Page 26 of Surviving You, Scotch and Sammy 1

I come to a screeching halt, tugging on Megan’s shirt and stopping her too. “Your parents are there? I can’t come over.”

He chuckles. “They’re inside the house. We’re in the garage. They won’t even know you’re here, and even if they did, they wouldn’t mind. They’re used to my friends being here all the time.”

“Your guy friends, maybe, but not girls.”

“No, girls come over lots too.”

My eyes pop wide at the same time Megan snickers. “You have girls over all the time, Samuel?”

“Wait? His name’s Samuel?”

“Not like that, Ricci. I just meant, our house is kinda the hang out for everyone. We have guys and girls here all the time. We have a skate ramp in the back yard… our house is just the place everyone hangs out. And since the guys are always here, girls follow.”

“Are there girls there right now?”

“No! Actually, yes. Britt and Kari and the twins are here.”

“Britt and Kari and the twins?”

“Our sisters,” he says quickly. “Britt is my sister. Kari is my foster sister. The twins are Luc’s sisters.”

I release Meg from my tight grasp and we continue walking. “I didn’t know you had a foster sister.”

“Yeah, Marc and Kari are my foster siblings. And since Luc started squatting here years ago, and he only lives up the street, the twins started following. Now Britt and Kari get along with them, so they’re always together.”

“Are there any girls from school there right now?”

“No. I didn’t mean it like that, Ricci. All I was trying to say is that there are always a billion people here. Two more won’t even make my parents blink.”

“And what if they do notice us? What if they do blink?”

“Well, it isn’t illegal for you to visit with me. So long as you don’t egg my house or anything, you’ll be fine. My folks won’t throw you under the bus, Ricci. I promise.”

“Will your dad tell my dad I was there?”

“My dad and your dad aren’t friends, Sammy. When they talk, it isn’t sharing stories from the weekend.”

My voice turns soft, even as I hear music start up in Sam’s background. “Does your dad hate my dad, Sam? Does he hate me?”

“No. My dad doesn’t hate anybody. But he especially doesn’t hate you. Nobody could hate you.” The drum kit starts up loudly, but I still hear him. “I love you, Ricci.”

Jesus. I’m pretty sure my heart loves him too. Stupid emotionally charged hormonal teenaged brains.

“I gotta go, okay, Ricci? But I’ll see you in a few minutes?”

“Okay.”

“I’ll see you in a few minutes, right?”

“Yeah. We’re already walking your way. See you in a bit.”

“Alright.”

I hang up and slide my phone into my skirt pocket, then I almost trip over when Megan shoulder bumps me. “Your boyfriend’s name is Sam?”

I bite my bottom lip nervously. “Uh-huh.”

“And your name is Sam…”

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