I don’t want her to leave.
The thought hits me with unexpected force. When the snow melts and the roads clear, I don’t want her getting on a plane back to Chicago.
I want her to stay.
I’ve never wanted anyone to stay before, but watching her sleep, seeing the peaceful expression on her face, I can’t deny it.
I’m falling for her.
Maybe I already fell.
Dad stirs, his eyes opening. He sees me watching Samantha and raises an eyebrow.
I mouth,“What?”
He just smiles and closes his eyes again.
Smug bastard.
When we all finally wake up properly, the morning sun is streaming through the windows. Samantha’s the last to surface, blinking sleepily as she registers where she is and who she’s tangled up with.
“Morning,” I say.
“Morning.” Her voice is rough from sleep. “What time is it?”
“Almost ten.” Dad sits up, completely unbothered by his nakedness. “We should eat.”
“I need to shower first,” Samantha says, pulling the sheet up to cover herself.
“Shy now?” Donovan’s awake too, watching her with amusement. “After last night?”
She blushes, and it’s so damn cute I want to kiss her. “I’m getting dressed,” she announces, sliding out of bed with the sheet wrapped around her.
We watch her gather her scattered clothes and disappear into Dad’s bathroom. The door closes with a decisive click.
“She’s embarrassed,” I say.
“She’ll get over it.” Dad stands and stretches. “Freshen up. We’ll meet for breakfast in thirty minutes.”
I grab my clothes from the floor and head back to my room.
By the time I shower and change, the tightness in my chest has started again, a dull ache I’ve gotten good at ignoring. I pop two pills and wash them down with water from the bathroom sink.
I head to breakfast and find everyone already there. Samantha is between Dad and Donovan, looking freshly showered and slightly overwhelmed.
“Sleep well?” I ask, dropping into my chair.
“Very well.” She’s not meeting anyone’s eyes. “Thank you.”
“Why are you thanking us?” Donovan sounds genuinely curious.
“I don’t know. It seemed polite.”
“We’re past polite,” Dad says. “Eat your breakfast.”
She does, and I watch the dynamic settle into easy banter and casual touches. The kind of morning-after scene that suggests this is normal now.
But I catch Samantha watching all of us with an expression I can’t quite read.
