Page 155 of Always Love You More

“He say anything else?”

She shakes her head. “Nothing. The only thing he said was that he didn’t want to talk about it.”

“She left him a note,” I mutter.

“Fuck.”

“Yeah. He didn’t tell me what it said, but …”

“You think she’s gone for good?”

The words die on my lips when I see Billy step out of the house. His shoulders are slumped, his head bowed. He looks completely fucking defeated.

He looks like a kid whose mother just abandoned him.

Sam pushes her door open as he walks toward us. He keeps his eyes on the ground, his body rigid. She takes a step forward, closing the remaining distance between them, and throws her arms around him. His body is stiff, his arms pinned to his sides, but after a few seconds, I watch as he lets go. As he lets himself break. He wraps himself around her like she’s a lifeline. Like even though he’s twice her size, she’s the only thing keeping him standing.

My grip on the steering wheel tightens as his body begins to shake. I stay in the car, giving him the space he needs as he sobs, grieving something he never should have had to lose.

Minutes pass before he finally pulls away from her. She says something to him, and he nods, following her to the car.

I step out as they approach, rounding the car to meet them. Sam’s eyes are glassy as she glances over at me, and I wonder if this is all too much for her. If Billy’s pain is hitting too close to home.

She must read it on my face because she raises her chin and gives me a sad smile. The words clear—I’m okay. She tips her head toward Billy—I can do this for him.

I nod, grateful to have her here. Grateful that Billy has someone like her by his side.

Shifting my attention to him, I take in his bloodshot eyes, the heaviness in them illuminated by my glowing headlights.

I sling an arm around his shoulders. “You’re gonna get through this,” I say quietly.

He jerks his chin into a nod. “Yeah, I know.” He steps away from me and clears his throat, trying to straighten, as if he’s fine. “I just needed a minute.”

“You can have more than a minute,” Sam says.

“She doesn’t deserve it,” he mutters.

“Yeah,” Sam whispers. “But you do.”

He pulls his head back.

“You’re allowed to be upset,” she tells him.

“I know.” He kicks a rock at his feet, crossing his arms over his chest. “But I don’t want to be upset anymore. It’s too much. I just want a distraction.”

“We can give you that.” I nod. “What do you wanna—”

“I just need to get away from this house,” he cuts in.

“All right,” I answer, knowing exactly how he feels. “Get in.”

He slides into the back seat, and Sam takes her place up front.

We drive around in silence until Billy says, “I wanna go to the park and get drunk.”

I raise an eyebrow, looking back at him in the rearview mirror. Billy drinks at parties, but he’s never really been someone who drinks to get drunk. Although, I guess if there was gonna be a time to do it, it would be now.

I swing into the nearest gas station, willing to give him whatever he needs to get through this. “Be back in a minute,” I tell them, throwing the car into park.