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"What about therapy and antidepressants?"
She shakes her head. "I don't have a future. What's the best that could happen--I get another law job?"
"You loved being a lawyer."
"I loved studying the law. But writing contracts for sixty hours a week? I can do it. I can convince everyone there that nothing is wrong. And I even like going to the office, and making a cup of coffee with awful powdered French vanilla creamer. But God, when it's seven o'clock and I have another two hours of work so I can help some company squeeze a little bit more out of its employees?"
"You'd be a great teacher."
"Yeah, right," she says. "It's more than the job, Luke. If it was just the job, I could take it. But the job is all I have now."
My head pounds. This isn't how this is supposed to be going. I'm supposed to be convincing her everything is okay so I can go back to Alyssa.
I'm supposed to repay this debt, not make things worse.
There's horrible dread in Samantha's eyes. She presses her hands together. "I think about my future, and it's empty. I'm never going to meet someone. I'm never going to have a family..."
"You'll meet someone else. You're a beautiful--"
"I'm not beautiful." She folds her arms. "And it doesn't do me any good to listen to your lies. Especially when you're dating the hot actress."
I rub my temples, but my head is still aching. I need to put an end to this conversation. I need to convince Samantha that she's wrong, that she has a future.
I meet her gaze. "Fine. You're not beautiful. But you look nice. You're not at your best at the moment, but I've seen you in your suit and makeup. There's something very appealing about it. There must be. Edward would not have wasted his time with an unappealing woman."
She shakes her head, almost cracking a smile. "This is the strangest pep talk."
"Fuck the pep talk. You were right. It's pointless. It's bullshit. I don't want to lie to you. Your life sucks right now, but it will get better. You can find your passion again. You'll meet someone. Some shallow asshole who loves Guns, Germs, and Steel."
"That sounds like a pep talk."
"Okay, it's a pep talk. And I swear, I'm not going to keep doing it. But I believe in you, Sam. You're going to be happy again one day. You just need a little help getting there."
"A little?"
"Everyone needs help sometimes."
She looks me straight in the eyes. "Yeah, everyone except for Luke Lawrence."
CHAPTER ELEVEN
I call Alyssa as soon as I get back to the hotel. She's not going to be happy I'm staying with Samantha all weekend, but she has to understand.
She picks up after the first ring. "Hey." T
here's much joy in her voice. Like she's expecting good news.
"Hey yourself." I pull the curtains open to let some light into the dull room. I'm not going to be able to count on Alyssa's laugh filling it with warmth.
Not after I tell her about this weekend.
"Are you exhausted from saving the world?" she asks.
"I manage."
"Did you sleep last night?"
"Mhmm. Someone wore me out."
