Page 101 of Always Love You More

“I wasn’t talking about you,” she sputters.

“Right,” he says with a bitter laugh. “You realize Jamesonismy family, right?”

“Yeah, but—”

“You should leave now.”

“Billy,” she pleads.

“Seriously, Madison, you should leave.” He points at Sam. “I don’t know how you got away with saying that shit about Jameson in front of her, but neither of us are gonna step in if she goes after you.”

Her eyes widen. “Jesus, she’s not gonna jump me.”

Sam takes another step forward. “I’m not?”

Madison looks over at Sam and inches back. “Fine, I’m leaving. I don’t need this shit, anyway.”

Sam gives her a condescending wave, mirroring the one Madison gave her when she walked up.

Once she’s gone, Sam mutters, “Bitch” under her breath.

I turn toward Billy. “You all right?”

“Yeah. Why wouldn’t I be?” He shrugs, trying to appear unaffected. “Things were getting weird with her, anyway.”

I start to answer, but he turns from me. “We should probably head to the garage; it’s getting late.”

I nod, giving him the out he clearly wants.

Sam must pick up on it, too, because after a couple minutes of walking, she changes the subject, asking, “So, when can I give you your presents?”

I slow. “You got me presents?”

“Of course I did,” she answers. “It’s your birthday.”

“You didn’t have to do that.”

She smiles. “I know, but I wanted to.”

“Oh, yeah,” Billy says. “When are you gonna give it to him?” He motions to Sam. “We coordinated.”

“You coordinated?”

“Yeah, on your gift,” he clarifies. “What about now?”

“Now?”

“Can we give it to you now?” he asks, the question coming out in an excited rush.

I look between them. “You have it with you?”

They both nod.

“Okay, yeah, sure.”

We move off to the side of the road, and Sam fishes around in her purse until she pulls out two packages.

She hands one to me and says, “This one is from Billy.” Then hands me another and adds. “And this one is from me.” She eyes them, shifting on her feet. “Well, they’re really just both from us.”