Page 42 of Let’s Be Real

Kelly had more to say. “It sounds like you don’t have a lot of time. You don’t have to make amends. You could just tell her to her face what a shitty, god-awful person she is, and how you’ve become the man you are despite her, not because of her. I know I’m petty, but if Josh were on his deathbed, I’d flounce in there and really let him have it.”

Kelly wasn’t wrong, but I also wasn’t petty. I had no desire to tell Louise off. I didn’t want anything from her. There was no forgiveness to be had. What she’d done was unforgivable.

Kelly also wasn’t right. Part of the man I’d become was directly due to my mother. Every day, I swallowed down my pills so I didn’t end up like her. Then I had to look at myself in the mirror and wonder if it was the day the medicine stopped working and the time bomb in my head went off.

My hand tightened on the steering wheel, and Samantha’s fingers flexed around the one she was holding.

“I’ll take that into consideration,” I said.

We were nearing Denver when I asked Kelly where I should take her.

“Where do you live?” she countered.

“Uh…”

Samantha jumped in. “Nate’s asking for your address.”

Kelly groaned impatiently. “No kidding. Obviously, I’m not going there. That’s the first place Josh and our parents will look. I’m going home with you guys. Wait—do you live together?”

Samantha’s eyes were wide and panicked. Then she schooled her expression so quickly, I almost thought I’d imagined it.

“We don’t live together yet.” Samantha hesitated. “I guess you could stay with me for the night?”

“Great. I really doubt anyone would think to look for me at your place.” Kelly huffed a laugh. “Even I’m surprised by it, and it was my idea.”

It seemed Samantha and I were keeping up the ruse of being a couple. The problem was, I didn’t know where she lived, and asking my girlfriend for her address wasn’t the smoothest move. Luckily, Samantha was a step ahead of me. Without saying a word, she punched her address into my GPS.

I pulled up to her townhouse without any drama, easily finding a spot on the street to park. Grabbing her bags, I followed her and Kelly inside, careful not to be obvious as I took the place in.

Samantha lived in a renovated townhouse with modern fixtures and bright, open spaces. The front door opened into a hallway leading to the stairs. Off to the left was the living room, sparsely furnished with a comfortable-looking sofa, small TV, and coffee table. The living room led into a sleek kitchen with gray cabinets and white countertops, with a vase full of pink roses on the island.

Kelly fingered a petal. “Let me guess, these are from Nate.”

Samantha grinned at me, her eyebrows lifting. “You’re right. My boyfriend’s a sweetheart.”

I chuckled, shuffling my feet on the tile. “Only because my girlfriend is the best.”

Kelly sighed then announced she was going upstairs to find her bedroom. Samantha told her she’d be right up to help.

Once we were alone, she shook her head and whispered, “God, I’m so sorry.”

“For what?”

“This.” She tipped her head toward the stairs. “This isn’t what you signed up for.”

“Well, if anything, my job ended early.”

“Except she’s still under the impression we’re a couple.”

“It doesn’t bother me if she thinks that. Are you going to be okay with her?”

“I don’t know.” She shoved her hair off her face. “This is really weird, but I feel like I have to help her if I can.”

“I understand wanting to help her. Just don’t let her mistreat you.” I nudged the underside of her chin, bringing her eyes to mine. “Hear me? She’s upset, but you’ve done nothing to deserve her wrath. Don’t take it.”

She swallowed hard. Then her mouth slid into a smile. “You’re bossy when you want to be, aren’t you?”

“When I need to be,” I corrected, taking her chin between my fingers and giving it a light shake. “Be good, Samantha. Let me know if you need help.”