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CHAPTER FIFTEEN

WHATEVER YOU WANT

PENN

Well, Sam and I are quite the pair the next morning.

I couldn’t sleep due to the fact that Addy had asked me to marry her . And Sam looks like he lost a fight with a wrecking ball.

He’s doing a hell of a lot better than last night, but his eyes are swollen and edged in black and purple. Every time I look at him, I want to throw someone through the wall for putting him in the ER. But he’s chipper, stuffing a waffle in his mouth while wearing my sunglasses and a baseball cap.

“Dude,” I say, sitting across from him. “You look like a celebrity avoiding the paparazzi.”

He lifts his chin, pushing his sunglasses higher on his nose. “My face looks like a crime scene.” He finishes the waffle in three bites, and I slide another on his plate. He looks at me gratefully, taking another huge bite. “I love these waffles. Thanks, Penn.”

“Sure thing, bud. What’s mine is yours. I appreciate that you’re grateful, but you don’t have to keep saying thank you. I want you to get comfortable enough around here that you tell me whatever you need. We can go to the grocery store later and you can pick out all the things.”

“Really? That would be awesome!” He leans forward. “I like vegetables too. I promise I won’t just pick out junk.”

“I trust you, little dude.”

He grins and then it falters. “I do kinda need one thing…or two.”

“What’s that?”

“Well, I don’t really have my clothes or sneakers. I didn’t have many that fit anyway, and they’ve probably already given them to another kid.” He lifts his shoulder in a shrug. “Just something for school tomorrow.”

That’s all I need to hear. “As soon as you feel up to it, we’ll go shopping.”

“Today?”

“If you’re feeling good enough to go, sure.”

He smiles again and I keep being struck by how young he looks when he’s happy like this.

“I’m feeling good,” he says. “Do you…do you think I’ll get to stay? With you?”

“I think I’m going to do whatever it takes to make that happen…even if it takes extreme measures.”

His eyes brighten and he nods happily. “Okay. Let’s go today then. We can pretend like we’re skipping school.”

“One of us is skipping school,” I tease. “But I did call the school and it’s an excused absence.”

“Did you get in trouble for missing practice?”

I make a face. “Nah. Coach Evans wanted to give me a hard time, but I told him about what you’d been through and he was really sorry to hear that you’d been hurt. He remembers meeting you at last year’s family day and liked you a lot. I hope it’s okay that I told him a little about what happened.”

He nods. “Anything to stay out of trouble with him. He is Addy’s dad and you don’t want to be on his bad side.”

I squeeze his shoulder. “You are wise beyond your years, my man.”

We head out, and before Sam knows what’s happening, I’ve bought him several pairs of sneakers, hoodies, jeans, and any T-shirts he checks out for more than a second.

“I only needed one or two things. What is happening?” he says, as we leave the store.

“You deserve good stuff.”

“Not that much good stuff.”

“I beg to differ.”

He shakes his head, but he’s got a bounce to his step. I catch him sneaking glances inside the bags like he actually loves it.

Next stop: food.

Sam is hesitant when we park in Aurora’s parking lot. “I should apologize to the owner. I don’t want him to think I’m gonna steal food every time I come in.”

“If you’re up for it today, sure. We can come back and do it another time too, though.”

“I’d like a fresh start,” he says. “Let’s do it today.”

Damn. This kid.

“I get it, bud, and I think it’s a great idea. Let’s do this.”

We go inside and wait about ten minutes before Derek, the manager, is available to chat. Sam gives him a very earnest apology, and Derek is so touched, he looks at me with tears in his eyes. I know. This kid will move anyone to tears.

“You’re always welcome here,” Derek says as we’re walking away. “And for being so honest with me today, I’d like you to pick out whatever candy bar you want, my treat. I’ll let the cashier know it’s on me.”

“You don’t have to do that,” Sam says.

“I know. I want to,” Derek says.

“Thanks, man,” I tell Derek as we walk away.

“You handled that flawlessly.” I squeeze Sam’s shoulder. “You okay to shop?”

He inhales and exhales and then shakes out his hands, nodding. “Yes.”

“Okay, grab whatever you want. You crave it, we’re getting it.”

“Whatever I want?” he asks.

“Go crazy.”

He grins and grabs a cart. The first thing he puts in the basket is a big container of mixed greens.

“I’ve always wanted to get one of these instead of just a ball of lettuce,” he says excitedly.

I gulp. I may as well start carrying a life-size package of tissues because this guy is going to make me cry a literal river.

Addy texts as we’re shopping.

Addy

How’s Sam?

Thriving. I told him he could have whatever he wanted from the grocery store—WHATEVER he craved—and so far, he’s picked out mixed greens, cucumbers, tomatoes, a huge bag of oranges, and a family pack of chicken breasts.

Addy

I swear, that boy is golden.

He really is.

Addy

Have you thought about what I suggested?

Only all night and every second since…

Addy

And?

I think you’re onto something. How are you feeling about it?

Addy

I think I’m onto something too. I feel really good about it actually.

My heart feels like it’s going to rocket right out of my skin.

Can this really be happening? I know she’s proposing a marriage strictly for the purpose of getting Sam, but my heart is reacting like she’s told me she loves me and wants to have my babies.

And instead of terrifying me like I would expect it to, I’m excited and hopeful.

Me too, Addy. I still can’t believe you’re willing.

When we get in the car, Sam carefully unpeels his Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup and takes a small bite. I lean over and bop his cap.

“I might ask Addy to marry me.”

He chokes on the chocolate. “What? Wait. Are you serious?”

I shrug, like this isn’t the most important conversation of my life. “Thinking about it. I never told you this part, but…she’s the one I met in the Bahamas. Haven’t been able to stop thinking about her ever since. I want this.”

“Dude!” His whole bruised face lights up. “Are you for real right now? Like, really?”

I nod, and for a second, he just stares at me, then suddenly leans over and wraps me in the most aggressive side hug.

“You have to do it,” he says.

I laugh. “You think she’ll say yes?”

“I’ll be shocked if she doesn’t,” he says. “She’s way into you, I can tell.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah. When she looks at you, her eyes go like this.” He gives me dreamy eyes and I crack up as I start the SUV. “And when you look at her, you’re like—” He puts his hand over his heart and he starts panting, his eyes completely deranged.

“Oh God, tell me that isn’t what I really look like,” I say.

His head falls back as he laughs.

“Should we go pick out a ring?” I ask.

“You mean it?” he asks, all excited.

“Let’s go put the groceries away and then we’ll run to the jeweler.”

“Okay!”

It’s the fastest I’ve ever gotten groceries put away, and Sam is jogging to the garage as soon as he’s done.

“Let’s do this,” he calls.

The moment we step into the jewelry store, Sam gets completely serious, examining rings like it’s a science. When the clerk comes over, asking if he can help, Sam says, “We need something meaningful. Something that says ‘Penn is in this for life.’”

The guy gives me a look and I just nod, because Sam isn’t wrong.

Then Sam points to a three-diamond ring, eyes lighting up. “What do you think about that one?”

I glance at the ring and then at him. “That’s gorgeous, buddy. I didn’t know you had stellar taste in jewelry.”

“It’s one of the most exquisite rings we’ve ever carried,” the clerk says, bringing the ring out of the case to show us. He holds it up into the light, and I curse under my breath. “It represents the past, present, and future.”

“Three diamonds,” Sam says softly. “Like the three of us.”

My throat tightens.

I look at the ring again.

And then at Sam.

And then I buy it.