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It slipped out. But it was true. I had known him for less than 90 days, and I was hopelessly, irrevocably in love. I’m talking about fight-a-bitch-in-the-street type crazy type love.

He stilled—just for a second. Then pushed deeper. Fucked me harder.

“I love you too, Zane.”

Luckily, my tears were hidden by the rain.

We stayed there, bodies tangled together, moving in the grass, the tree with someone else’s love story watching over ours.

I closed my eyes, listening to his heartbeat under the storm. And for the first time in my whole damn life, I felt I actually understood what love meant—and felt like.

Chapter 27- Sam

We walked into that hotel lobby looking like two people who’d been doing exactly what we’d been doing—fucking in the rain. I could tell by the all-white marble and fresh flowers and bellhops that smelled like cologne samples that this bitch was going to be expensive. My shirt and jeans were still half wet. It had been a terrible idea to have sex in the rain, but I couldn’t help myself. I never could when it came to her.

People looked up from couches and cocktails like we didn’t belong there. But I couldn’t bring myself to give a single fuck.

I waited behind a white dude that reminded me of my father—the relaxed, down-to-earth type. His wife kept looking back at me with a snooty look on her face. But I didn’t pay her any attention. My mind was back in the field of sunflowers.

I still couldn’t believe Zane had exchanged “I love yous,” but it had slipped out of both our mouths too easily. There was no second-guessing, just the truth soaking into our skin like the rain we’d lost ourselves in. And I could tell she meant it when she said it—I saw the tear she tried to hide.

This shit kind of felt surreal, because I thought I’d been in love before. With Janet. But now I realize that was just convenience. I wanted to settle down, and I convinced myselfJanet was the one. But now, when I think about it, I don’t even think I ever really liked her.

Maybe the same would happen with Zane.

The thought crept in before I could stop it. I turned to look at her.

Zane’s hair clung to her face like wild vines. She stood by the elevator, covering her hard chest with her arms. She was trying to be unnoticed, but with her white dress clinging to her body and her pretty face, she was hard not to notice—at least to me.

She looked like love to me… the real kind. The kind that ruins your plans, fucks with your logic. She noticed me looking at her. She smiled in my direction, and my heart jumped. I sighed. I was gone.

I got the key cards and headed upstairs. The suite smelled like eucalyptus and money. The lights were soft, the bed was huge, and the A/C was blowing too cold for me.

I dropped our bags and peeled off my damp shirt. I had an extra one in my gym bag, but Zane had nothing. We hadn’t planned on staying. She glanced over at me as I took the jar of moonshine I’d bought from the bag.

“You really brought moonshine on a day trip?” she said, hands on her hips, grinning.

I chuckled but paused when I looked at her. “Yeah. I always stop and buy one when I’m up this way. I wasn’t going to drink it. The owner can make it taste like strawberry cheesecake. You should try it.”

As soon as I said the words, something clicked in my head. I’d been fucking her for weeks.

Raw.

No pulling out. Just straight fucking.

She reached for the jar and twisted the lid.

“Hold up,” I said, suddenly serious.

She blinked. “Why not?”

I rubbed the back of my neck. “Because you shouldn’t drink on an empty stomach. Just go hop in the shower, alright? I’ma run to the store real quick. Grab us some stuff. We’ll order room service, then the drinks.”

She frowned a little but didn’t push. “Okay. Don’t take forever.” She handed me the jar and sauntered out of the room.

I left fast.

Went to the Target down the block, grabbed T-shirts, shorts, toothbrushes, deodorant—random shit I thought she might need. Then I stood in front of the pregnancy test section trying to figure out what test to buy. I picked up two brands. Just in case.