Page 87 of Samuel

“So what next?” Sam asked.

“About what?”

“Us. What happens now?” He placed a hand on my cheek. “Are we doing this?”

“This being?”

He picked up my hand and playfully nibbled on my fingers. “You want me to beg, Maisie?”

I shook my head.

“Are we doing this being a couple thing?” he reiterated. “I want to and I think you want to, but I’m happy to keep if from Frankie for a little while, if that’s what you’d prefer.”

“You wouldn’t mind? I just want us to be sure first. Maybe have a date without sex,” I ground out, feeling a little embarrassed.

Thankfully, Sam nodded. “I agree. Let’s do that, although I swear I didn’t plan on that happening today, I just looked down on you and you looked so fucking adorable and beautiful and sexy and I couldn’t resist it.”

I leaned forward and kissed the corner of Sam’s mouth, wrapping my arms around his neck as I pressed against him. I wanted to move forward and I wanted more with Sam, so I was going to be brave and trust that he wouldn’t hurt either me or Frankie.

“I think we better go,” Sam said on a chuckle as I snuggled closer. “I might just have you on your back again if you keep pushing those tits against me.”

“Sam,” I admonished, pushing back and slapping at his chest.

“Sorry, but it’s the truth.” He jumped to his feet and held out his hand for me. “Besides, I’d like to spend a bit of time with Frankie before I have to go to the Leisure Centre at six.”

“You’re going to the Leisure Centre, on a Saturday night?” I asked, feeling deflated as he pulled me up.

Sam curled his top lip. “Yeah, you know Timothy the kid that got into trouble at the pool?”

I nodded.

“Well his younger brother can’t swim and the family are going on holiday next week, so his parents asked me if I could give him some intensive lessons before they go. I couldn’t really say no.”

“How’s he getting on?” I asked, picking up the blanket.

“Okay. This will be his fourth one, I’ve been taking an hour or two out of work and doing them straight after he finishes school all week.”

“You never said.”

As I looked at him, Sam blushed, something I had never expected from him; he was usually so confident.

“Well, you know teaching kids to swim isn’t my favourite pastime.”

I started to laugh. “Only because I gave you shit about it.”

“Yeah, you did, but it worked out okay in the end.”

He winked at me and a whole host of butterflies swarmed in my stomach. “Yes, I suppose it did.”

With that Sam pulled me to him and kissed me again and I was sure if my phone hadn’t started ringing, I’d have gladly laid down on the blanket for him all over again.

Maisie

the present

“I can’t believe they’ve let the fucker out on bail,” Sam hissed as Frankie shot upstairs to go to the toilet.

The phone call had been my solicitor telling me that Josh had his court date, but had been given bail. It was something he’d warned me about, but as I had a restraining order against him, I knew Josh would be an idiot to come anywhere near me or Frankie.