Page 28 of Fated to Them

“You’re home. Sam has called three times to see if you’re still coming and said he couldn’t get you on your mobile,” my mother says as I race upstairs.

I grab my clothes, heading for the bathroom.

“What did you tell him?” I call out.

“That, of course, you were meeting him.”

That’s my Momma. She knows me well.

I reckon I could break the record for the fastest shower and make-up job in history.

“Have fun,” my mother says, smacking my ass as I try to slip my shoes on.

Rushing to my car, I hop in before heading back toward my workplace, as Morgan’s Diner is directly opposite it. I park out the front and see Sam waiting already in the window. A silly grin creeps on my face as I step out of the car. He notices me, walking out to meet me.

I lock my car only to turn around, and Sam kisses me, grabbing my ass and pulling me against him.

“I missed you,” he says against my lips.

“Missed you too,” I tell him, wondering what’s come over him. He usually isn’t so handsy and most definitely not so affectionate.

I step back, looking at him. He has on his black leather jacket and jeans with a tight-fitting black shirt underneath, revealing his muscular chest, and I can just make out the line of his abs.

“You look good. I can’t believe you’re back. I thought for sure you were going to ditch me here,” I tell him.

“Yeah, I have been thinking a lot. I missed home, have decided I am staying home from now on,” he says, grabbing my hand in his large one. He leads me inside, and we sit at the booth near the back.

The waitress comes over to take our orders.

“So, what has been happening with you?” he asks.

“Nothing, really. Still working across the street at a different level now. I work for the owners directly, but other than that, not much. My sister did another runner,” I tell him.

“Again? I thought she was doing good at this one,” he replies, and I nod.

“She lasted an entire month before she skipped out. Haven’t seen or heard from her for nearly four months now.”

“She will come back. She always does,” he says, grabbing my hand.

Sam is probably the only person I actually tell anything. Not even Bella knowns about my sister.

“What about you?” I ask as our food comes out. I take a bite of my burger before looking up at him.

“Nothing, really. Fucking freezing over there. Rains all the time. Was driving me nuts.”

“So, what brought you back?”

“Mom. Dad died while I was over there. I just couldn’t bring myself to leave her here alone,” he says, and I nod in understanding.

“How are you, though?”

“Fine, I never got along with dad. You know that I just worry for mom. They have been together since they were teens,” he says with a sigh.

We eat in comfortable silence. One thing I like about Sam is that we don’t feel the need to fill the silence. It’s never awkward. When we finish, we order another coffee each.

“My house or yours?”

“You really have to ask?”