I want someone to love me with every fiber of their being, like I know my parents love each other. I want to know without a doubt that the person I am with will always be by my side and will always be a partner.
I’m not delusional; I know there will be tough times. I know we’ll have arguments and disagreements. I just want to know that even in those challenging moments, he isn’t going to just give up and walk away. Sometimes I wonder if I’m asking too much.
With the coffee ready, I pour three mugs, add creamer to mine and Mom’s before setting the mugs on the table. Mom doesn’t take as much cream as I do, but she also doesn't drink it black. Dad, on the other hand, does—it’s disgusting.
Turning back to the stove to continue cooking breakfast, Dad interrupts the silence, “Kat, what time are you heading to Columbia today?”
“I think I’ll leave around 3. I don’t want to get home too late.” I chuckle a little. “I wish I could stay longer, but I have a hearing on Thursday that I need to spend some time preparing for. And I don’t know what else might have come in throughout the week thatneeds my attention. I know my office is picking up the slack while I’m gone, but I still feel like I need to be there.”
“We wish you could stay longer, too, Kat. But your mom and I understand you have responsibilities and a life to get back to. I’m just glad you’ve been here this week.”
“Me too, Dad.”
“I’ve also been glad to see you spending more time with Sam. You used to be so close.” I can tell Mom is trying to ask about Sam without actually asking.
“It’s been nice having him here.” I realize what I’ve said after it comes out, but I know it’s the truth. Ithasbeen nice having Sam around. “We’re going to get lunch before I leave.”
“I’m so glad to hear that. You both need each other.” I look at Mom, letting her words sink in.
Dad just gives me a knowing look.Yeah, yeah. You saw us holding hands.
Liv and Talia join us as I put the food onto the table, and we chat about the upcoming week as we eat. Dad asks a lot of questions about my hearing, and I’m grateful to have him listen to my ideas and offer me guidance. It’s one thing I know I’m going to miss about Ethan.
Ispent the next part of the morning packing my belongings and loading them into my car, so I wouldn’t have to worry about it later.
Liv and Talia gather their things and head over to Liv’s parents’ house to spend a few hours before they head back to Columbia as well.
Once my suitcase is packed, I slowly walk into Ethan’s room. I go straight to his bookshelf and grab his copies ofThe OutsidersandTo Kill a Mockingbird.
I used to tease Ethan whenever I saw him mark his books.“Sacrilegious! You are torturing those poor babies!”My books all show signs of being well-loved, but I don’t crease the corners of the pages to hold my spot and don’t write in them. Receipts and napkins happen to make great bookmarks.
But right now, I’m so grateful for his obsession with highlighting his favorite passages and writing notes in the margin. I can’t wait to read the things he found insightful or that stood out to him.
I grab his Letterman’s jacket before exiting his room and softly close the door.
I’m sitting in the kitchen, just breathing and staring out the window, when I hear the doorbell ring just before 12:30. As I reach the entryway, I see Sam walking in, Mom holding the door open.
Sam’s wearing a fitted black T-shirt and dark jeans.Always with the fitted shirts, this man.I don’t stop myself fromlooking at his muscled arms and tattoos. I hate to admit it, but his tattoos make me weak in the knees. He’s devastatingly handsome.
Finally shifting my gaze to his face, I see him watching me. He quirks up an eyebrow in aI saw you checking me outway.
I groan, grab my bag, kiss Mom on the cheek, and walk out the front door. “I’ll be back soon, Ma.”
“Have fun, you two.” She says it like she’s in on a secret I don’t know about. I roll my eyes as I walk outside.
Sam hurries along, getting to his dad’s SUV first. He opens my door for me.
“Ever the gentleman.” I tease.
“Always, my lady.” He dips into an exaggerated bow, his eyes sparkling. I roll my eyes at his back but watch as he walks around the front of the SUV and climbs into the driver’s seat.
“Soooo,” I drag out as Sam pulls away from the curb. I have to know about this motorcycle accident he mentioned Saturday. “Motorcycle accident, huh?”
Sam snaps his attention to me and runs a palm across his face. “You caught that, huh?” As if I wasn’t sitting there hanging on every word.
“Why didn’t Ethan tell me?” This is the one question that keeps lingering in my mind. I understand why Sam didn’t say anything to me. We hadn’t exactly been speaking regularly enough for him to share that kind of information with me. But Ethan? Why didn’t he tell me?
“Because I asked him not to,” Sam says each word slowly, and I watch as the corners of his lips turn down slightly.
