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“We need to talk,” I told her.
She furrowed her brow. “Are you serious? You want to do this now?”
“I know we said we’d wait until after Bill was caught,” I said. “But I don’t think we can wait until then. I don’t want to wait until then.”
She pulled her hand from my grasp as irritation and frustration flashed across her face.
“Ryan, I’ve already told you, I can’t risk Henry. I’m sorry, but that’s just how it is…”
“But I can protect you both,” I insisted. “I know this isn’t fair, Sam, but Bill won’t be the last problem I’ll ever have to face. I’m too rich and too well-known. Being with me in general is a risk, but I don’t want you to think I don’t recognize that and won’t do everything in my power to keep you and Henry safe.”
“I get that, Ryan,” Sam huffed. “I really do, but can we please not do this now? We’re at Jason’s wedding, for crying out loud! Let’s just get through the night, and we can figure this all out tomorrow or something, okay?”
I didn’t want to wait, but at that moment, another bridesmaid came up to us and snagged Sam’s attention, telling her Mandy wanted her.
“Sam,” I murmured.
“We’ll talk later,” she said in a firm tone. She turned and hurried away, and there wasn’t anything I could do to stop her. At least, not anything that wouldn’t end up with her furious at me.
Sighing, I turned and made my way to the bar. I ordered a scotch and stood by the wall, keeping to myself as the party really started to get underway.
Everyone appeared to be having a good time, which I was glad for, but I just couldn’t get myself to put my troubles aside so I could just enjoy the night.
I picked Sam out of the crowd and kept my eyes on her as she weaved through the other guests, chatted, laughed, and danced. Henry was running around with a few other little kids, clearly having a blast, and I envied them both.
They were so at ease with these people. With this town. Even though I’d grown up here, I felt like I was standing on the outside looking in. It was my own fault, really. If I hadn’t stayed away for so long, I might have felt like an actual member of the community. Instead, I felt like an interloper witnessing something that wasn’t for me.
“Damn, dude, you’re going to scare the kids with that scowl.”
Startled, I turned my head and found Jason walking toward me.
“What are you doing?” I asked. “Shouldn’t you be dancing with your new bride?”
He nodded. “You’d think, but she keeps getting pulled into conversation by every other person here. I don’t know that I’m going to get much time with her tonight.”
“Yeah, that’s the ironic thing about weddings, isn’t it?” I chuckled dryly. “The couple starts their marriage off being pulled in a million different directions from each other.”
“We should’ve eloped.” Jason sighed.
I patted him on his shoulder. “Your parents would’ve killed you.”
“You got me there,” he agreed. Glancing back at me, he looked me up and down before asking, “Something’s up with you. Don’t try to deny it. I can tell.”
I shrugged. “Doesn’t matter right now.”
He frowned. “Of course it does. Come on, man. I appreciate you putting on a happy face for my wedding, but you can’t fool me. Is it about Sam?”
I closed my eyes and sighed. “I don’t know if I’ll ever get things right with her.”
Jason didn’t say anything for several moments.
When he did speak, he sounded resolved. “Look, man. I know I don’t have any right to insert myself between you and Sam, no matter how much I want to. However, I’ll at least say this. I’ve watched Sam raise Henry by herself these last seven years, and she’s done an incredible job, completely at the expense of herself. She hasn’t allowed herself to be vulnerable with anyone, and she hasn’t let anyone close enough to her to break her heart again. Whatever is going on between you two, you’ve just got to know that she hasn’t opened up to someone like this before. For whatever reason, you’re the man she wants, even if she’s not ready to fully admit it. If you want her as much as I think you do, you can’t let her push you away. She’s done that far too much to too many people. Don’t let her run.”
I stared at Jason, totally dumbstruck. I hadn’t expected to hear something like that from him.
“I didn’t think you wanted me anywhere near her,” I murmured.
He snorted. “Yeah, well, it’s not really up to me, is it? Besides, I know you’re not the same dumb kid you were when you left her before. I know you want to take care of her and Henry. As much as the idea of you and my sister weirds me out, I suppose I’m really thankful that, if it had to be anybody, it’s you.”
