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I laughed lightly. “I think so too.” I leaned back, running mythumb along his mouth. “I told you that I would make you fall in love with mefirst.”

He pushed me onto my back and snarled into the crook of my neck.

A burst of laughter left me at the ticklish feeling of his beardagainst my skin.

Sammy lifted his head, lying on his side beside me and linkinghis fingers between mine. “I’d like you to meet my parents. I know that soundsweird since they’re both…” He cleared his throat. “Anyway, I just…”

“I’d love to meet them.” I brought his hand to my mouth, kissingthe back of his knuckles. “Just let me know when.”

“I will, thank you.” He paused. “We have a few hours before yourappointment.”

“Are you telling me that I should shut up so we can get somesleep?” I asked, pulling the blankets up and over us.

“If it gets you to shut up.” He lightly smacked my ass. “Yes.”

I laughed, pushing my ass into his waist. “I love you, Sam.”

He wrapped himself around me, kissing the side of my neck. “Ilove you, Amber.”

***

(Sammy)

Assoon as I uttered those words, it was like a weight had been lifted off myshoulders. It was something I never expected to feel. Something I never evenwanted to feel if I was being honest with myself. I thought back to my parents.How much they loved each other. How much they needed each other. And when mymom was taken from my dad, even though his heart was still beating, it killedhim. He wasn’t the same and ever since, I regretted not telling him how I felt.I knew my brother felt the same way. We were pissed at him. It wasn’t right.Both of us knew that. But it was the truth.

My phone buzzed, vibrating on the nightstand beside me.

Kissing Amber’s temple, I slipped out from her warmth, grabbedmy phone, and left her room.

Instead of texting Cyrus back, I called him up.

“Hey, brother,” he answered almost instantly.

“Couldn’t sleep?” I asked him, making my way out to the balcony.My eyes landed on the pack of smokes and ashtray on the table, remembering whenshe told me she bought them for me so I would have them when needed. It was oneof the things I loved about her. How she didn’t judge me for my habit.

“Ainsley woke up from a nightmare and I saw the time. FiguredI’d give you a call to see how you are.”

“I know,” I told him, as if I could read his thoughts.

“You’re good?”

“Yeah, Cyrus. I am.” I sat on the patio couch, lit up acigarette, and blew the smoke out slowly. The spicy sustenance sent a wave ofpeace over me, and I couldn’t help but lean back against the couch and let outa heavy sigh. “I really am.”

“It’s about time huh?”

“You have no idea.”

“How’s Amber?”

The conversation went on like that for the next little while. Hewould ask about my relationship. I would ask about his. It was something wenever talked about before and just assumed the other was happy. But I was gladwe did.

Though we constantly texted back and forth and I saw him andAinsley at the clubhouse from time to time, it wasn’t enough. We decided tochange that.

“It’s us against the world,” he reminded me.

“It is.” And it really was.

***