Page 145 of Always Love You More

He nods. “No, yeah, of course. And again, I didn’t mean—”

“It’s all good,” I say, silencing him.

I shift my attention to Sam. “You ready?”

“Mmhmm.”

Slowly, I start for the side of the deck, figuring it’ll be easier to lead her around the house rather than making our way through the crowd inside

But when we get to the stairs, she stumbles. “I don’t know where my feet are supposed to go anymore.”

“I’ve got you,” I tell her, scooping her up into my arms. She buries her face into my chest as I carry her toward the car.

We’re almost to the front of the lawn when she smacks my arm. “Put me down. I’m gonna—”

I lower her to her feet right before she hunches over and pukes. I grab her hair, pulling it away from her face as she heaves again and again.

She straightens and groans when she notices the mess she’s made of her jacket and shirt. Dropping her eyes, she whispers, “I’m so sorry I … This is so—”

“Stop,” I say softly. “You’re fine.”

I start leading her back to the car, and she shrinks as she realizes people are staring.

Turning, I shoot them a look that has them suddenly minding their own fucking business then wrap my arm around her and walk the rest of the way to my car.

Opening the passenger door, I position her so the door is covering one side of her body and I’m covering the other. I quickly glance around to make sure nobody can see us then strip off her ruined jacket and shirt. After balling them up, I toss them into the back seat and pull my gray hoodie over my head before sliding it over hers.

“All better,” I say, looking her over.

She peers up at me, and I step forward, pulling her into my arms. Gently, I settle her into the passenger seat and buckle her in. Then I round the car, dropping into my seat.

“You sure you’re good to come to my house?”

“Locked my bedroom door,” she answers. So nobody will know she was gone if I have her back by morning. Good. At least there’s that.

I nod, starting up the car. I want to ask what happened, but then I look over at her and any questions fade from my mind.

She’s slumped in her seat, her knees pulled up to her chest, her eyes fixed on the window, staring at something that isn’t there.

I pull away from the curb and save my questions for later, knowing that, right now, she just needs someone to take care of her.

I push the front door open, Sam balanced in my arms. Tucking her body into mine with one hand, I use the other to switch on a light. She curls into me, pressing her face into my chest.

Moving down the hall, I glance into my mother’s room and see that she’s asleep. Quietly, I shut the door then continue down the hall until we’ve reached my room. There, I shoulder the door open and set Sam down on my bed.

Hovering over her, I wait for her to look up at me, but her eyes stay trained on the floor. She has her arms wrapped around her middle, her shoulders curled forward.

I start to lower myself in front of her when she blurts out, “Jamie, I’m gonna—”

She lunges from the bed, stumbling forward.

I shoot up, wrapping my arm around her and rush us to the bathroom across the hall. She drops to her knees in front of the toilet and heaves.

Leaning forward, I gather her hair and pull it back, rubbing slow circles on her back with my other hand. “That’s it,” I breathe. “You’re okay. Just get it all out.”

We stay like this until she drops onto her heels and scooches away from me.

“You should go,” she says, attempting to cover herself. “I don’t want you to see me like this. I’ll just—”