I blinked. “You were listening.”
She smiled and gave a pat to the shoulder she’d hit. “I’ve been worried about you for so long. Always here, drowning. But now? I’m not. You’re going to be okay. Be happy. Be with Sam. You deserve this.” She’d almost pushed Amber to the hallway before she turned back to me. “I’ve known you since you were born, which means I have a pretty good grip on who you are, and your next argument is going to be that it’s not fair to Sam, right? That she deserves someone whose heart isn’t split?”
I opened my mouth, and then closed it. She was right.
“You’re not split, Gray. Listen to what you just told Grace. You loved her.”
My eyes narrowed. “Right. I’ve loved her since we were kids.”
“True, but you’re not in love with her anymore.” She glanced back at Grace with a sad smile, then back to me. “You used the past tense when you told Grace just now, and I bet you don’t even realize it, but your subconscious does. She’s your past, and she always will be. Sam is your future for as long as you’re capable of holding on to her with that broody Heathcliff thing you have going on.”
Broody? “Thanks, Miranda.”
“I don’t want to see you until October, Gray.” Her face twisted, and I laughed. “What?”
“You’ve been a mom less than twenty-four hours and you’ve already mastered the look.” I smiled, and it felt…good.
“I’m only letting you get away with that because I haven’t heard you laugh in years. October, Grayson Masters. I’m serious.”
She left, and I pulled out my cell phone.
Grayson: Where are you?
Samantha: Miss me already?
Grayson: The minute I left you.
Samantha: Wow. Think you’re getting lucky again or something?
Grayson: I KNOW I am.
Samantha: LOL. You’re probably right. Mia just dropped me off.
I took the elevator and headed to the lobby, where Sam was coming in, biting into a chocolate chip cookie. Her smile was instant, and mine came easily.
She made everything easier.
“Hey, flyboy.” She came up on her toes and kissed me. I licked the stray chocolate off her lower lip and then forced myself to let her mouth go. Pretty sure she didn’t want me pulling her into the first empty exam room. I could’ve shut the door, pulled down those shorts that barely covered her anyway, and put my tongue on her like I’d been fantasizing about for months. I’d skipped that last night, too desperate to finally be inside her. Get a grip, you’re in the middle of the hospital.
Damn. I thought having sex might slake that fire for her, but instead it fueled it. Now I wasn’t guessing how she felt—I knew, and she was better than I’d ever dreamed.
Shit, we needed to get out of here. “You ready to go?” I asked.
“Ready to see the sights! Your mom said there’s a great lighthouse nearby.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t want to leave you alone with her, but she was pretty adamant.”
“She was fine, I swear. Mostly asked questions, didn’t really divulge your sordid past.” She poked me. “I did get a peek at your yearbook…”
I groaned, and it wasn’t because we’d walked out into the afternoon sun.
“You were cute!” She giggled, dropping her sunglasses over her eyes.
“Are you seriously laughing at me?” I grabbed for her, but she darted ahead.
“I almost didn’t recognize you,” she said as she walked backward.
“Well, I weighed about a hundred-and-sixty pounds soaking wet.”
“Like I said, you were cute.” She backed into the hood of the Mustang and braced her hands on either side of her.