“But you didn’t go to jail.” She said and cocked her head to the side, trying to understand.
“No, I didn’t. The charges were dropped thanks to my mother.” He reached out and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear that had fallen from her braid. His mother’s words rang in his head and not the ones from that ill-fated night in the police station, but the words of her apology and the reasons behind her actions. “She found my phone and knew that I hadn’t been the one responsible but that Jake was. She knew I’d rather go to jail before I went to Seattle, and she knew me well enough to know I wouldn’t let Jake go.” He let out a breath. “So I agreed to go as long as she kept what she knew to herself. She held up her end of the bargain and I held up mine.”
Sam wiped at the tears that fell from her eyes with the back of her hand. All these years she harbored such resentment for him, and all the while he had saved her brother from prison.
“I’m sorry.” She said automatically and squeezed the hand of his that held hers. “I’m so sorry I’ve given you such shit about leaving.” She shook her head as her eyes searched his. “I’ve been so selfish this whole time.” She said more as a revelation to herself than a statement directed at him. “I don’t understand though. Your mom wasn’t around much back then, why did she want you out of Riverdale so badly?”
Nick’s head throbbed from rehashing this sordid past of his. He rubbed at his temples and decided he had come this far with the truth, might as well go all the way.
“She wanted me away from your family. Mainly she wanted me away from you.” He dropped his hands to his knees and glanced over at her. “That much I didn’t know until recently when she paid me a visit after Jake passed away.”
Sam’s eyes widened. “Why did she want you to be away from me though? We weren’t even serious at that point. We never had the chance to be.”
He smiled faintly at her as he thought of the young girl she was and how she had him wrapped around her finger even back then, how obvious it had been that even his absentee mother noticed. “We may not have had the chance to be serious, but you had me back then, regardless. Even she knew that.” He leaned back against the cushions of the sofa and spread his arms along the back of the couch.
“When she came to see me she feared I’d find myself in Luke’s situation, only instead of it being some random girl, it would be the daughter of the only family I had ever known and because my parents were too self-centered to teach me a damn thing, she had been terrified I wouldn’t know how to do the noble thing and stand by you. I guess in her mind, I wouldn’t be able to do the right thing by you and ultimately I’d lose you and your family.” He shrugged his shoulders and looked at Sam. “So that’s it… that’s the whole truth.” He let out a breath and slung his arm over her shoulders, bringing her into the nook of his arm.
“I feel horrible.” Sam said honestly. She felt awful for thinking so poorly of him and the reasons he left. “Your mom thought you couldn’t do the noble thing, but you were going to take the rap for Jake, well, it doesn’t get much more selfless or noble than that.” She leaned her head against his chest. “I’ve been so scared to feel anything for you.” She lifted her head and turned in his arms so that her eyes bore into his. “I’ve been struggling to deny what I already feel for you because I’m so scared I’m going to lose you again.” She snapped her fingers. “Just like that, I think you’re going to pick up and go back to Seattle.”
“I’m not going back to Seattle, Sam.” He cupped her face in his hands. “Everything I want is right here, in Riverdale. Right here in front of me, right here in my arms.”
She gasped at his words. She had waited so long to hear them and be able to believe them. She wrapped her fingers around his wrists and her eyes stared into his. “I want you.” She said softly. “I want it all and I want it with you.” She smiled softly as she leaned her forehead against his. “Will you have me?” She whispered the question.
The corners of his mouth ticked, and he couldn’t help the lopsided grin that spread across his face. He waited a damn long time for those words to come out of that mouth. “I’ll think about it.” He teased before pressing his mouth onto hers. Her soft lips opened, maybe to protest his response, but he took it as an invitation and slid his tongue along hers. He stroked her tongue with his own and heard the soft moan come from deep within her. He smiled against her mouth as she pressed herself closer against his body. She slowly untangled their tongues and pulled her lips away from his.