So I say the one thing I know Sam would agree with. “Neither one of us wants to do anything until Nathan’s graduated. Since he lives with Sam, a move would affect him too. Sam doesn’t want to make a huge change until Nathan’s comfortable with it.”
Sophia nods, her gaze on Joey, who’s playing in the snow fort Sam helped him build in the front yard. “That makes sense. I just don’t want you to mess this up. He’s the first one you’ve ever been serious about.”
I don’t deny it. No guy I’ve ever dated came even close to me considering bringing him home. Honestly, until I got Sam fired, I wasn’t worried about showing up to Christmas single again. It was kind of expected. Yeah, Mom likes to try to set me up every time I’m home, but I don’t care.
I do feel a little guilty about this, though. I owed Sam the money, and he wasn’t going to take it without giving me something in return, but I’m doubting introducing him to my family. They’re so happy to see me with a guy like Sam, to hear that I’m in a steady relationship. This was supposed to be a tiny white lie, but it’s morphed into something bigger.
Mainly because Sam is very good at pretending like we’ve been in a steady relationship for months. He’s so attuned to me, even the first day we were here and Dad approached us. I’m pretty sure a lot of other guys would’ve taken the out Sophia offered, but Sam didn’t. And then afterward, he was so intent on helping me relax. Like he really cared.
“I like him,” Sophia says, watching Sam spin Kelly around on the ice. “He’s so sweet. Too sweet for you.”
“I know.” I’ve never dated or slept with nice guys. They weren’t complete assholes, but they definitely weren’t like Sam.
Arnie joins us with a cup of coffee, and I resist the urge to pull back from him. I’ve always tolerated him because he was Colt’s best friend, but lately, I haven’t wanted to be near him. I’m sure part of it is because he introduced me to Bryce, but I also don’t like the way he’s been watching Sam from the minute he met him.
If it were anyone else, I would’ve blacked his eye well before now.
Even now, Arnie’s watching Sam and Kelly too, but not the way Sophia and I are. His gaze tracks Sam’s every movement, and he only stops when he feels me staring at him.
“What?” Arnie laughs. “Can you blame me?”
“Yes. Keep your fucking eyes off him.” A dark possessiveness burns in my veins. He reminds me of Bryce and the other guys I saw staring at Sam when he was on that stage at Vinnie’s. Like Sam belonged to them just because he took his clothes off in front of them.
A thunderous crack sounds through the air, and I jerk my head up to see that Sam and Kelly have come to a stop on the ice. Even from this distance, I can see Sam’s hands tight around Kelly’s arms.
“Oh my god,” Sophia breathes. “The ice is breaking.”
I run down the circular driveway and across the street. My entire world narrows down to my innocent little niece and the guy holding onto her.
“Don’t,” Sam says when I reach the edge of the embankment. “It won’t hold you. Just catch her.”
“Sam.” I can see the ice broken in a circle around him, connecting to a crack that leads all the way up to the embankment I’m on. The force he’s going to use to throw Kellyto me will only weaken the ice further. But he knows that. He’s going to do it anyway.
“Your uncle’s going to catch you,” Sam tells Kelly. His voice is steady, only the slightest hint of fear peeking through.
I brace myself and hold my arms out. Sophia’s running behind me, but she’s not going to get here in time.
Sam doesn’t hesitate before turning and tossing Kelly at me. She lands hard in my arms, her small body shaking.
“Kelly!” Sophia screams her name as she reaches us, and I hand her over quickly, my gaze still on Sam.
He looks back at me just as the ice gives a final crack, and he disappears beneath the surface.
Ten
Sam
The last thing I hear before the ice gives out is Dalton screaming my name. Then I feel nothing but the most horrible cold. It seems to seep into my very bones, freezing me from the inside out.
The current pushes me, and I fight to hang onto the broken piece of ice I fell through. If the current takes me away, I’ll never get out of here.
Panic seizes my chest, but it lasts less than five seconds before an arm plunges into the water with me, and someone starts pulling me back out.
I break the surface with a gasp and find Dalton kneeling precariously on the ice, dragging me back to safety. My arms shake from the cold, and I’m terrified the ice is going to give way with both of us on it.
“It’s okay,” Dalton whispers in my ear. “I’ve got you.”
I cling to him, my legs trembling as he pulls me to my feet. Every inch of my skin stings with pain from the cold, and my head pounds from the pressure.
