Page 51 of Always Love You More

Satisfied, my father turns and stalks off.

Marcus watches me for a minute before my father calls his name and he quickly follows after him.

Johnny and Sam silently lead me to the car. She opens the door to the back seat, and Johnny asks me if I need help getting in. I probably do, but I shake my head.

I don’t even know what to say, how to thank them. I hover in the open door and look between them. “Thank—”

“Don’t,” Johnny says, his tone telling me there’s more to their story than I know. “That never should have … Just get in the car. There’s no need for a thank you.”

I drop my chin in a silent thank you, anyway, then attempt to fold my body into the back seat. It takes twice as long as it should, but I’m finally in.

Johnny goes to the driver’s seat, and I expect Sam to open the passenger door, but she slides in next to me. I don’t look over at her, keeping my eyes forward, my body locked up.

We pull out of the lot, and I feel her slide closer to me. Gently, she lowers her hand over mine. Her thumb begins to slide back and forth, so lightly I can just barely feel it. I let my head fall back, my muscles unclench.

She leans into me, coming so close that our bodies almost touch. “You’re going to be okay,” she whispers.

Chapter 14

Sam

Afterpullingintoourdriveway, Johnny turns back and says, “Wait here.”

Jameson sits up straight, softly groaning with the effort. He watches Johnny slip into the house. “I don’t want to cause any trouble for you. Are your parents—”

“It’s fine,” I assure him.

“Why did he have to go inside then?”

I’m quiet for a minute, thinking about how to answer his question. Before I can give him a reason, Johnny is already making his way back to the car.

He opens my door and crouches down, so he’s at eye level. “They’re both asleep.”

“Good,” I answer, relieved. That’ll make things easier.

“It’s just our brother and old man inside,” Johnny says, looking past me to Jameson. “Neither of them can know you were here.”

“I’m really fine,” Jameson mutters. “I don’t want to create a problem for you guys. You can take me home.”

Johnny shakes his head. “We’ve got you. I’m just gonna need you to be real quiet until we get you into Sam’s room.”

Jameson freezes beside me. “Sam’s room?”

“There’s an empty bed in there. I share a bedroom with my brother, so you can’t stay in my room. Sam used to share with our sister Cathleen, but she moved out.” Johnny glances between us, settling his eyes on Jameson. “I’m trusting you.”

“I would never—”

“I know,” Johnny cuts him off. “Like I said—I trust you.”

Jameson nods, a look on his face that makes it clear how much my brother's show of faith means to him.

“Okay, good,” Johnny says. “Now, a few things before we go in. Our old man is asleep on the couch. It usually takes a lot to wake him, but we still need to be careful.” He pauses, thinking. “And we’ll need to be out by seven tomorrow morning; that should give us enough time before they wake up. And if, for some reason, they’re already awake by then, we’ll use the window.”

I expect Jameson to ask questions, but he just responds, “Got it.”

“Oh,” Johnny adds, “and obviously lock the door.” He turns to me. “You need anything, you come get me. Okay?”

“Okay,” I answer.