Page 115 of All In
But now, right now, for the first time, nothing is standing in our way. There are no manipulative bosses, financial troubles, abusive husbands, troubled wives, past girlfriends in their red bikinis, or buff celebrity look-alike boyfriends.
Now, the possibility of us being together exists.
I’m having a hard time breathing as I shift from one foot to the next, unable to contain my anxiety. With only a few dozen feet separating us, the tears well up in my eyes as the wind whips my hair in my face.
He reaches me, and our eyes meet, intensifying the moment, neither of us saying anything.
Finally, he holds up the letter, the paper crinkling in his hands. “Someone left this on my car today.”
A quiet chuckle slips out of me. “Weird. A letter, huh? Seems kinda old-fashioned.”
He shrugs. “Or romantic.” His lips curve into a smile as a light breeze stirs the air, causing the smell of his cologne to surround me. “Hi.”
“Hey.” My attempt to sound calm and cool fails in my breathy response.
His eyes roam down, then back up my body. When they meet mine again, a smug smile plays on his lips. “Nice scrubs.”
I blush as he takes a step closer, his body filling my space, his voice laced with curiosity. “What happened with Geoffrey?”
“I ended it.” With a contented exhale, he smiles, clearly pleased with my answer.
“And what about Cara?” I counter in return.
As his hand reaches out, his pinkie gently intertwines with mine. “I told you, we broke up.” This one small tiny touch of skin on skin causes a volcano of electricity to erupt throughout my whole body.
I bite the side of my cheek. “For good?” Because, for whatever reason, they kept trying. He obviously cares.
“For good.”
“Thank God.”
He huffs out a laugh as he releases my finger and takes the letter, tucking it into the side pocket of my scrubs. My eyes track the movement as he grabs my wrist that was hanging at my side. He holds it, then tugs gently, coaxing me to step closer to him. Standing chest to chest, the warmth between us intensifies. I’ve never been this short of breath in my life. All I want is for him to grab me and wrap his arms around me. Encase me with his strength and security.
“Are we all in? Together?” His eyes scan mine, eagerness etched on his face as he waits for my answer.
Without hesitation, I give him the easiest answer I have ever given to any question. “Yes. All in.”
With a swift motion, he reaches into the back pocket of his sweatpants and pulls out my watch. When I see it, my breath hitches. After I left it on his front seat, I couldn’t stop wondering whether he would keep it or throw it away. As time passed, I regretted my choice of leaving it behind. For the longest time, it was the only thing I had left of Sam. Once it was gone, it felt like he was gone. I thought it was the end.
He delicately lifts my hand and slides the watch over my fingers and back onto my wrist. The clasp clicks into place. My body reacts instantly as he lifts my wrist, sending a shiver through me. His lips graze the sensitive skin on the inside, his eyes closing as he makes contact. His breath is warm, and I’m pretty sure I’m dying.
He opens his eyes, takes my hand, and rests it on his chest. Over his heart. It’s thumping rapidly under my touch, and I know that whatever I am feeling is mutual. “Just like the inscription says, I’m yours, Maria. I havealwaysbeen yours. I will alwaysbeyours.”
Leaning in close, I whisper my response, my hushed words barely audible against the howling wind. “And you’re mine.”
In this moment, nothing else matters. I hear nothing. Not the commotion surrounding us, not the fountain shooting high, not the wind whipping through the air.
There’s only us.
Standing here, peering into each other’s eyes, it feels like we are back in high school again. Just two kids in love with nothing but a blank slate for a future. Right now, despite the lines around his eyes, the gray in his hair and beard, the creases on his forehead, he’s still Sam.
My Sam.
His hands gently rest on either side of my neck, and even though he is exuding confidence right now, his touch betrays him. They are trembling. I bitemy lip, anticipating what I’m hoping is going to happen next. He brushes his thumbs on my already hot skin. My arms wrap around his waist. We move on instinct and forget about our history, the bad choices we made that kept us apart. Everything disappears into the past.
He nuzzles his face against my hair and inhales. As the fine hairs raise on the back of my neck, a shiver runs down my spine and my eyes instinctively close.
“You are so beautiful,” he whispers, his breath warm against my face. He sweeps my hair over my shoulder, his hand brushing my neck as he does. With a slow and deliberate movement, his plump lips start planting a series of tender kisses on my neck. I lean my head to give him better access. He works his way to my cheek, then the corner of my mouth.
