Sam’s eyes widened when she looked back at Terrell exasperatedly. I blinked a few times and then frowned, trying to figure out who he was referring to.
I watched Sam as she bit down on her lip, which usually meant that she was fighting the urge to say something. “Antonio,” she admitted. “Me, Terrell, and Dee saw him at the store right after I got back from New York.”
My whole body tensed, but I stayed silent while Terrell and Maisha watched us.
“Oh, wow….uhhhh….my bad,” Terrell said apologetically, obviously thinking Sam had already informed me that the one person I hated as much as my father was living nearby.
“I didn’t say anything because I didn’t know how you’d react.” Sam lowered her head and then looked away completely when she hugged her arms over her chest.
I blew all the air from my lungs and shoved my hands in my pockets. When I turned to Terrell and Maisha, Sam watched my expression with worry in her eyes.
“Well….goodnight,” I said with a stiff smile and single wave. Terrell waved back and probably studied me and Sam’s body language the entire walk to her building. As soon as we were back in her room, Sam started explaining again.
“AJ….I just didn’t wanna bring it up. It was right after the trip and we were in a good place. Plus I know you hate all this distance between us just as much as I do. Besides he-“
I killed her rant with a long kiss.
“I’m not mad,” was all I said before shutting off the light and climbing into her bed, holding the covers up while she slipped in beside me. She scooted as close as she could before saying anything else.
“I don’t want you to worry about me here,” she admitted. “I mean…it’s one thing for my parents to think I can’t handle myself, but I really want you specifically to know that I can handle this. Handle Antonio even,” she added.
I stroked her hair and kissed the back of her neck once. “I get it.” She’d led a pretty sheltered life before this. Perhaps I was guilty of thinking that she couldn’t handle herself. Overreacting to her friendship with Terrell was a prime example of that. “My little girl’s growing up,” I joked.
Sam shot her elbow into my ribs just hard enough to make me flinch. The bed shifted when she turned over so that we were face to face. Her eyes shined even through the darkness.
“I can’t wait for you to get here,” she confessed contently.
I kissed her forehead and held her closer. “Makes two of us.”
She cuddled herself into my chest and eventually fell asleep there.