Page 71 of Chosen

I moved even closer to him as I went on. “I want to be with you, Sam. I don’t want you to go. And I know that’s selfish of me and I shouldn’t say it but it’s the truth. The thought of being away from you so soon after finding you… it hurts. And I can’t pretend that it doesn’t.”

“Damon…,” Sam murmured my name, his voice low. “That was…”

“Completely one-sided?” I suggested, guilt already filling my frame. “I know, I know. I’m supposed to be more supportive and not so self-concerned—”

“That was beautiful,” Sam corrected, his eyes shining with unshed tears. “That’s the most beautiful thing I've ever heard in my life."

"Really?"

"Really." Sam nodded with a smile. "I don't want to be apart from you either, Damon. Not when we just found each other."

"But you have to go back to Atlanta—”

“Do I?” Sam’s eyes went wide, like he’d shocked himself with his own response. “Shit. Do I?”

“Sam? What are you thinking?” My tone was cautious. “You’re not really thinking about risking your job just to stay here, are you?”

“It’s not about risking my job. It’s about quitting my job,” Sam rambled, his hands unlocking from mine as they went toward his waist. “With all the traffic from the article and all of my celebrity contacts I have so far… I could just… start my own thing?”

It was like he was in a daze, seemingly talking to himself as he started to pace around the cabin. “Oh, my God. I could just start my own thing. I don’t need Anthony anymore or his platform. I bet I could leverage all my social media followings, too, maybe even have a few celeb friends spread the word. It might take a few months to get off the ground, but I could do it. I could launch myself as this whole new kind of reporter—”

“Sam?” I smirked as I looked over at him. “Could I get some context over here?”

“Long story short, I could really make this happen,” he replied, with an excited grin. “Damon, I could really do this. I could strike out on my own.”

“I always knew that you could.”

“And now, I know that I can, too.” Sam beamed before he jumped against me, right into my arms. “Oh, my God! We’re really doing this! This is really happening!”

“So? Is that a yes on moving to Virginia?”

“Oh, that’s a hell yes!” Sam laughed before kissing me all over my face. A few seconds later, his energy seemed to shift. “Wait.”

“Wait, what?”

“Are you going to be okay living together?” he pressed. “I know everything’s moving super-fast but should I be planning to get a place on my own or—”

“Do you really have to even ask?” I shot him a bright smile. “Of course, you can stay with me, Sam. I’d be lucky to have you.”

“Okay. Good.” Sam let out a sigh of relief. “This was going to be so awkward if I moved here for you and I had a separate apartment.”

I wrapped my arms around Sam’s waist before I replied, “Good thing we’re not making it awkward, then.”

Sam looked like he was going to say something in response but before he had the chance, I pressed my lips against his in a tender kiss. Sam returned the favor, kissing me back just as sweetly, our tongues lightly dancing in each other’s mouths. I didn’t know how long we stayed that way, perfectly trapped in each other’s embrace, intertwined with each other, fitting together as seamlessly as we always seemed to…

But by the time we came up for air, there was a shared grin on both our faces.

“Hi,” I whispered down to Sam.

“Hi,” he whispered right back, staring straight into my eyes. “You come here often?”

“Did you seriously just ask if I come here often?” I couldn’t help but laugh at the corny pick-up line. “I don’t think anyone has heard that one since the late 90’s.”

“I mean, you did just hear it, just now.” Sam cracked a smile, his fingers gingerly trailing down the side of my face. “And honestly? I think it’s a little rude to call out someone’s outdated pick-up lines."

"So, you’re calling me rude?”

“I’m calling you whatever you want me to call you, sir,” Sam replied. “For as long as you’ll have me.”

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