Page 64 of The Little Black Book

“Nothing is wrong,” I say, my voice turning defensive. “I told you, I’m just tired.”

“No,” he says, shaking his head. “You blew me off last night, ignored my texts, and then I find out you were coming to the casino to see me but never showed––”

“Wait. What?” I ask, cutting him off as my entire body stiffens.

“Shit,” he breathes, rubbing a hand across the back of his neck. “I wasn’t supposed to say that.”

“Sam.”

“Fine,” he says throwing his hands up into the air. “Sophie told Jared you were coming to see me. To tell me somethingimportant. When I saw him this morning, he assumed we had a conversation and spilled the beans on accident.”

“Fucking Sophie,” I grit out between clenched teeth.

“Forget Sophie,” he says. “Tell me what you were coming to say, and I’ll tell you why I wanted to talk to you in person last night.”

“I know why,” I say, my voice rising. “You hooked up with a waitress and want to end things between us. Consider them ended. You can leave now.”

I know I’m being a bitch after deciding to pretend everything is fine and normal with Sam, but pretending is really fucking impossible right now. All the emotions I tried to drown in sugary sweets last night come flooding back to the surface, making me want to strike out and make Sam feel as terrible as I do.

“What are you talking about? I didn’t hook up with anyone.”

“I saw you, Sam.”

“Saw me…what? Zoey, I’m really fucking confused right now, so I’m going to need you to spell it out in words I’ll understand.”

I stare at him for a moment as confusion wells inside me. I know Sam pretty damn well, and I can tell he’s not lying. He has no fucking clue what I’m talking about. Could Sophie be right? Did I misread what I saw?

Only one way to find out.

“I came to see you after I had lunch with the girls yesterday. When I walked into the casino, I saw you pull a woman into a deserted hallway. You were holding her close, then lowered your head to kiss her.”

Sam stares at me with incredulous eyes, then cocks his head. “Did you see me kiss her?”

“Well, no. I mean…I didn’t want to see it, so I left.”

“Zoey,” he says, heaving a sigh. “If you’d stayed, or better yet, came over and asked what was going on, you’d have seen I was only comforting her. Then you would’ve seen the asshole that thought he could shove his hand beneath her skirt get his ass kicked out and blackballed.”

“What?”

I’m breathing hard now, unable to process what he’s saying. He wasn’t making out with her?

“Tabitha apparently has a history with sexual harassment––or maybe even assault. I’m not sure what she’s gone through, but when that man reached under her skirt to grab her ass, it triggered her. She was a mess, and I was only trying to make her feel safe enough to tell me what happened so I could take care of it.” He takes a step forward, stopping within reaching distance of me. “I’d just left Jared’s office, where I told him I only want to dateyou,and that I was going to see you last night to tell you exactly how I feel.”

The tears stinging my eyes start to fall, and my heart is trying to pound its way out of my chest. Sam’s lips curve up gently, and he reaches out and swipes a thumb beneath my eyes.

“Tell me why you came to see me,” he says, his voice soft and wispy.

“I was going to tell you I have feelings for you. I want us to be together. Officially and exclusively.”

“Zoey, you’re my best friend. You’re also the only person I want to be with, and it was official and exclusive for me the moment we first kissed.”

“Really?” I ask, my voice cracking.

“Really,” he says, leaning forward to press his forehead to mine. “I’m falling for you, Z.”

His arms curl around my waist, tugging me against him. We kiss, and it’s sweet and spicy, all lips and tongues and teeth. My hands drive into his hair, tugging at the strands as I try to move in closer, absorbing his chaotic energy and giving it right back to him. Time stalls, and I have no idea how long we go on like that, but I’m gasping for air by the time he pulls back to look into my eyes.

I wait with bated breath for his next words. A mischievous grin tugs his lips up, and his blue eyes sparkle with joy.

---