“Yes, and while you’re here, did you call your father?”
Dad. Right. Frank. “No, not yet.”
“Please, Sam, do. He’s eager to talk to you.”
“Can’t imagine why.”
Mrs. B gave him a look. “Then try. He’s proud of you, Sam. Talks about you all the time.”
“He’s a fan of the Titans.”
“He’s a fan ofyou. On and off the field.”
“I’m ready.” Chloe came down wearing a fitted black dress with a flared skirt. She’d spiked her hair, adding a gold clip with flowers formed out of little pearls. She wore a touch of makeup, and her effort made him feel a little bit forgiven. “But I don’t know why I’m doing this.”
“Because you’re a nicer woman than I am a man.” Sam moved to help her with her coat.
“Well, it’s a reason. I’ll take it.”
“I’ll have her home early, Mrs. B.”
“I trust you, Sam.” Three simple words and he felt them all the way through. This woman, this mother, trusted him with her daughter. Two, three years ago, no mother should’ve trusted him with her daughter.
But Mrs. B saw something he wondered if anyone would see. That he was trying.
“Thank you. That means a lot. And I’m cheering for you to beat this cancer.”
In the meantime, Chloe was out the door and down the sidewalk without him.
“My car’s back here, Chloe.”
“Okay. I’ll meet you there.”
“Chloe, wait.” Sam hobbled after her. “Look, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have sent that text. Especially since I didn’t mean it. I’d just gotten off the phone with my agent who announced I might be looking for a new team this year and—” He dashed in front of her and walked backward. “Please forgive me. Forget what I said.”
“You’re forgiven, Sam. To be honest, I wasn’t really surprised by your text. You did this to me before.”
“When? I never.”
“You ditched me at the county fair to go make out with Missy Byrnes in the Fun House.”
He forced a laugh. So she did remember. “I was fifteen.”
“You still abandoned me. I had to follow Cole Danner and Tammy Eason around like a bumpy third wheel. Unwelcome, I might add, but Tammy refused to abandon me. She couldn’t believe you ditched me.”
“Excuse me, but I don’t recall you going as my date?”
“IthoughtI was your date. You invited me. You picked me up.” Chloe set off again toward Valentino’s. “I’m hungry.”
“As I recall, you hardly spoke to me before I snuck off with Missy.” He stretched to match her quick stride. “By the way, Cole didn’t speak to me for a month after.”
“Good for him. I felt like a fool. Obviously, I wasn’t good enough for you and your friends. I don’t even know why you invited me.”
Valentino’s came into view with its string of twinkle lights under the awning, so he tabled the conversation.
The maître d’ bowed and smiled when Sam entered, calling him Mr. Hardy, and led them to a romantic table in the back. Immediately, he motioned to one of the servers who hustled away and returned with a bottle of wine.
“On the house, we insist.”
