Page 200 of Always Love You More

“I know,” I agree. “It’s gonna be weird.”

“I haven’t heard them play in so long.”

“Billy says they’re really good. Like ‘they could be famous kind of good.’”

Sam exhales, turning to me. “Could you imagine?”

I shake my head. “It’d be wild. Someone famous from around here?”

We turn onto my street.

“Cathleen still covering for you tonight?” I ask. “There’s a party after.”

“Yeah,” Sam answers. “I’m good.”

“How’re things at home with—”

“Fine,” she cuts in.

“Baby …”

“Can we just not talk about heavy shit tonight?”

I kill the engine and face her.

“I was at the diner since six this morning,” she continues. “And then at the park, picking up trash all afternoon. I don’t want to spend my night thinking about my fucked-up home life. I just wanna forget, you know? Just for a little bit.”

I nod, though I must look wary because she leans forward and grabs my hand.

“Not forget like that,” she clarifies. “I just need a night to let go. To be with you and not think.”

“I get it,” I tell her, leaning in and brushing my lips over hers.

She deepens the kiss for only a second, like she can’t help herself, before pushing me back. “I’m all sweaty,” she breathes, turning to open her door.

I follow her into the house, and she slows when I stop in the kitchen.

“What’re you doing?”

Opening the fridge, I pull out some cold cuts. “You never eat when you’re busy.”

She stares back at me.

I tip my chin toward the hall. “Go shower. I’ll have this ready when you’re done.”

“You don’t have to—”

“Baby”—I step forward, silencing her—“we talked about this.”

She tips her head back as she looks up at me.

“What’s my job?”

She bites her lip.

“Hmm?”

“To take care of me,” she whispers.