They were interrupted by barking as Chewie ran at them. Kieran could see the silhouettes of both his parents standing on the porch. He braced himself for the inevitable barrage he and Sammie were both about to face.
His parents loved Sammie. And they just wanted him to be happy. What was the worst that could happen?
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“SO.” MEREDITH WAVED her fork. Sammie braced herself. “When did this become a thing?”
Kieran sighed, and Sammie fought the urge to drop her head into her plate. They had almost made it through the meal, talking about the farm, Greta’s house, Kieran’s upcoming games. Sammie had begun to hope Meredith might forget the fact that she and Kieran had arrived together, as well as the fact that they’d sat in his truck a bit longer than normal for people who didn’t have anything going on between them.
“It’s not a thing.” Kieran stabbed at a carrot on his plate.
“Sammie.” Meredith turned to face her fully. “Is it a thing?”
Grant laughed, earning an eye roll from his son. He would be of no help to either of them.
“It’s not,” Sammie began, swallowing the large mouthful of meat she’d hoped would keep any questions from being directed her way. “Kieran just offered to help with the repairs.”
Meredith seemed delighted by that answer, much to Sammie’s confusion, her smile bright as the full moon shining in through the dining room window.
“Oh, Greta would be so happy!” Meredith’s attention returned to her food as Grant began to question Kieran about the upcoming tournament.
Sammie returned to her meal as well, Meredith’s words sticking with her even as the conversation moved to otherthings. On one hand, the mention of her granny filled Sammie with a nostalgic sort of joy, a spark of warmth that lit up her chest.
On the other hand, Sammie never really liked to think about how Greta would react to any of her relationships. The conversation in Kieran’s truck was still hovering in her mind. Fear had kept Sammie from ever letting Greta fully see that side of herself. It was something she tried hard not to regret, but regret was like sharp needles strewn across a path, difficult to avoid and a specific kind of stabbing pain.
Greta would have loved if this thing between Sammie and Kieran turned into something more. On the outside, they would look like any other straight couple. And that was the part that Sammie didn’t like to think about. How, if she ended up with a man, people like her granny would deem heracceptable.
It was still something that needled at Sammie, any time she imagined introducing a partner to Greta. Picturing what that would have been like. On her worst days, images of disgust or shame would twist her granny’s features, morphing her into a monster that Sammie cowered from.
Greta would have accepted her with Kieran, but Sammie doubted her granny would have ever accepted Sammie’s queerness, and she knew that question would always haunt her.
“Let me help you clean up,” Sammie announced, as Meredith began to gather their empty plates. Anything to distract her from the dark place her mind was threatening to go to.
It had been easier than she’d expected, sharing a meal with Kieran and his parents. Sure, she had the knowledge that she made their son come in his pants just two days earlier hanging over her head like a neon sign, but neither Grant nor Meredith had seemed to pick up on anythingstrangegoing on, so Sammie counted the meal as a success.
“Thank you, sweetheart.” Meredith nodded toward her son. “He’s on dishwasher duty whenever he’s home, so he’ll help out.”
“Thanks for letting me stay, and for the meal. It was wonderful.” Sammie gathered a load of dishes before following Kieran into the kitchen.
“Anytime!” Meredith’s voice sounded out behind her, an echoing grunt of agreement from Grant. Sammie did appreciate their offer of their spare bedroom. Normally, she would stay at her old home, basking in the comfort of her childhood bedroom. But tonight, well, she wasn’t quite ready to walk in and face the damage she knew she was going to see.
She definitely wasn’t ready to dwell on thecostof all the damage.
“Here.” Kieran took some of the plates out of her hands. “Let me.” He began to load the dishwasher as Sammie scraped the remaining plates off into the garbage can.
“That wasn’t so bad,” Sammie whispered, helping to load cups into the top rack. Kieran laughed, a full, delightful sound. The few curls that had escaped his bun hung around his face, and Sammie wanted to reach out and push them back so she could fully see the smile he was giving her.
“No, it wasn’t.” He rose to his full height. Sammie hadn’t realized just how close they were standing. Her cheeks warmed as she came face to face with his broad chest and the way his t-shirt pulled tight across it.
“They love you,” Kieran continued, still smiling down at her. Sammie’s mouth felt suddenly dry. “Maybe more than me. They definitelylikeyou more than me. You and Atticus can do no wrong in their eyes.”
“That’s not true.” She poked the chest in front of her, ignoring how solid it felt. Ignoring the urge to place her palm against him, to feel his heartbeat under her hand. She wonderedif it was beating as fast as her own. “Your parents think you hung the moon.”
Kieran scoffed. “Maybe. But I do have a way of disappointing them.” He glanced over his shoulder as if to make sure they weren’t being spied on. Sammie frowned. What was he talking about? Kieran was incredible. He’d been scouted right out of high school, and had become one of the best outside hitters in the league. He had made his dream a reality. And he’d said they didn’t know about his online presence. How could anyone bedisappointedin him?
“Come on,” he said, tilting his head back toward the dining room. “Let me show you to your room. Mom moved things around since the last time you visited.”
Sammie let herself be guided through the old farmhouse, saying a quick goodnight to Meredith and Grant as she followed Kieran. He led her up a narrow staircase to a hallway she remembered from her childhood. Kieran’s room had always been at the far end. She’d sat in the chair at his desk countless times when their small group of friends had come back here after a day spent at the park. She’d been so enamored with him back then, the older boy that everyone looked up to, that had taught her and her brother so much about volleyball.
