom and get dressed. I plait my long hair that’s now so long it hits the top of my thighs when it hangs loose. I wonder if I should have it cut. The last time was just before the attack, which is why it’s so long. Those first few months, it was hard enough getting out of bed, never mind worrying about my hair. I’ll make an appointment for next week at Bren’s spa.
I’m ready and waiting for Sam when he walks in from outside, and I can’t help the thrill that runs through me when I notice the look he gives me when he sees me in my leathers. I’m not sure what the look is, but I know for certain it’s not a look a man gives a woman that he has no interest in. After my pep talk earlier, I’d decided to take this one step at a time and see what happens.
For now, I’m going to grab life by the horns. Nearly dying has you realising that life’s a fleeting and fragile thing. I’m going to start by enjoying a ride on the back of a hot boy’s bike. What more could a girl like me want?
It doesn’t take us long to get going. I tuck myself behind Sam, wrapping my arms around him and relax into the ride, surrounded by his closest friends.
With a smile gracing my face and happiness in my heart, I realise that for the first time in what feels like forever, I’m living, and it’s a good feeling to have.
CHAPTER 11
SAM
I’d thought it would be awkward having Ally on my bike. Instead, it had been fucking amazing. I’d loved feeling her weight pressing into me and the way she moved as one with me. It was as if she’d been made just for me. Neither the brothers nor the sisters who had accompanied us for the ride made a big deal of Ally being on the back of my bike. I was never so grateful to have the support system that I had with them.
Instead, they’d welcomed her. It wasn’t as if she was a stranger to any of them, but her dynamic in her friendship with everyone had changed the minute she’d agreed to get on the back of my bike.
I’m not sure she realised that, and I wasn’t going to bring it up. Not yet. It was early days, and she was still healing. Plus, I was uncertain enough about our relationship. Maybe I wasn’t reading her correctly. I didn’t have much faith in myself when it came to understanding women. Not after the shitshow of my last relationship, if I could even call it that.
Was I reading too much into how eager and happy she was to go for a ride? I didn’t want to get it wrong. It could be that she was only grateful for the safety and comfort I’d offered.
‘Fuck’s sake,’I was sick of second-guessing myself. I hadn’t realised quite what a hit my confidence had taken.
For the moment, I was happy as long as she was in my company. I was going to enjoy the ride with a pretty girl on the back of my bike and not rush into anything. That’s what my head was saying. My heart, on the other hand, was forging ahead a hundred miles a minute.
Nope, I wasn’t rushing this. I’d be patient. She was worth being patient for.
We spent two hours riding before we made a loop back to the village and ended the ride outside the café. We met here every Friday evening for supper, just the younger generation. Sometimes, we’d go to the pub, and other times we’d make plans to hit one of the O’Shea nightclubs, but tonight everyone was in a chill mood, and after we’d eaten, we all called it a night. Some were working tomorrow, and others didn’t feel like going out. Booker had the night off from the pub, and he didn’t feel like socialising at his place of work.
Ally and I wave them goodbye when they take off towards the mansion. Once their taillights have disappeared, I turn to Ally, who is looking relaxed. Her lips curve upward. She’s so fucking beautiful. I’m not sure how I’ve been so blind to it these last years. Yep, my heart’s on board and my head’s catching up to whatever this is. I wasn’t imagining that she enjoys being with me.
