“Why weren’t you at the party?” Maya asked.
“I had soccer practice until 9:15. I saw the text from Lisa as soon as I was done, and raced over there. I didn’t know what else to do.” His words tumbled over each other in their effort to provide the answer required.
“No, that’s fine, Will. You did the right thing bringing her here.” Sam was forced to concede that the boy’s story was legit. “How did you know where I was?”
“It’s on her phone. And I live in this building, too. Twenty-third floor.”
Fantastic. What were the odds?“Yeah. Okay. You can go.” He caught Maya’s eye and they stood in unison.
Will stood and put his hands in his pockets as he passed them. “Well, good night.” He ducked his head and looked at Maya, blue eyes wide with concern. “She’ll be all right?”
“She’ll be fine.” Maya walked Will to the door, but not before Sam received an elbow to the ribs and a mild glare.
Sam pursed his lips together. Message received. He offered his hand to Will. “Listen, Will. Thanks for bringing her home. And for looking out for her.” He flicked his eyes to Maya. “Her mother and I really appreciate it.”
Will shook Sam’s hand, maybe with more enthusiasm than was necessary. “Sure thing, Mr. Hutcherson. Anything for Samantha.”
Sam couldn’t help but smile softly. “I know the feeling.”
NOSOONERHADMaya shut the door on Will, than Sam collapsed on the sofa and threw his head back. He pressed the palms of his hands into his eyes. “I’m really bad at this, Maya.”
She sighed as she collapsed beside him. Along with the flowery scent of her perfume, she brought the warm aroma of burnt sugar. “Well, yeah.”
“Great. Is that supposed to make me feel better?”
“No.” She pulled his hands away from his eyes. Her cool touch soothed every part of him. “You just haven’t been doing this very long.” She blew air out of her mouth. “And anyway, I knew she wanted to go to that party. I just didn’t think she’d try to playyou.I should’ve at least warned you.” She shook her head. “Next time we’ll be better prepared.”
“She said she hated me.” Sam sounded more wounded than he intended.
Maya chuckled. “Well, that’s a good start. If she doesn’t hate me once a month, I feel like I’m not doing my job correctly.”
“She hates me for calling you. LikeIwouldn’t be mad she showed up drunk at my door with her boyfriend. I screwed that up, too. I should’ve at least given you a heads-up. She said she was going to tell you about Will months ago. And I believed her. Just like I believed she was going to ‘study’ tonight.” He dropped his head in embarrassment.
Maya nodded her head in understanding. She took his hand in both of hers and squeezed firmly. “You’ve only been doing this for a few months. You’re still like a buddy to her. She’s not used to having a real father any more than you’re used to having a teenage daughter.” She trailed off at the end as if she realized again why that was true and attempted to pull her hands away from his.
Sam held on to one of her hands.
“I get why you came to me for help with Samantha’s school situation.” He turned on the sofa so he was facing her, and softened his voice. “When Will showed up with Samantha in that condition and I thought he’d done something to her—” he narrowed his eyes and almost growled with the memory “—I would’ve done anything to keep her safe.”
He held her gaze a beat too long. She looked away and slipped her hand back.
“So, ‘gym equipment’?” She was suspicious.
Rightfully so.
Sam cleared his throat. “Um, well.” He hung his head. “Okay, here’s the thing.” He turned back to Maya, knowing she was going to be mad. “I was able to intimidate Byron into dropping those charges against Samantha, and the juvenile courts responded to my name and connections. But Mrs. Pappenberger—” Sam exhaled and shook his head “—that woman did not respond to intimidation or connections or anything.”
“Not even your charms?” Maya snickered.
“Nothing worked.” Sam raised his arms in exasperation. “Until she happened to mention that the school hadn’t had new gym equipment for fifteen years.” Sam peeked at Maya through his lashes. “So, I wrote a check—but I insisted on being anonymous. Byron must have found out.”
Maya’s eyes widened. “Are you serious? You had to pay her off?” There was a touch of anger in her words. “Why didn’t you say anything?” Her words were coming fast and hard. “You should’ve told me. I never expected—money—that’s not why I came to you.”
“Whoa, I know that.”Great.He’d known she would be mad. Sam placed his hand on hers. “Don’t be upset—I wanted to tell you, but then you got upset over the soccer fees...” He trailed off, but was hopeful when she didn’t pull away from him. “Besides, we had to get the school to back down. I was still in shock about finding out Samantha existed—I would’ve done anything you asked. I couldn’t let you down.” It was Sam’s turn to ramble. “Writing a check was something I could do—at the very least I could offer her money.”
“Sam.” Maya was sharp, her voice a shocked whisper. “Is that what you...” She forced him to look at her. “You have a lot more to offer her than money.” She clasped his hand in hers, as if trying to transfer strength to him. “And you absolutely have not let me down.”
She smiled at him, her crooked smile. It was a simple thing, but her eyes glowed, her cheeks flushed, and it reached all the way into the part of him that had always belonged to her, and he couldn’t remember why he was angry with her, or why he had let her go in the first place. He was unable to tear himself away from that smile, even though he knew his face revealed everything in his heart. There was, simply, nothing to be done about that. She was as lost in him as he was in her. There was nothing to hide behind here.
