Page 29 of Rockstar's Accidental Marriage

“Don’t play dumb, Emily,” she says, nudging me with her elbow. “Something’s changed between you and Sam. I’ve seen the way you look at each other.”

I freeze, my mind racing for a way to deflect. “We’re just... getting along better. That’s all.”

“Uh-huh,” she says, clearly unconvinced. “And that’s why you practically jumped apart like teenagers caught in the act when I walked into the studio earlier?”

Heat floods my face as I remember the moment she’s talking about. Sam and I had been standing closer than we should’ve been as we discussed the setlist. I don’t even remember what he said that made me laugh, but when I looked up, Sam was leaning toward me just as Kendrick walked in, her eyes narrowing suspiciously.

“Nothing is going on,” I insist, avoiding her gaze.

“Emily,” she says, her tone softening. “You don’t have to pretend with me.”

I glance at her, surprised by the understanding in her voice.

“I always suspected there was something between you and Sam,” she continues, “just... be careful, okay? I’ve known Sam for a long time. He’s a wonderful guy. But It’s always casual for him. He’s never with the same woman twice, and he’s not exactly known for being serious.”

Her words sting, even though I know she doesn’t mean them to.

“I know, but don’t worry, my eyes are wide open,” I say quietly.

She studies me for a moment longer before nodding. “Alright. Just don’t get hurt.”

Kendrick’s words stick with me long after she’s left the room.Don’t get hurt.

It’s not that I think Sam would intentionally hurt me—not now, anyway. But the fear that she’s right lingers in the back of my mind, and I can’t seem to shake it off. Sam has a way of drawing me in, making me feel things I probably shouldn’t, at least not when I don’t know if he’s serious about us.

And that’s what scares me the most.

As the night wears on, I decide to go on a solitary walk on the beach, hoping for a few moments of peace, needing to clear my head.

Opening the sliding glass door to the deck, the sound of the waves is immediate–almost soothing. I make my way down to the beach, letting the soft sand shift under my feet as I walk.

The moon is high and bright, and I’m finally alone for the first time all day. I take a deep breath, feeling a calmness settle over me.

But my moment of solitude doesn’t last long.

I spot a tall figure ahead, silhouetted against the water. My heart skips as I recognize the broad shoulders and the casual stance. It’s Sam.

I freeze, torn between slipping away before he sees me and staying put. But before I can decide, he turns, his sharp eyes catching sight of me.

“Emily?” he calls out, his voice carrying easily over the sound of the waves.

“Hi,” I say, trying to keep my tone light as I approach him.

He’s barefoot, his jeans rolled up slightly, and his hands are shoved into his pockets. He looks so at ease, soSam, that it makes my chest ache.

“Couldn’t sleep?” he asks, his gaze sweeping over me in a way that makes me shiver even though I’m not cold.

“Something like that,” I say, shrugging. “What about you?”

Sam smiles, faint but genuine. “Needed some air.”

We fall into step beside each other, and the quiet between us is surprisingly comfortable. The waves lap at the shore, the cool breeze carrying the faint scent of salt and seaweed.

And then, without warning, he takes my hand in his.

The gesture is so unexpected, so simple yet intimate that I freeze as a current runs through me. His palm is warm and slightly calloused from playing guitar. The simple contact makes mypulse race, and I have to resist the urge to step closer, to press myself against him like I did that night.

I let him lead me, our hands still entwined, as we move further down the beach. The air feels charged, and every step brings a new wave of awareness.

---