CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Sam
With no word from Grant last night, I’m eager to see if he’ll swing by today. I worked the breakfast shift earlier, and now I’m cleaning up the little garden beds in front of the garage. I’m not totally sure this is my purview, so I will need to ask Grant when I see him.
He’s been gone all morning, and I get that whatever we have to say to each other, it should be in person. But I’m also finding it deeply hard to focus on anything else.
Is he going to regret it? Not thatitis all that much, but it felt like something significant. And there’s a decent chance he might perceive that change as one he enjoyed in the moment, but which ended up proving I’m wishy-washy or still don’t know what I want.
I groan and grab another handful of leaves from below the rose bush. My phone buzzes and I drop the leaves,instantly fumbling the device until I pull up a text from a new unknown number.
“You should be here today. I want you back, Samantha.”
A chill runs up my spine as I wait to see if he’ll write anything else, but I’m pacing and staring at my phone. I’m almost tempted to call him and tell him to stop bothering me, but I have no desire to hear his voice, and I don’t want to do anything that can be seen asmeinitiating. After taking a screenshot of the message for my records, I block this number, too, knowing it won’t stop him if he decides to contact me again.
Hours later when I hear Grant pull into the driveway, I go to greet him.
He’s lit with interest when he sees me coming, maybe wondering if I’m going to try to talk to him about last night. But as he rounds the hood, his gait shifts when he sees my face.
“What happened.” Again, it’s not a question.
“Everything’s fine.” My voice is small, though, and I don’t mean it to be. I’m not actually upset. I’m happy to see him, and eager to get this figured out. Now that he’s here, I can.
I will.
“What. Happened.”
I narrow my eyes, recognizing that his intensity is making me feel more anxious. “I’m going to need you to ease off just a bit.”
He inhales, and Poppy and Lily spill out of the car behind us. Poppy runs at me, and I drop down, accepting her hug and savoring it. She’s got fruity, sweet breath and the hand that presses against my neck is a touch sticky.
“What’d you have for a snack?”
“Fruit snacks.” She whips around to her dad then makes the guiltiest face I’ve ever seen.
“Pops, didn’t I say no?”
“Sorry, Daddy.”
Lily shrugs. “I told her not to.”
“Run inside and wash your hands. I’ll be there in a minute.” He watches them go for a moment, waiting until Lily’s got the door open before he turns back to me.
“Please tell me what’s going on.”
I’m mollified by his please, and also by the way my heart has calmed. Poppy’s magic, no doubt.
I don’t want to be freaked out by this, and I know telling him will help.
I swipe open my phone and show him the screenshot of the text. His expression darkens and his jaw flexes. But he pulls in a slow breath before turning back to me.
“What can I do to help?”
I could hug him for asking instead of demanding something—instead of telling me what he was going to do.
“I’d like to talk to Davis, if you’re still up for going with me.”
He pulls out his phone and taps at the screen. “Absolutely. I’m calling him now.”
