Page 97 of The Little Shop of Curiosities, The Music Box Part 2

I swallow painfully. “You taught me to protect the people I love.”

There’s absolute silence, and when I lift my eyes to Sam, he’s staring at me.

“The people you love?” he murmurs.

“I think you two need to talk,” Pop says firmly. “Now I’m going to go and stop your dad before he gets us arrested for piracy. He’s two seconds away from marching up to the bridge and threatening bodily harm to the captain in an effort to get him to turn the ship around. We’ll disembark at the nearest main port and fly home.”

“Okay,” I agree, my eyes still locked on Sam. “I love you.”

“Love you too, honey.” Then the call cuts off.

For several long minutes, Sam and I just watch each other. Finally, he rubs a hand over his face and looks down at himself.

“I should go,” he murmurs. “I need a shower and a change of clothes. I’ll…” He shakes his head, like he doesn’t know what he wants to say.

I don’t know what to say either. I don’t have a clue how to begin fixing the mess I’ve made.

“I have to go,” he repeats, and turns to leave.

I watch miserably as Sam heads for the door, but at the last moment, he pauses, his hand pressed against the frame.

“Sam, wait!” I say desperately. I don’t want him to walk out, but I don’t know how to make him stay.

He lets out a slow breath, his gaze fixed on the door and his back to me.

“I’m so mad at you, Prickles,” he whispers, “but I don’t know how to stop wanting you.”

My heart hurts, my stomach hurts, my head hurts. I open my mouth, but the words won’t come.

Instead, I watch as the door closes behind him.

23

The back door closes behind me and I pause, leaning back into it. I close my eyes, let my head thud gently against the wood, and release a slow breath.

“That’s a look that only comes from dealing with my grandson.” I open my eyes to find Grumps watching me. His gaze trails from my bloodshot eyes to my messy hair, then down to my bloodstained shirt. Seemingly coming to a decision, he raps the end of his walking stick against the pavement, creating a sound like a starting pistol. “Walk with me.”

He turns away and starts making his way down the street. With no real reason not to, I follow, inevitably catching up with him in a few steps given how slow he walks.

“You got here quickly.”

“I was already on my way when I called, but Harrison didn’t give me the chance to say so before he hung up on me.” He looks over and studies my dishevelled appearance. “I’m guessing you found out about his mother, then?” he finally says.

“What gave it away?” I can’t help the bitterness leaking into my tone.

Yes, I had already suspected the truth about Harrison’s connection to Vivienne, but finding out for certain that he kept it from me is more painful than I could have imagined.

Grumps snorts. “The general air of being kicked in the teeth and frankly the whiskey fumes coming off you.”

“Yeah, you’re not exactly catching me at my best,” I mumble. “It was a…difficult night.”

“I can imagine,” he murmurs, his gaze once again skimming the bloodstains. “You don’t have to tell me the specifics if you don’t want to. I’m sure I’ll get the full story from Harrison, but you look like you could use a friendly ear.”

“Is there anything friendly about you?”

He grins. “Alright, a nonjudgmental ear.”

“I honestly don’t know what to say,” I admit. “My head’s a bit crowded right now.”