The Last One(54)
I ventured to touch his arm, fingering the hard muscle where tanned skin disappeared into the tight sleeve of the shirt. “At the time, I didn’t care. And since no one did come along, I still don’t care. So stop beating yourself up.”
A flush crept up his neck. “Yeah, I guess I’d have to agree. I was pretty far gone. I’m not sure anything or anyone could’ve stopped me.” He reached his other hand to cover mine where it still rested on his arm. “But Meghan, I am sorry about before. About tonight. I was way, way out of line, and I was wrong. I don’t have any excuse. When I heard what Ali said, I just couldn’t think straight.”
I struggled to sit up a little, keeping my hand within his and pushing up on the other elbow. “Sam, nothing happened last night. Ali and I hung out with her friend Alex, and yes, we danced, but he definitely isn’t interested in me.”
Sam’s lips curved into a smile. “Yeah, my sister told me. She felt awful.” He snorted. “Serves her right, trying to play around with people’s lives. Maybe she learned a lesson.”
“I doubt it.” I grinned, and Sam laughed.
“You’re probably right.” He looked out the windshield, down the road to where the last lingering rays of the sun danced between the trees. “Anyway, I didn’t mean what I said. None of it. I was hurt, I guess, thinking you’d been with some other guy and then coming home to me.”
“I don’t play like that.” I kept my voice even and serious. “I do date a lot. I’ve been upfront about that with you. But I never see more than one guy at a time, and cheating is never okay. Not for me, not anyone I’m with.”
“I know that.” He cupped my face in one large hand, and I leaned into his palm, letting the gentleness of his touch undo me. “So what happens now?”
I turned my head to kiss the center of his hand. “What do you want to happen next, Sam?”
His eyes were steady on mine. “I want to take you home and let my sister know you’re okay. She’s probably going crazy, worrying.” He paused, and I could almost see the wheels turning in his head. “And then ... I want to be with you, for this summer. I don’t want to hide anything, or make it something shameful, something to keep secret.”
“We’re both grownups,” I agreed. “No reason to hide, as long as everyone knows ... it’s just a summer thing. Just for now.”
His eyes flickered. “Yeah.” He rubbed his face and sighed. “It’s not that I don’t feel something for you, Meghan, but the farm, and Ali—”
“And Bridget. They all have to come first. I get it. And you know I’m not looking for anything serious. I just want to enjoy whatever this is between us. I don’t want to fight it, or fight you.”
Sam pulled me up against his side. “I don’t know, if a fight leads to something like what happened tonight, maybe it’s not a totally bad thing.”
I laughed. “Okay, point taken. But maybe it doesn’t have to get so serious before we let off that steam.”
“Yeah.” He shook his head. “Jesus, you scared me, Meghan. When you went past me, you had to be doing over ninety. And when I saw you go into that skid—” He shuddered. “I don’t think I’ve ever been so scared in my life.”
“I’m sorry.” It was my turn to apologize. “It’s kind of my thing. When I get mad, or sad, or upset, I go driving. I blare the radio and just wander. Usually not so fast, but you really got to me tonight. I was ... hurt.”
He winced. “I’m an idiot.” His hand caressed my face again. “How can I make it up to you?”
“I’m sure I’ll think of something. For now, maybe you should try to find me my shorts.”
WHEN WE GOT BACK to the house—me driving slow and sane, with Sam sticking close behind me—Ali was sitting on the steps to the kitchen. As soon as I opened my car door, she flew across the yard.
“Meghan, I am so, so sorry. I never meant to push it that far. I was stupid. And—” She glanced over my shoulder, to where Sam was approaching us. “And I shouldn’t have tried to interfere in your life. Or my brother’s.”
Sam stepped close enough to me that I could feel the warmth of his body against my back. We’d decided not to keep any secrets from Ali, but I wasn’t sure if he wanted to actually come out and tell her anything. And when I thought about it, what was there to tell? “Hey, Ali, so I’m going to screw your big brother senseless all summer, with no strings attached. You cool with that?”