Page 46 of Out to Get Her
It had been a plane crash, only Erin’s parents weren’t in the plane. They’d been in the parking lot of a local bakery, picking up Erin’s birthday cake. Erin was at school, but she’d heard the crash along with everyone else.
Samantha remembered hearing that tiny plane fly over before it lost control, tried to land in a nearby field, then crashed straight into her parents’ car. The plane broke into several pieces, and the explosion ignited the smashed car with her parents in it. Everyone on board the plane died as well as Erin’s parents, and a few bystanders were hospitalized with injuries and burns. It was a fluke. An accident that no one could have predicted. A monumental event of wrong place at the wrong time.
From that moment on, Erin lived with her grandfather. He did his best and loved her as much as he could in her parents’ place. As far as Samantha could tell, he’d done an amazing job. Especially considering how that accident must have traumatized Erin.
The town, however, didn’t have a clue what to do with Erin.
Some, like Addie, went hard on her, feeling that Erin needed the firm guiding voice her parents could no longer provide.
Some doted on her, giving her whatever she wanted. Denying her nothing. This mostly came in the form of casual friends, people with spare pills, weed, or beer. Sometimes it came from girlfriends who gave and gave while Erin took until they had nothing left to give.
But most in town just ignored her. Stayed out of her way. Pretended she didn’t exist. Like whatever curse she had might be catching. Samantha always figured those responses had to sting the most. Or at least do the most damage.
And now she’d lost the one person who’d done right by her. Samantha’s heart could hardly bear it. How Erin was here, living and breathing through all of that loss, was a testament to the woman’s strength and resilience. Samantha wished she had a mere fraction of that.
“I’m sorry. I should go.” Erin stood abruptly and pushed her chair in. “I didn’t mean to barge in on your pity party with my own.”
“There’s plenty of room in this party for two.” She smiled sympathetically, but Erin headed backward toward the door, anyway. “Besides, you brought food, and I invited you in. That’s not barging. And you’ve got way more things to worry about than me and my failed campaign.”
Erin reached the door and held it open. She stood there for a second, then turned to face Samantha, who was now just inches away.
Samantha’s head was swirling as she gripped the side of the door for support.
“It’s a little more than that, and we both know it.” Erin looked deep into her eyes. “And it’s more than just caring about this town. That jerk messed with your head. You have a right to be upset. And it wasn’t the first time, I’m guessing?”
Samantha nodded, struggling to push down the lump forming in her throat. Struggling even more not to think of all the times he made her feel small. Weak. Incapable of being anything but less than.
Erin reached a hand up and placed it against the side of Samantha’s face. Her palm was cool—still cool from holding that bottle—against Samantha’s cheek. She held Samantha’s gaze with those bright blue eyes.
“You deserve so much better than that.” She inched closer, eliminating the space between them. “He never for one second deserved you.”
As the last word fell from her lips, Erin’s mouth brushed against Samantha’s. Fuzzy-headed and too tired to deny herself or think about what the responsible thing in this situation would be, Samantha leaned forward to press her mouth to Erin’s. She felt Erin smile against her, as pleased with this turn of events as Samantha. Her hand slid from Samantha’s cheek to wrap around behind her head, holding her close.
Samantha couldn’t remember the last time she’d kissed anyone. The last time she’dwantedto kiss someone this badly. The last time she’d felt wanted in return.
Every cell in her body radiated with heat. She wanted more. So much more. She wanted to pull Erin back inside the house and forget all about the rest of the day.
But Erin removed her mouth, then slid her fingers down a strand of Samantha’s hair. The gentle tug sent tingles through Samantha’s scalp and down her spine.
“I should go.” Erin’s voice was a husky whisper, her mouth still just inches away. Well within reach again.
Samantha tried not to take the statement as a rejection. She’d probably be the one to shut things down herself if she’d been completely sober.
But she wasn’t. And she didn’t want Erin to go.
She grazed her fingers down Erin’s arm until she reached her hand and squeezed it. “You don’t have to.”
Erin inhaled and rolled her eyes, a playful smile of frustration still on her face. “I don’t know what this town is doing to me. Or maybe it’s you rubbing off on me. But you’re not exactly in a state of mind for making clear decisions, so I’m going to make what I hope is a good, responsible choice and leave. Now. Before I change my mind.”
Samantha pouted in protest.
Pouted.
Jeez, she’d downed that beer quicker than she’d intended. Well, no, she’d drunk it exactly as fast as she’d intended. She’d just never intended for Erin to show up.
Erin gave another too-quick kiss, then took a step backward on the porch. “I’ll see you later.”
Samantha waved awkwardly, not sure what to do with her hands anymore. “Thanks for the food!”
