Page 98 of Without You, Scotch and Sammy 2

Sammy stands up straighter, smoothing her fancy top and lifting her chin defiantly. “I’m not brother shopping.”

I smile as Lily unexpectedly lets out a rumbling fart on my arm. I look up at Marc and nod gently, then finally taking a hint, he backs away and moves toward a blonde chick who’s staring at me like I’m a rock star. I turn back to Sammy, and smile what I hope is my most charming smile. A smile I save only for her. “I know you’re not brother shopping.”

“Because Marc’s too loyal to even look at me twice?”

I gently squeeze her pinky finger. “No. Because you’d never hurt me like that. And because you’re too loyal to move on from a boy who broke your heart back in high school.”

“Sam--”

“Just… shhhh, Ricci. Don’t argue.”

“But--”

I glare at her, but I’m not mad at all. “Shush.”

She bites her lip, not seductively, but like she’s biting off her words before she punches me in the face. Sammy Ricardo isn’t quite as shy as she once was. She’s a fierce mama now, and she’s ready to strike.

“Are you ready for today?”

A shiver runs through her body. “I’m scared.”

“Don’t be scared. I’m here to make it better. I can fix anything, remember?”

“Not anything,” she whispers. “I thought you could fix anything, once upon a time. But those were the dreams of a teenage girl. I’m not her anymore, and I’m not as naïve.”

“But you’re still my wife. That’s gotta mean something.”

She glares at me. “Yeah, it means my husband is a weirdo and won’t divorce me.”

“Your husband.” I smile wolfishly. “That still sounds good, huh?”

She purses her lips unimpressed.

I shrug and kiss Lily’s head. “You could probably change your name while we’re here, yeah? It’s been long enough.”

“Sam--”

I flutter my lashes. I can’t tell if I’m losing her, or if she’s mentally cataloging where all the frying pans are. “Ricci?”

“Why are you doing this to me?”

“Because we’re not over. We were just… on pause.”

“On pause?”

“For a really long fucking time. So long that both our hearts were carved from our chests and thrown in the lake. So long, that neither of us smiled again until you came crashing through my door with demands.”

“You didn’t smile that night.”

I lean in close and whisper in her ear. “I smiled when I whacked off thinking about you.”

“Sam!” She smacks my arm and her fiery blush spreads across her cheeks. “Jesus. Since when do you speak about me that way?”

“Probably around the same time you learned how to say fuck.”

She huffs adorably, but her face continues to burn. “We’re not those people anymore.”

“We’re still Sam and Sammy. Scotch and Soda. Ricci and that guy.” I smile charmingly again. “I want you back, Ricci. I want us to try again.”

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