Page 189 of A Matter of Time

“Sam, I⁠—”

“Let’s go.”

I just stood there, staring at him.

“She went home.” He gestured back at the restaurant.

“Why?”

His smile was sad. “Because when she asked me if I was in love with you, I said yes.”

All I could do was stare at him, up into his eyes.

“Actually, I think what I said was ‘God, yes.’”

“Sam, you don’t⁠—”

His hand closed lightly around the side of my neck, his thumb sliding over my jaw. “Don’t be an idiot. Of course I love you. How could I not?”

I stopped breathing.

His eyes were so soft as he looked down at me. “Come home with me. Let me take care of you. Please. I’m begging you.”

There was no one alive strong enough to say no to that. Or maybe there was, but they didn’t love him with their entire heart and soul. “Okay.” I nodded, and he bent and swept me off my feet like I was a fairy-tale princess.

“Don’t—put me down!”

“Your ankle’s bad,” he grumbled, glaring down at me a moment before his gaze lifted to where he was going. “Shut the fuck up; the car’s right there.”

He dumped me into the seat, slamming the door shut, and I sat for a moment as he got in, holding on to the handle for dear life.

“What? What now?”

I rolled my head to look at him.

“Why’re you holding on so tight?”

“Because I should get out.”

“You’re not getting out,” he said, and I heard the automatic lock engage for good measure.

I didn’t want to argue with him. “It’s just gonna end badly. It always does.”

“Nope,” he grunted, starting the car. “Not this time.”

“Why not?” I sounded weary.

“For starters, because everybody’s gonna know about you. I already told my folks, so⁠—”

“What?” I gasped.

“Hah!” he barked at me. “Didn’t see that coming, did ya, you cocky piece of shit? Always think you know everything… And put on your goddamn seat belt!”

I put it on in a daze, staring at his profile as he pulled away from the curb, easing his ridiculously big car into the street.

After a few minutes of us riding in silence, I asked him to explain what he’d said.

“About telling my folks about you? Is that what you mean?” he asked cheerfully.