Page 22 of Surviving You, Scotch and Sammy 1

Megan smiles bigger than she has up until this point, and she steps in under Arthur’s arm when he extends it for a hug. “We’ll be good, Daddy. Promise.”

He drops a kiss on her head. “Good girl. We’ll be a few hours, so make yourselves scarce.”

“Yes Daddy.”

I take a long deep breath before my head pops off my shoulders, then I turn back and smile at Megan. “Would you like to hang out here; we could go into the media room? Or we could walk into town.”

“Let’s go for a walk,” she suggests sweetly. “We’ve spent a lot of time driving lately. I need some fresh air and time to stretch my legs.”

I nod and close my eyes before anyone realizes I’m rolling them, then I turn and wave her ahead. Her long blonde hair hangs loose down her back, kinky with waves and though it’s not styled, it’s neat. Despite the fact I know she’s seventeen like me, her preppy innocence makes her look fourteen. We walk through the front lobby of my family’s giant home and out onto the front stairs. Our estate is huge, our home three-story. Eleven bedrooms in total, mine is at the very top, like the proverbial Juliet Capulet, I’m hidden far and away from anyone who might decide to come looking.

Sorry, Sam.

We walk in relative silence, and though I’d hoped that she might be just the tiniest bit talkative in a good way, my phone vibrates in my back pocket, stealing my attention away.

Megan walks ahead of me by a few feet, eagerly exploring town as we wander on the sidewalk, and though I’m almost one-hundred-percent certain I shouldn’t let her see, I take my cell out and smile at his silly name on my screen.

He saved it under Future Husband, Cupcake, Handsome.

Yeah. Zero poker face for Sam Turner.

Whatcha doin?

I look up at Megan to make sure she’s not watching, but she continues to walk ahead, literally smelling the roses as she wanders and hums under her breath.

Me: Walking to town. Gonna get some ice-cream or something.

Him: You’re free?? Come hang out with me. I miss you. Or me and the guys will come to Dixies.

I sigh.

Me: Not free. Taking Megan for a tour. We’re skedaddling.

Him: Can I call you?

I wish.

Me: No. I’m not risking her asking about you. She’s worse than we thought. She probably still sleeps in a crib.

Barely thirty seconds later, he replies, that sucks. I haven’t seen you in forever.

I laugh. I saw you this morning, Samuel.

Him: I have a bag of candy here with your name on it. You just have to ditch your friend.

I actually laugh at the pain I feel right in the center of my chest. You sure know how to kick a girl while she’s down, huh?

“Who ya talking to?”

My eyes flare wide and my hands snap down to my sides as I look into Megan’s gleeful eyes. “Umm… No one.”

She scoffs. “You were talking to a boy.”

“I was not.”

“You were blushing. Who were you talking to, Sammy?”

“Megan--”

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