I tug her back to my chest.
I respond hoarsely, “Never!”
Her body softens against mine.
We spend some much-needed time in each other’s arms.
We fly home.
The jet is small, but large enough to hold Sam, both my parents, Brian, and me. Samantha looks up, a question in her eyes.
“Are you nervous?”
She shrugs, not taking her eyes off the jet, “It seems so small. I guess I’ve never flown in something this small.” Her big blue eyes turn to mine.
I smile and drop a kiss to her temple, “Come on. If you get scared, I’ll promise to find a way to distract you.” I wiggle my brows at her.
She rolls her eyes at me but grins back.
After we board, I grab the iPad I bought her to read on. She checks the store’s emails and Facebook page, before pulling up a crossword puzzle.
"I don't know why I didn't already have one of these things, it's so convenient." I'm glad she likes it. Although, I haven't seen her open the iBook app once.
“Book Purist,” I huff, and she glares, but doesn’t say anything against it.
When we land there is a car waiting for us. Sammy laughs, then grabs her stomach, cutting the lovely sound off prematurely. I'm sure she’s in pain. A wince crosses her face.
She looks at me and smiles, "Mr. Big-stuff." She winks, "No normal town car for us. No, we get the tank of limos riding with you!"
Her smile makes me smile, so instead of telling her I got it so it would be easier for her to get in and out of, I play along, "Are you kidding? I'd never fit in a regular ole town car."
She rolls her eyes, "Haven't we talked about that ego of yours?"
My dad is standing next to me, he sighs, "I like this girl."
I punch his shoulder playfully, "Hey old man, you already got one. Eyes off mine."
He chuckles and looks over at my mother, "Boy, I couldn't keep up with two."
When my mom catches us looking. She waves and gives my dad a saucy smile.
"Gross," I mutter like a sullen teenager.
Brian takes a separate car. Waiting, he waves us off. He's going back to Sammy’s other apartment. He promises to come see us soon at the townhouse.
After the day of travel she’s beat, falling asleep with her head on my shoulder five minutes into the long car ride home. When we pull up to the building, I'm tempted to carry her, but I know she'd wake up. I don’t want to startle her.
I quietly usher my parents from the car and wake her gently.
"Sammy, time to wake up, sleeping beauty." She smiles but doesn't move to get up. I try to bait her, "I have it on good authority that there’s a bed, a really comfy bed, just a few steps away. One that’s large and surrounded by walls.” She cracks open an eye, tempted, even if she’s still too sore. “Do you want me to carry you, sweets? You know I will." I tease.
I really would love to, but I know she wouldn't want that, especially in front of my parents.
"I'm comfy now," she pouts closing her eyes.
"Baby if I really thought you were comfortable, I'd make them keep this behemoth parked here indefinitely, but you’re not. Let's go have a look around. You can even skip right to the bedroom, I'm good with that." I deepen my voice on the last line, the way I know she likes.
Her eyelids lift, her smolder evident, "You're evil. You know that right?"
