“Come on, Dad.” She caught up to him and hooked her arm through his. “If she were going to let him ‘stay over,’ she’d send me toNani’s, and she hasn’t.” Samantha grinned at her father. “Although, Iamspending tonight here with you.” She raised one eyebrow, a twinkle in her eye.
Sam’s heart sank.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
SAM
New York, 2013
SAMANTHAWASCHATTERINGon about the game, complaining about biased calls by the referee, analyzing and overanalyzing the details of each play. Normally, Sam loved this part as well, but today he was still reeling from the knowledge that Maya was going out withthatguy. Again. Distracted as he was, he nearly tripped over a huge object in the middle of his small entrance hall.
“What is this?” Samantha gawked at the filthy brown canvas duffel bag. “It wasn’t here when we left.”
This bag could mean only one thing. Sam grinned and pressed his index finger to his lips. Samantha complied, and followed his gaze.
Sure enough, there was someone sleeping on his sofa. Sam grabbed a pillow from the chair and threw it at the form on his sofa. The young man bolted up and looked around. “What the hell?”
Sam cackled.
Ben jumped off the sofa and grabbed Sam in a hug. “Sammy!”
Sam returned the hug with gusto and then took a step back to examine his cousin. “You took the time to shave and get a haircut this time.”
Ben rubbed his face. “Well, a haircut, anyway. You know how the ponytail drives my mom nuts. For the shave, I just used your razor.” He chuckled.
“Consider that razor yours now.” Sam grimaced in that way that big brothers did to their little brothers when they used their stuff.
Ben’s hair and skin color were the same as Sam’s, except that Ben’s hair was straight, and when he traveled, he tended to let it grow and pull it back in a ponytail. But Sam knew Ben hadn’t gotten a haircut for his mother.
“You came here first?” Sam wrinkled his brow at Ben. “Do I even want to know how you got in—I just moved here.”
Ben gave him his best do-you-really-want-to-knowlook. “Just enjoy the surprise.”
Before Sam could introduce Samantha, Ben had taken note of her. He directed his words to Sam, all the while looking at Samantha. “And of course I came here before going to Maryland! I got the family gossip and had to see what my big brother was up to. And clearly, it’s a good thing I stopped by.” He grinned at Samantha. “You could not possibly be the daughter I’m hearing about! Way too pretty to have this guy as your dad.”
Samantha rolled her eyes as she shook his hand. “Nice to meet you. You must be Ben-kaka. But I thought you were in Africa. Hiding from a girl.”
Ben laughed—almost a guffaw, really. “Niki does not waste any time.” He wiped his eyes. “It’s all true, but I don’t do details.” He jerked his head in Sam’s direction. “Does he feed you?”
“I could eat.”
Ben slammed his hands down on the small island. “Sammy, weneedNew York pizza.”
“Yeah, okay.” Butterflies invaded his belly as he watched Ben and Samantha. Unlike Niki, Ben would say just about anything. No filter. Sam picked up his phone and ordered the pizza, then got two beers and a Gatorade from the fridge.
Ben and Samantha were making small talk, and Sam joined them on the sofa. He handed Samantha the Gatorade. “Want to shower first? Pizza will be a bit.”
“Sure.” She stood and considered Ben. “Do you have any stories about my dad?”
Ben chortled. “Of course!” Samantha started to leave for her shower when Ben called out, “Maya is your mom, right?”
“Why?” She narrowed her eyes at Sam. “Are there a bunch of us to keep track of?”
Sam threw Ben a glare, but addressed his daughter. “Of course not. Go get your shower.”
After Samantha left the room, Ben turned on ESPN. “She looks just like you.”
“So I’ve been told.”
