Page 83 of The Love of My Next Life
But I have to try for Lennon.
I’m addicted to Lennon Washington, and Sam has to be collateral damage.
“Sam,” I say softly, squeezing her hands into my chest, pleading that she’ll understand. “I just...I can’t.”
She shuts her eyes on the tears and bites her lip.
“Please,” she begs. “We can stop with the pills. It can be totally straightedge. No touching. Nothing. You’re my only friend. You’re the only one who knows.” She presses her forehead into my chest. “Please, Macon.”
I rest my chin on the top of her head, giving her another second before I have to pry her off me, but then I hear more leaves rustle and a gasp. My eyes fly open to Lennon’s shocked face.
Rage and pain war in her expression, and I push Sam away from me.
“Lennon,” I say, and she takes two steps back. Her eyes fall to Sam, who is still gripping onto my arm despite me trying to shake her off.
“This?” Lennon breathes out. “This! Did you want me to see this?” She takes two more steps back, and I shake my head.
“No,” I say quickly, “you weren’t supposed to see this.”
She scoffs and the first tear falls down her cheek.
“So, you were planning to, what, get it over with, with your whorebeforeI came out here?”
“Oh, fuck off, Leonard,” Sam seethes. She lets go of my arm and stalks toward Lennon.
“Don’t, Sam,” I warn, but she ignores me.
“You think you’ve got something with yourbrother, Leonard?” More slow steps forward, but Lennon doesn’t budge.
“Shut up, Sam,” Lennon whispers, and Sam laughs.
“Samantha, get the fuck out of here,” I growl. When I reach for her arm, she yanks it away and hits me with a glare.
“Don’t fucking touch me,” she hisses, before turning her attention back to Lennon. “You’re a challenge, Leonard. A chase. The good girl cliché that every guy wants to fuck for bragging rights.”
Lennon shakes her head. “You’re wrong.”
“Sam, shut the fuck up,” I shout.
“You haven’t fucked yet, have you?” Sam says, ignoring me, closing the distance between her and Lennon. “That’s why he’s still stringing you along. He’ll lose interest once you spread your legs.”
Lennon looks over Sam’s shoulder at me, her eyes both accusing and questioning.
“She’s wrong, Lennon,” I say, but I can tell she doesn’t believe me.
“Fuck him, then,” Sam taunts, drawing Lennon’s attention back to her face. “Fuck him and see if I’m lying.” Lennon’s jaw tightens and her hands fist at her sides. Sam takes one more step and opens her mouth. “Go ahead and be a slut for your bro—"
Lennon punches her.
A closed-fist hook to Sam’s jaw that makes her stumble backward. Sam pauses for a split second, then shrieks and launches herself at Lennon. I move to stop her, to restrain her, but I only make it two steps before Lennon lands a jab to Sam’s face that makes a sickening crunch.
Sam screams and falls back into my chest. I just catch sight of the blood gushing down her face before she clamps her hands over her nose. It’s broken. It has to be broken. Lennon just broke Sam’s nose.
“You’re a fucking psycho,” Sam yells, her voice garbled through her hands and the blood.
“Shutup,” Lennon growls, advancing on us. I take a step back with Sam to avoid any more violence, and Lennon glares at me before looking back at Sam.
“I don’t give a shit who your dad is, Samantha Harper,” Lennon says through her teeth. “You know who my dad is? He’s a Navy SEAL, and he taught me how to break a bone without breaking a sweat. Youevertalk to me like that again, you evertouchme, and I’ll make sure your face is so messed up, you’ll never be in another cheesy campaign video.”
