Page 130 of The Love You Fight For
“Yes, I’m aware.”
I let go of Chris’s hand and thread my arm through his instead. I smile up at him, making sure every ounce of what I feel for him is readable on my face. When I speak, I don’t look at her, I look at him, and I say what I’ve been thinking ever since that night of the thunderstorm in Chris’s house.
“Thank you for turning him down. You did me a favor.”
She gasps, and when I glance at her, her jaw is dropped, and her eyes are wide. I want to laugh, but I feel bad for her, so I don’t. I head toward the truck, and this time, she doesn’t try to stop me. When I’m in the passenger seat and Chris is behind the wheel, he turns toward me.
“Jealous, princess?”
I huff.
“I’d never be jealous of someone like her. She’s an idiot. I’m just glad she didn’t see what she had before she let you go.”
I can feel his eyes on me, and when I finally look back at him, his smile makes me smile.
“Have I told you I love you?” he asks, and I laugh.
“Yes.” I lean across the bench seat and kiss him. “But I can always hear it again.”
THIRTY-ONE
“You don’t haveto be nervous,” I say, swallowing back my laugh.
Sam nods and wrings her hands in her lap.
“I know.”
She doesn’t look at me.
“They want you here. You were invited.”
She nods again. Hands still wringing together as she stares out the windshield.
“I know.”
I reach across the bench seat and take her hand in mine.
“Look at me,” I say, and reluctantly, she does. “They want you here. You’re important to me, so you’re important to them. There’s no bad blood here. They don’t blame you for anything. They want you here, okay?”
“Okay,” she whispers. “What if they hate my gift?”
I smile.
“They won’t. I promise.”
She studies me a moment longer, and then she takes a deep breath and nods.
“Okay, I’m ready.”
Sam and I climb out of my truck and makeour way up the sidewalk until I’m opening the door to let her into my sister’s house. Immediately, Luke and Lucy tackle us. Drive-by hugs and hellos before they bound up the stairs and disappear in a flurry of giggles.
Sam blinks up at me in surprise and I laugh.
“You’ll get used to them,” I tell her, then usher her into the living room.
“Hey, guys.” Michael comes up to pull me and then Sam into a hug. “I’m glad you could make it. Tiff and the baby are in the kitchen.”
“Thank you for the invite,” Sam says, and Michael smiles down at her.
