“I’ll go get it.” Sam gives my hand a squeeze, and my stomach does that stupid flip-flopping thing again. A smile takes over my face as I watch him jog back in, and a voice in the back of my head—which sounds a lot like Farisha—yells at me not to get ahead of myself. Sam wants sex, and I know myself. I don’t do casual sex. I’ve tried the no-strings thing and it doesn’t work for me. Sex isn’t as enjoyable for me without emotion, and the few times I did attempt a causal relationship, I got attached and hurt when the guy easily moved on, taking it personally even though I braced myself for it from the start.
I let out a breath and go to the edge of the dock; I look down in the water and watch little fish swim about. Sam has always been my white knight, swooping in to save the day. I’m no longer a damsel in distress, and I’m more than capable of defending myself now. I need to remember that and hold on to my resolve. But…fuck…just the thought of Sam slowly undressing me gets me wet.
“Twice in a row,” a woman says, startling me a bit. It’s Lauren, and she’s with her sister. I can’t recall her name, only that she was two grades ahead of us and bitchy and judgmental like Lauren. It must run in the family. “I’m starting to think you’re following me.”
“Well, I was here first, so if anyone was being followed, it would be me,” I say back. Lauren laughs and comes to a halt, putting her hand on her hip. “I’ll admit I’m impressed. First you went to a bar alone and now you’re here—alone.”
“I’m not alone.” Right on cue, Sam comes out of the restaurant with my phone in his hand.
“You’re here with Sam?” Lauren spits.
“Yeah, I am.”
“Figures.” She smiles smugly. “I fully assumed he’d try again after he struck out at the bar. Though I made sure to take care of him.”
“Come on, Lauren,” her sister urges. “I’m hungry.”
“Good seeing you again, Chloe.” Lauren wiggles her fingers in the air and walks past, smirk on her face, and says something to Sam as he passes by. I can’t be mad at Sam for hooking up with anyone last night, even if that person was Lauren Wallace. We’re not in a relationship, and he owes me nothing. I could have gone home with anyone last night and he couldn’t say boo about it.
And if anything, this proves that whatever Tiffany was talking about doesn’t matter. Maybe Sam really did look at me that way when we were younger, but it doesn’t matter now. He’s living his best life, and it’s not fair for me to hold that against him because I want him to live that best life with me.
But it does mean I have to remember that Sam has always been a player, and I’ve always accepted that. I’ve stood back and watched him date girl after girl, all the while wishing one of those girls was me. I know what he wants, but he’s going to have to get it from someone else. It’s tempting not to let this opportunity pass me by, but I have to stay strong. I have to remember: Once a player, always a player.
And Sam has brought his A-game.Chapter SixteenChloe“Are you okay?” Sam asks after I re-tried the hidden key from Wendy’s porch.
“Yeah,” I rush out. “My shoulder just hurts.” It’s a lame excuse for me being rather quiet on the car ride to my dad’s house, but it’s all I can come up with right now. I spent most of the drive reminding myself I can’t be mad at Sam. I can’t consider him hooking up with Lauren another betrayal. He doesn’t seem to remember Lauren was a raging bitch to me in high school. I think only Farisha and my dad knew the extent of her bullying. I never hid things from Sam—except my love for him, of course—but I didn’t go rushing off to tell him a run-down of the mean comments Lauren said to me throughout the day.
“Maybe take an Advil or something.”
“I can do better.” I unlock the door and step inside. Sam follows, and I’m wishing I could uninvite him over. Okay, I don’t. But I should. I take my shoes off as I walk and end up tripping over my own feet. Sam dashes forward and catches me. His hands, already familiar with the curve of my waist, go right back to where they were only an hour or so ago.
He pulls me to him, crushing my breasts against his chest. He’s warm against me, and desire floods my body. Would it be so bad to give in and let him rock my world just this once?