Page 38 of Always Love You More

“Of course,” Billy answers.

Johnny glances at me, and I nod.

“All right, sure. I’ll swing by after to pick you up.”

Sam smiles. “Thanks.”

He gives her a warning stare. “I’m trusting you.”

His words hold a story.Has she given him a reason not to trust her before?

“I’ll be fine,” she assures him.

Something passes between them before finally he nods. “We should get back,” he says, shifting his attention to me. “You think we’re good to go out there. Marcus said—”

I stand. “I’ll go look.”

Pushing open the door, I can hear Marcus talking to my father. I quietly take a few steps until I’m sure their voices are comingfrom the back room. I check the garage next and find Luke underneath a car.

Returning to the break room, I hover in the doorway. “We’re all good.”

I spend the rest of the day helping Billy and Luke in the garage, my muscles aching from the hours I put in earlier at the gym. I’m not sure where Johnny went off to, but I’m relieved I haven’t been called in by Marcus or my old man. I really don’t want to deal with him when he’s in a mood like this.

Luke has been pleasant, but he always is. I can tell by his short responses and the strain in his eyes that he’s still upset, though.

It’s just past six when he tells me and Billy that we can be done for the day. Billy lets him know that we’re heading out, and I stop by my father’s office to let him know, too. I brace myself for him to tell me that he needs me to stay back and help him with something, but he just waves me off.

When I get back to the front, Billy is already standing by Sam, who’s packing up her bag excitedly, throwing in all the things she has spread across the desk. She tosses it over her shoulder then ties up her hair and secures it with a clip she was holding in her mouth.

She has such a hectic energy to her, so different from how controlled I am. She kind of reminds me of Billy in that way.

I pull my sunglasses from where they’re tucked into the front of my shirt and slide them on. “You ready?”

She nods, coming around the desk.

When we step outside, she shuffles through her purse and grabs her own pair of sunglasses. They’re huge, covering half her face.

Billy laughs. “You look like a movie star.”

She smiles, but instead of answering, she digs through her purse again, pulling out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. She waves the pack between us. “Either of you want one?”

Neither of us really smoke, so we both shake our heads.

She lights one, and I watch as she brings it to her lips.

Exhaling, she asks, “So, who’s gonna be there tonight?”

“Just a few of our friends,” Billy says. “They’re chill. You’ll like ’em.”

She nods, but looks unsure.

“A few of us are in a band together,” Billy adds.

“Really?” She looks up at me. “Are you in the band, too?”

I shake my head.

“Do you play any instruments?” Billy asks her.