Page 116 of The Love You Fight For
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I bury my face into his neck, breathing deeply, as his arms wrap around me.
“Hey.” He chuckles, pressing a soft kiss to my head. “Are you happy to see me?”
I nod. Then I laugh. I close my eyes and fight back the tears.
“Why are you here?” I ask, pulling back to look up into his grinning face.
He traces his knuckle gently over my cheekbone before sliding his hand to the back of my neck. I lean into him and gaze into his beautiful brown eyes.
“I couldn’t let you do this alone, princess. Your battles are my battles now. I’m fighting with you.”
My eyes fall shut as my heart aches and swells. My stomach erupts with butterflies. He’s perfect. I don’t deserve him. I don’t deserve him, but I love him, and I’m selfish.
“Thank you.” I open my eyes and meet his once more. “I didn’t know how much I needed you here until I saw you.”
His smile stretches wider, all warm and charming and adorably happy.
“Well, I’m here now, and I don’t plan on leaving until you do.”
I press my thumb to his lower lip.
“I want to kiss you, but I can’t mess up my power red.” I gesture to the lipstick on my mouth, and he laughs.
“I’ll take an IOU, princess.” He makes me laugh too before my smile falls.
I sigh.
“Things are probably going to get pretty fucked up soon,” I warn him, and he nods.
“I figured.” He smirks. “My warrior princess. I’ll watch the destruction you cause with pride.”
My lips twitch with the need to smile wider, but I shake my head slowly instead. I open my mouth to speak, but then a server pops his head into our bubble and tells us it’s time to start the dinner.
I flare my eyes. “Showtime.”
Threading my fingers through Chris’s, I lead him to the table I’ll have to sit at with my family. His hold tightens on me, but he doesn’t say anything else. I’ve all but laid my cards on the table with him, but I just have a few more hurdles to jump before I can put all this behind me. Just a little bit longer, and then I can wash my hands of all of it.
My father and mother are already seated, but Chase is noticeably absent. That’s probably for the best. I sit down and pull Chris into the chair next to me. My father raises an eyebrow.
“There is a seating chart, Samantha,” my father says, dragging his eyes between me and Chris. “Ashton is supposed to be sitting there since he is your plus-one.”
“If it’s all the same to you, Daddy, I’d rather not sit next to Ashton since he attempted to rape me.”
“Samantha,” my father threatens.
I shrug.
“Wouldn’t want me to make a scene. Especially not with the livecamera crew you’ve brought in.” He doesn’t say anything, so I gesture to Chris. “Daddy, you remember Chris Casper?”
My father’s nostrils flare. He doesn’t speak. He just glares at me.
“No? Well, let me reintroduce you. Daddy, this is Chris Casper. Chris, this is my father.”
When I glance at Chris, he’s stone-faced. He nods at my father.
“I would say it’s a pleasure, Thom, but my father taught me that honesty is the best policy.”
