“So you could personally hurt her later,” I said.
“I don’t know what I can swear on to make it clear that that’s not the case, but whatever it is, I will,” Sam said. “She is everything to me.”
I shook my head.
“I was once married, you know. Great wife. Then she died of cancer. I swore on my life that I would never love again. And for many years after her death, I had no reason to do so. And then I met your sister, Melissa. And rest assured, I knew what had happened with Spawn and you. She gave me plenty of grief about it, and I damn well knew Spawn had fucked up. I’ve told him as much.”
Wait, one of the guys said as much?
That seemed too good to be true. Again, maybe some perfunctory words were said, but there was no way that Corey had magically changed. Even if Sam, Satan, whatever was serious that he’d spoken to Corey, I knew better.
“So we can only tell you what the truth is, Melissa. And the truth is, I love your sister. I’m a grown-ass man; I don’t throw that word around like a teenager who’s gotten his cock touched for the first time in his life.”
“Sam.”
Sam bit his lip. But the point was made. Congratulations to my sister, I suppose. She’d found a guy who, at a minimum, was treating her well for the moment.
For the moment.
But it didn’t change that she’d quit her job and had seemingly lost her damn mind.
“Fine, you got lucky, Hailey,” I said, “but when this guy starts treating you badly, when you have trouble making ends meet…”
I couldn’t bring myself to say, “Don’t call me.” It was too petty. And I’d been through too much alone to ever wish it upon anyone.
“We can go,” Hailey said. “Sam—”
“It’s fine,” he said. “Take her home, make sure you both are safe.”
Hailey sighed. I stood up, turned away from Sam, and walked to the front door. I heard the two of them talking, followed by a kissing sound—God, make me puke.
I swung open the door.
And then someone pulled up on a bike.
No, not someone.
Him.
