Page 4 of Bear With Me
“Hey,” he responds, his eyes still on the ladies trolling around us, “I don’t know about you, but I find my childlike enthusiasm entertaining.”
“Yeah, keep telling yourself that.” But I can’t help the smile that spreads. “So what do you need? Are you ready to head back to Nonna’s?” There’s a good book and a comfortable bed with my name on it. I figure outside of classes I can read myself into a coma.
Sam puts all four legs of the wrought iron chair down and manages to tear his attention away from the ladies. “So, you know you love me, right? Most times, I mean.”
“Ye-e-s? Did you get into some kind of trouble already? Dammit, Sam.”
He holds up a hand. “Wow, what a show of faith, I’m hurt Sully. Really hurt.”
I roll my eyes. “What do you want?” And I’m so distracted I forget to be pissed about him calling me Sully.
“Well there’s this thing tonight.”
“Thing?”
“This huge party they have every year. Some kind of summer festival. The whole town goes.”
“So? What do you need me for?”
“To protect me. The women here,” he looks off into the distance smiling fondly, “they’re animals.”
“I think you can handle yourself.”
“So you’re going to leave me to the wolves?”
I take a drink so I can compose my answer. “I don’t know, Sam. We don’t know anyone here.”
“That’s the point. I know you don’t want to talk about Mom and Dad, so I won’t, but you have got to get out of the house. Live a little. So I want you to go to this thing with me. Have a little fun. What could it hurt?”
Famous last words.
chapter two
SULLY
The moment we arrive I can tell I sorely miscalculated this “festival”. Everyone else is in jeans and T-shirts while I hop out of the truck in a dress Sam said would be fine. That’s the last time I’ll ever take his advice. I glare at him, but he doesn’t notice, not with a party going on, the social butterfly that he is. He definitely got all of the extrovert genes when we shared a womb.
The bastard. He could have at least shared.
He looks back towards me for permission and I sigh, knowing that he won’t be able to stay glued by my side no matter how much I want him to. “Go ahead,” I tell him.
Sam grins and for a moment the pain that’s a mirror of my own melts from his face. Seeing that, knowing that he hides his more easily than I do, I’m glad I decided to come with him. No one else but me can see the sadness that pulls the light from his eyes or the pallor his complexion has taken due to lack of sleep. Some of it, I put there, and he doesn’t deserve that.
I tilt my cheek up to receive his kiss on my cheek. “I’ll see you later.” He backs away smiling.
Then I’m left alone, but I put on a brave face. If he can do this, then so can I.
From the way he described it, I thought this was supposed to be some sort of town fair of sorts. With vendors and bouncy houses. I was wrong.
This is a college party complete with kegs, bonfires, and tailgates. Groups of beautiful looking people are bunched together clasping red plastic cups, their cheeks already ruddy with alcohol. No one seems to pay any mind to the growing darkness or the looming threat of rain.
Sam has already found himself a group of girls to charm and based on his laugh, I made the right choice in coming with him. Seeing him happy lifts my spirits, so I slog across the field to the keg, my delicate lace ballet flats taking a beating. I don’t plan on drinking much, if any, but I need something to keep my hands busy.
Cup in hand, I navigate through the crowd, hoping to spot a kind face. Instead, I run smack into a group of rowdy frat guys whose eyes collectively brighten at my presence.
“Oh,” one says, as the fire throws harsh shadows over his normally handsome face, “look what we have here.” People don’t really sound like villains in an after school special, do they? My luck I’d find some slime bucket straight off.
I back away, but not before he puts his hands on my arm, his grip inescapable. I use my free hand to try and push him away, stealing myself against the contact. “Sorry, excuse me.”