Page 96 of Shattered

“A dolphin?” He stopped eating at her statement, looking utterly distraught. “You’re playing me, right?”

“I don’t know. What if I really want one?” His eyes widened just slightly as if telling her to cut it out. But she couldn’t stop just yet. This was too much fun. “Fine. I won’t get a dolphin. Maybe a turtle.”

“Jesus Christ.” He dropped the shrimp on the plate and shook his head back and forth. She decided to take away his misery.

“I’m kidding. I’m kidding. I honestly don't think I would ever get a tattoo. But if I ever did, I guess I would let you be the one who did it.”

He visibly relaxed, slightly. “I kinda don’t want you to get one.”

“Why? You must have over fifty.”

“I like your skin the way it is,” he said, then added as an afterthought, “I don’t want to cover up your freckles.”

“Okay.” She let him win the argument at that. It surprised her how much her stomach flipped when he made statements like that. She tried to ignore the mounting butterflies that were becoming a constant when around him, but it seemed like nothing could drown out the way he made her feel.

He paused then and turned to more fully face her. “Sam. If you really want a tattoo then get one. It’s your body. You are beautiful no matter what. But let me be the one to do it, okay? I don’t want anyone else touching you and messing up.”

“I promise if I ever get one, I’ll let you do it.”

“And it won’t be some gaudy dolphin on your hip,” he urged.

She laughed. “And it won’t be some gaudy dolphin on my hip.”

He smirked and then leaned forward to kiss her cheek.

Sam wasn’t sure what was more frozen. The permanent smile that always seemed to be etched on her face when he was around or her entire body from pure shock. He had just kissed her cheek in a very public place with far too many witnesses.

*******

“You ready to head out?” Kristin asked, sliding onto the bench across from them and, thankfully, breaking the trance Sam was in.

“Where are y’all going?” Callum asked as he finished off the remainder of the fries.

“Around. She has never been to Charleston or seen the ocean, so I’m–”

“I’m sorry, what did you just say?” he asked Kristin, but then directed his gaze toward Sam. “You’ve never been to the beach?”

“No.” For some reason, his question made her nervous. His utter amazement at the fact just intensified how different their lives had truly been. She had never once been on a vacation before. She guessed this trip would be considered her first.

Callum stared at her a little longer, probably debating if she was being serious or not. Sam was sure this was something he just couldn’t fathom.

“I knew you had never been down here to Charleston, but I didn’t realize you meant you’d never been to any beachever.” He shook his head a little, as if in utter disbelief. “Wait here.” He jumped up and headed back over to the booth to speak with Drew and Micah.

Kristin turned to Sam. “You know, if he knew more about your past, he might not seem so shocked when you drop bombs like that.”

“I know. I’ll tell him. And for the record, you dropped that bomb. Not me,” Sam corrected just before Callum walked back toward them.

“You care if I steal you for a while?” Callum looked at Sam and then back to Kristin. “I’m sure you are perfectly fine spending money solo for a few hours.”

“Yeah. I don’t care. As long as it’s okay with you?” Kristin eyed Sam in question. “We can pick back up shopping tomorrow.”

“Yeah. Yeah, I’ll meet up with you later,” Sam answered, not sure where this was leading, then looked back toward Callum. “What’s the plan?”

“I want to show you something.”

“What about the booth?”

“I’ve been doing most of the work so far. Micah and Drew are going to take over for the afternoon. Besides, two of our artists from the shops here are headed down, so they can help out if needed.”

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