Page 75 of The Boy I Hate

He widened his stance, clenching his jaw. “Let mefinish.”

She searched his stormy eyes, waiting for him tospeak.

“Last night I left the wedding and sat in my room with a bottle of whisky. I started thinking about everything. About my father, my family. And I realized I was being a coward. That I was letting everything with my dad control me again. Because of all that happened, I was pushingyouaway.”

He hesitated, biting his lip as though searching for the rightwords.

“But time stops when I’m with you too,” he said, finding her eyes again. “It stopped when I was with you all those years ago, and it did again the moment you got into my car in Los Angeles. And I realized if I pushed you away I’d be giving up the best thing that has ever happened to me, becauseoffear.”

He glanced down to their joined hands, then back up again before continuing. “I’m in love with you, Samantha. I love the way you challenge me, I love your mind, I love the way you look at me, I love your body and soul. I don’t know where this road will lead us, but I’m not ready to get off. I’ve had more fun with you in the past week than I’ve ever had in my life, and I want a do over. Every single moment of it.” The tiniest hopeful twinkle glittered in his eyes and he gave her hand a squeeze. “Let’s get in my car, forget about our past, not worry about the future, and just drive. Wherever the road leads us. You and me,justus.”

Her eyes overflowed with tears, and she glanced over at the Mustang filled with luggage and pillows and a large bag filled withchips.

“Say yes,” he whispered. “Say yes, and I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure you neverregretit.”

She walked into his embrace, where he squeezed her so tight she felt her bones crack. When she threw her arms around his neck, he hoisted her up, cradling her against hischest.

She kissed his lips, sobbed against them, her whole body shaking with emotion. “Yes,” shewhispered. “Yes.”

Epilogue

One yearlater

It wasearly morning when Samantha opened her eyes for the first time, letting in only a fraction of light before quickly snapping them shut again. She still had a headache, and her throat felt like a tractor had tilled back and forth over the tender flesh. The windows were open, and wafting in from the bakery below was the scent of fresh bakedbread.

She smiled, even though the action caused shards of glass to scrape down her neck. She couldn’t help it. Even though she was sicker than a dog, she was still happier than she’d been in a long time. She was in Paris for the first time in her life—with the man she loved more than anything in the world. The Devil had knocked on her door, bringing strep throat with him, but nothing could get her down these days. She had everything she ever wanted. A man who not only adored her, but who had become her travel companion and bestfriend.

She heard the click-screech of their front door opening, then rolled to her side to see Tristan walk into the room with the bags he’d collected at market. He sat on the side of the bed and pressed his lips to her forehead before setting them down beside her on the mattress. “No fever. How are youfeeling?”

“Better,” she croaked. “What did youbringme?”

He furrowed his brow and opened the bag. “Well let’s see…” He pulled out three bottles of juices, ranging from red to orange. “I wasn’t sure which one you’d like, so I got orange, passion fruit, and I’m not sure what this one is.” He grinned. “She tried to tellme,but…”

Samantha grinned, propping herself up to kiss his nose. “Thank you. You’re thesweetest.”

“Ahhh… But that’s not all.” He stuck his hand in the bag and pulled out a Styrofoam cup and a loaf of crusty bread. “It’s only bone broth, but I thought if you werehungry—”

Her eyes began to water, and he stopped talking, setting the broth on the table to move closer. “Are you okay? Is it yourthroat?”

“No,” she said shaking her head. “It’s you.” She wiped at the corner of her eye and hugged him. Gripping his body to hers with all the strength she could muster. “How did I get so lucky? How is it possible I found someone to love methismuch?”

He hugged her back, all his muscles tightening around her at once. “I’m theluckyone.”

Eventually they sat side-by-side, tearing off pieces of the delicious bread and soaking them up in the warm broth as they watched a movie. It wasn’t the ideal thing to do on vacation in Paris, but they still had three weeks left, and she couldn’t think of anything else she’d rather bedoing.

When the movie was over, she peeled herself from the mound of blankets and took a shower. She washed her hair for the first time in a couple of days, and when she got out, she felt practically like a new woman. Clean, fed,loved.

She found Tristan over by the window, looking out at their spectacular view of the city. Her hair was tied up in a towel, and she wore one of his threadbare old t-shirts that smelled just like him. She walked toward him, because even a year later, she still craved to be near him. She set her hand on his shoulder, and rested her face against his muscular back. “Do you know what today is?” shewhispered.

“No.What?”

“Your sister’s one year anniversary.” She moved to his side, and he draped his arm around her shoulders pulling her closer. “Do you think it’s a good timetocall?”

He smiled down at her, then moved the short distance to the table to fetch his phone. “Let’sfindout.”

“Hello,” Renee answered on the first thing. She was on speakerphone, held in Samantha’s palm as they looked out thewindow.

“Hey Ren.” Samantha smiled. “Your brother and I just wanted to call and wish you a happyanniversary.”

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