Page 73 of Take Me to the Wedding

I grinned. “You bet. And you’re my next victim. I’d help you up, but I’ve only got one hand. Come on in and eat something.”

* * *

Caleb

“Hi there,” I said, intercepting Sam in the hall a little while later.

“Oh hi.” She smiled widely. Our gazes caught in that electrifying way that made me want so badly to pull her into my arms and kiss her. But I didn’t want her to think I was a caricature of the romantic guy she’d first thought I was, a person who fell in love on a dime or switched objects of my affection from week to week. I wanted to take her out on a real date. I wanted to make sure she knew what had become crystal clear to me—that she was the only one for me.

“It’s so nice to see both of your eyes blinking back at me,” I said. She laughed and pushed me away playfully. The swelling was gone, the rash faded down to a smooth pink color and covered mostly by her makeup. Also, I was relieved that she seemed to be in a good mood for what I had to tell her.

“Hey,” she said while I planned what to say, “I had an idea. What do you think about going out for some Thai food at that little place on the lake? The weather’s perfect to sit and outside and watch the sun set. What do you think?”

Honestly, I wanted nothing better than to eat and watch a sunset with her. From my bed, preferably. But obviously, that wasn’t going to happen tonight. I steered her down the hall and lowered my voice. “I love Thai food, and I can’t think of anything better than spending time together, but I’ve got something important to tell you. It’s all fine, and it’s not a crisis, okay?”

She slowly lowered her book bag to the ground. “What is it?”

I held on to one of her arms as I was able. To anchor her. To subtly let her know that she could lean on me. “Wynifred is in my apartment.”

The joy vanished from her face. “Mysister?”

“She didn’t text you because she didn’t want to worry you while you were at work. She was planning to wait outside your door until you got home, but I got her to come in and eat something.”

She frowned and instantly teared up. “What’s wrong? Oh my God, she’s pregnant. Is she pregnant?” She rubbed her temples. “I knew this boyfriend was bad news. I should have?—”

“Whatever’s wrong has something to do with breaking up with someone named Miles. She hasn’t shared details.” I increased the pressure on her arm a little so she’d look at me. I somehow wanted her to know that she wasn’t alone withouttellingher that, which I knew she wouldn’t take well. “At first she wouldn’t even come in, but I think the hunger finally wore her down.”

“She went into yourapartment?”

I couldn’t help cracking a smile. “Not until I showed her a photo of us.”

“You have a photo of us?” Sam’s eyes were brimming with tears. It amazed me—even though I’d seen it before—that worry over her sister could turn her calm, competent demeanor into a hurricane of emotion.

“A really nice one. I’ll show you later.”

She rolled her eyes.

“Sam?”

“Yes?”

“Whatever it is, it’s going to be fine.”

That seemed to be the right thing to say, because she released a big breath and gave my hand a squeeze. “I don’t know why I believe you when you say that, but strangely, I do.”

I thought of something else. “Also, Miles might not be terrible,” I said. “He appears to be texting her every other minute.”

One brow lifted. She was thinking—and she seemed to be struggling. Maybe with trying to not kill anyone who would dare hurt her sister. I had the feeling that she was used to that role—protecting. Fiercely. She loved her sister fiercely. That gavemehope.

She turned to me and did something surprising—she touched my cheek. I felt the soft graze, the coolness of her fingertips as she cradled my jaw for a brief instant, giving me a wistful smile. “Thank you.” Her voice was practically a whisper. “For taking her in. And for slowing me down a little. Sometimes I need reminded to not come in hot.”

I locked my gaze with hers. I thought of saying that she’d do the exact same for me, call me out on something, as she’d done with Lilly. But I left it at “You’re welcome.” Then added under my breath, “And also, you’re always hot.”

Her tiny smile broadened, and I felt my heart expanding. Ever since the cliff, things between us had shifted. We’d always had a give and take, a push and pull, except now we were using our wills to help each other instead of argue, to listen to each other and to give back. It felt like nothing I’d ever experienced before.

With a definitive nod, Sam headed into my apartment. As she passed, she gave me a little tap on my butt.

It happened so fast I blinked and wondered if it really happened.

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