Page 53 of Scoop Me Up
I chuckled self-consciously and nodded, ducking my head so she wouldn’t see the color I knew was growing on my cheeks. “Especially Sam.”
“Glad to hear it. I’ve always wanted to see Sam happy. And now they are.”
My breath caught in my throat as I made eye contact again. “What’s changed?”
Her smile was back. “I think you know what’s changed. We’re all glad to see it. Every last one of us. The whole town’s rooting for you, as long as you don’t do anything stupid like run back to the city.”
A little laugh escaped me and I shifted uncomfortably on my stool. “I still live there. I have work there.”
“You’ve been working here for weeks now. I think you can manage.” She paused for a moment and I thought the conversation was over, until she continued. “Listen, can I give you a little advice?” When I nodded, she kept talking. “Don’t ignore what’s right in front of you. Life’s too short.”
I nodded. “It is.”
“One more thing. Sam… they do a lot for this town. Volunteering during festivals, helping people when they need it, and doing it all with a smile. They’ve always wanted someone to call their own. You’d be lucky to have them.”
I swallowed hard, the truth of her words hitting me. “I know I would. I promise to do right by them, as much as I can.”
Ingrid smiled and tapped the countertop. “Enjoy your lunch. Let me know if you need anything else.”
My burger and milkshake were great, but as I ate and walked back to Sam’s, I felt like everyone in town was watching me, waiting to see what my next move was. As the day wore on, more and more I felt like I needed to make a decision—and also, that the decision had already been made. I wanted to be with Sam, no matter what that entailed.
I picked Ellie up from school that day, giving Sam a quick nod and a wave, and we went to the park in the town square to let her play for a while. As we walked to the park, Ellie hummed and skipped along. We reached the park a few minutes later and Ellie asked if I’d push her on the swings.
“Of course. Let’s do it.” I followed her to the swing set as she hopped on and began to kick her little legs. “How was school today?” I asked once I’d started pushing.
“Good.” Her tone was so matter of fact, like there was no other optionbutgood. “Adelaide’s daddy is getting married.”
“Oh?”
“Yep. Daddy, areyougoing to get married?”
I coughed in surprise. “What makes you ask that, Bug?”
She shrugged and kept kicking as she swung. “I don’t know. Adelaide said her daddy had a boyfriend who lives at her house and now they’re getting married. Are you and Mix getting married? You live at their house.”
My chest tightened. It hadn’t occurred to me that she’d interpret it that way. “You have to be in love to get married, Baby.”
“I love Mix. Don’t you?”
“Oh, Bug. Mix and I are friends.” Lying felt wrong, but I knew she wouldn’t be able to understand the scope of the situation.
“Well, I hope you marry them anyway.”
My heart ached at her innocent way of looking at things. I kept pushing her on the swing, lost in my own thoughts for a while.What if?I thought.What if Idostay? What’s going to happen?The truth was right in front of me. I had a little girl who was thriving in Maplewood, a person I really cared for, and I’d just turned down a job offer. The only thing holding me back was my apartment in Burlington and giving that up wouldn’t be too difficult. I’d made my decision. I was staying in Maplewood.
Late that evening, after I’d taken Ellie back to Jennifer’s in time for dinner and a movie on the couch, I made my way to Sam’s house again, to find them sitting on the front porch, looking up at the stars, a bottle of beer on the step next to them.
“Hey,” I murmured. “Mind if I sit?”
Sam shook their head and moved their bottle. “Be my guest.”
As I sat, I closed my eyes, taking it all in, inhaling the clean air, listening to the distant chirps of bugs, enjoying the closeness I felt to Sam in the moment. Sam was smiling at me when I opened my eyes and made eye contact. “What are you doing out here?” I asked.
They shrugged and took a sip of their beer. “Just enjoying the evening,” they said, looking back up to the sky.
I couldn’t tear my eyes off of them. My heart was so full and it was all I could do not to blurt it out right then.Sam, I think I’m falling for you.I shook my head at myself.Scratch that—IknowI am.I wanted to say it. I wanted to say more.I don’t know where this is going, but I want to follow it. Maybe forever.
Eventually, Sam looked back at me and chuckled. “What’s that look for?”
