Page 129 of Shattered

was most likely holding down the rising vomit she had also experienced each time she thought about it. “I spent as many nights as possible in Sara’s dorm, and later her apartment. She breezed through college, graduated early, and started med school before I got out of high school. She wanted to be a cardiologist, but she ended up in pediatrics. I spent every waking moment with her that I could. She even snuck me into some of her med classes. I technically aged out of the system at the beginning of March my senior year, but I stayed to finish school, and planned to stay on Sara’s sofa over the summer.”

Sam felt the edges of her lips lift up as she recalled their times together. Then she felt the smile slowly shift with the weight of what she was about to say.

“The week after I graduated from high school and finally moved out of that house, Sara killed herself. After that, I had to move into that little motel room with Christian. He worked a construction job and I worked at a pizza place so we could make ends meet until the fall when we both moved into our dorms.”

Chapter 51 - Sam

Callum was frozen against her. He barely breathed. If she hadn’t known with absolute certainty that he was still there, based on the hand wrapped around her middle, she would have assumed she was all alone.

Then he buried his face in her hair and kissed her temple.

She stilled when she felt a drop of wetness running down her cheek. She was no longer crying. Now he was the one with tears spilling forth.

His voice broke when he said, “I want to tell you I’m sorry. But I also know that nothing I say will ever take away the pain.”

“You don’t have to say anything. I just didn’t want it hovering between us anymore. I wanted you to know everything before we took this any further.”

He twisted their bodies so they were now directly looking at each other. His eyes were red.

“You do know nothing that happened to you was your fault, right?”

She nodded in agreement.

She had spent far too many hours consumed by her own self-hatred, but she had finally accepted the fact that nothing that had happened to her had been her fault.

She stilled her features and spoke as clearly as she could. “I know it wasn’t my fault, and that you’re going to say you still want to be with me, but I also know this has changed the way you look at me. How could it not? So, seriously, if you walk away right now, it would be completely understandable. It’s a lot of emotional baggage to take on.”

“It doesn’t change the way I feel about you in the slightest.” He tilted his head in thought. “Well, actually, it does.”

For just a moment, she was paralyzed with fear.

“I knew you were amazing and strong, but I had no idea just how amazing and strong you were until this very moment. Samantha Williams, I have underestimated you.”

She sighed with relief. “I don’t feel very strong,” she admitted.

He brought her hand up to his face then and kissed the center of her palm. “Have you been to therapy?”

“No.” She quickly shook her head. She knew that was probably what she needed, but the idea of rehashing it all out felt almost as dreadful as the memories of what had happened.

“I think you should maybe do that. I can go with you, or just sit outside, or maybe–”

“Callum,” she quickly cut him off. “No. I can’t. At least, not right now.”

Though she could tell he didn’t fully agree with her decision, he nodded his head in acceptance. “Do you want to talk with me about it more?”

Sam shook her head. “It’s in the past, and that’s where I want it to stay. Honestly, I would be perfectly fine if we never spoke of it again.”

He took a deep breath. “Millie said the same thing.”

She furrowed her brows in confusion. Before she could ask what he meant, he stood up and lifted her from the bed, cradling her in his arms.

“I know it’s well after midnight, but I’m not tired.”

“Me neither,” Sam quickly agreed as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

Callum’s eyes narrowed in concentration. “Do you like ice cream?”

Sam mirrored his expression. “Normally, I take the stance that there is no such thing as a dumb question. However, I am going to redact that sentiment for this one instance.”

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