Chapter 3

Tomorrow,at the ass crack of dawn, I’m heading home for the summer.

Finals ended two days ago, and as keen to catch up with my folks as I am, the thought of not seeing Sammy for a couple of months hurts my gut.

The last four weeks have turned my world on its head in the absolute best way possible. Well, almost the best way.

Before Sammy gives in to this craving between us, he’s always knocking back shots and downing beer like there’s a hops shortage. I don’t think it helps that this summer, he’s been coerced into visiting his bio dad.

At least his mom and stepdad have his back. Sammy’s already told me they don’t want him to visit the prison, but he’s going regardless. It’s Trevin and the shit he pulled in the attack against Sammy’s high school friend because of his sexuality that weighs Sammy down. Christ only knows how he’s really coping by hooking up with me. And I wish I did know, but he refuses to talk about it.

Not that I’ve pushed.

I won’t do that to him.

It might also be self-preservation guiding me. I don’t want Sammy to bolt or to call this thing between us off. I crave the nights he comes to me. Hell, I’m the first to agree to a night out, knowing it’s the only way Sammy will allow us to get together. Not that he’s ever truly drunk or seriously impaired.

Still, it’s seriously shit, but I’m whipped.

I shake my head at myself as I stuff my dirty laundry into a trash bag. Whipped? It’s a lot more than that.

My heart no longer lives in my chest. I pulled it out and gift wrapped it before handing it over to Sammy. I did so a long time ago.

Before our first kiss. Long before the first time the chemistry fizzed between us like Mentos in cola.

Honestly, it’s likely that I gave it to him the first time I heard him laugh. I just didn’t know it at the time.

“You about done?”

As always, my breath catches. Sammy’s leaning against the frame of my open doorway. He peers around the room with a look on his face I’m struggling to decipher.

“What’s wrong?” Sure, I may not ever talk about the nights of stolen kisses and cum with Sammy, but I don’t hold back anywhere else.

“Just already wishing this summer was over.”

Not for the first time, I say, “It’s still not too late to change your mind and head home with me. Grady would let you work the same hours as me. He’s always looking for extra hands with landscaping projects.” The pay for laboring as a casual employee isn’t all that great, but it’s likely the same as he’ll get busing tables at the diner he works at every summer break.

Stepping fully into my room, he searches for an empty place to sit. Since the place is a mess while I’m trying to get myself organized, he makes a beeline for my bed. It’s all I can do to stay put as he picks up my training jersey and falls back onto my mattress with a huff.

He did something similar four nights ago, fueled by booze and high from my kisses.

“Don’t tempt me.”

But what if I want to?

I keep a tight grip on my thoughts and offer a smile. “If you change your mind, you can always head on over. Open-door policy, remember?” My parents think he’s awesome and know we’re thick as thieves.

“Thanks, man. You know how it is back home.” His shrug is carefully casual, which means I’m not buying it. “Denzel messed up a couple of weeks back. Mom wants me to spend some time with him.”

I bob my head and stuff the last pair of dirty sweatpants into the trash bag before I move onto my bed. Settling with my back against the headboard, I don’t even bother to hold back my smirk when Sammy eyes me before shuffling over to sit at my side.

His heat against my arm, against my legs, settles some of the need inside me.

I swear, I wasn’t this needy for human contact growing up. This is all Sammy. And I love every time we touch and hug. It’s something we’ve always done. Sammy gives affection freely.

After seeing him with his family the first time when we were freshmen, I understand why. The whole family is super close, even with Leroy, their stepdad. Which makes sense, since I think he’s been their dad since Sammy was, like, five or six or something.

His mom has this whole hug-and-hold-tight thing she does, and Sammy and his siblings throw around “love yous” alongside driving each other to distraction unlike any family I’ve ever known.

Hell, I love my folks, but that’s so not us.

And until Sammy came along, I didn’t realize how nice it is to be wrapped up in so much affection.

“Denzel will be fine. He’s a good kid. We all mess up. It’s the whole beauty of being young—having room to screw up every now and then.” I follow up with a nudge, which earns me a smile. “And you know,” I start, sure my parents will be fine with me offering, “if you want to visit, bring Denzel with you. It might do him good.”

Sammy angles toward me so he can see my face. Fuck, he’s beautiful.

“You wouldn’t mind? Or your folks?”

I shake my head. “’Course I wouldn’t mind. And you know my parents love you.”

His grin is back. “I did warn my mom that they’d be up for adopting me.”

“I’m surprised she hasn’t called mine and tried to get the paperwork set up.”

Sammy snorts. “She considered it. Thought it would be great for me to be out from beneath her feet. Already started to plan out what she can do with my bedroom.”

I shake my head. He’s so full of shit. Not only does he share a bedroom with Denzel, but his mom is the ultimate protective mother.

“You mind if I think about it? See what Denzel’s really been up to? I know for a fact that he hasn’t been telling me everything. Taking him away with us and putting him to work laboring may be the kick in the ass he needs.”

“Absolutely.” I glance around my room. It really looks like a tornado’s been through here. How the hell I’m going to get this done and be ready to head to tonight’s party is beyond me.

“Come on. Ass up.”

I clamp my lips together, stopping myself from offering myself up to him. Hell, it’s not even as though I like the thought of bottoming. But for Sammy, I’d try it.

“Let’s get your room sorted.” As he hauls himself off my mattress, Sammy studies my room. His gaze lands on me before he latches on to my arm and tugs me to stand. “I have no idea how you’ve accumulated so much shit this past year.”

I snicker. “Me either.” Though I’m something of a hoarder, so honestly, I’m not all that surprised.

“You go through your designs and all those magazines. I know better than to try to throw something away.” He focuses on my desk. “You’re taking your Mac, right?”

“Yeah.” I enjoy designing landscapes too much to be without my computer.

“Cool. I’ll get that packed up for you.”

“Thanks,” I say as I head to the pile of sketches in the corner of my room. We’re seriously lucky the landlord lets us keep this place over the summer for a fraction of the price. Not having to pack up and move out completely is one hell of a relief.

Together, we organize my room, shooting the shit while Sammy regales me with some of the things he and his two kid brothers got up to over the years.

By the time we’re done, we’re exhausted. The last thing I want is to head out tonight, especially as the plan is to be on the road by six in the morning.

I wipe my dirty hands on my sweatpants. They’re already filthy, so a bit more isn’t going to hurt any.

Sammy’s chuckle catches my attention. His focus is on me, his gaze roaming my face. “You look like you stepped out of Mary Poppins or something.”

My brows shoot high, and amusement settles in my chest. “Are you comparing me to a chimney sweep?”

Admittedly, the pack of charcoal pencils under my bed broke free, so I kinda made a mess.

“Well, it would need to be one wide-ass chimney to fit your?—”

I launch a pillow at him.

“What? I was talking about your shoulders.” Glee fills his gaze, brightening his eyes.

I shake my head. “Whatever, asshat. I could question how often you sit by yourself watching Mary Poppins.” I don’t say anything about how I know there’s a chimney sweep in the movie.

“Have you met my mom?” he sasses. “If death by watching too many musicals was a thing, she’d have an empty nest by now. She made us watch every singing, dancing movie going. Saves up every year to go see one at the theater at Christmas. I’d complain, except it makes it so damn easy to buy gifts for her.”

My heart melts a little at the affection in his voice when he talks about his mom.

“Next time I see her, I’m going to ask for the photos of the performances you were in as a kid.” I grin, wondering why I haven’t pestered his mom for them before now.

“Like fuck you are. Those images will be deleted or burned.”

“That just makes me want to see them more.”

Sammy shakes his head at me as he makes his way to the door. “The guys want to head out in an hour.” He peers back at me, shoulders relaxed and smile carefree. “You need to shower.”

I roll my eyes. “So do you.” There’s a smudge of dust on his cheek. Before, I would have wiped it away, but with everything that’s been happening between us, I’m hyperaware of every single time we touch.

Fortunately, Sammy’s not so shy and is just as tactile as always. It’s a relief he hasn’t pulled away.

A yawn escapes, and I rub a hand over my face, no doubt smearing the dust I suspect is littering my skin.

“None of that.”

“Urgh.” I flop back on my mattress. It’s so comfortable and even more tempting to stay here for the rest of the night. But I don’t want that unless Sammy’s at my side.

Okay, that’s bull. It’ll be the perfect way to end the school year if he’s under me, but no way is that going to happen unless I go out.

Lifting my head to check if Sammy’s still here, as he hasn’t said a thing in the past minute, I see him in front of the closed door. His lids are low, and there’s definite jaw clenching going on.

Holy shit, his gaze is on my stomach. My tee’s ridden up, revealing an expanse of skin that he trailed his tongue over for the first time ever last week.

I dare not speak, unwilling to spook him, but it doesn’t matter. His expression shutters, any hint of lust disappearing before I fully blink. Instead, his usual carefree smile is back as our gazes connect.

“No falling asleep. It’s the last night we can all be together for a couple of months.”

Us. From the look he quickly covered, that’s what he really means, right? Us and not the whole household?

Even though my heart’s beating erratically, and I know I’m likely getting way ahead of myself for wishing for a time we can be open about what’s happening between us, I roll my eyes and collapse once more onto my back.

“An hour. I got it.” I wave him away, needing some time to regroup even though I hate to see him go.

Two months is a long-ass time to not see each other. It always is.

But this time, it’s different.

This time, I’m afraid that when we see each other again, there are going to be no more secret rendezvous. Sure, my heart aches a little, but hooking up with Sammy is a high I never want to come down from.

I reach for the clothes on my bed, wanting to tidy them away. I move a couple of items and frown.

My training jersey is missing.

With a heavy thud from my heart, my head snaps to the door where Sammy just left. My gut tightens before it fizzes and a smile splits my lips.

Sammy took my jersey.

I collapse back onto my mattress with a sigh that is all swoons. This is one of a hundred reasons why it’s impossible to let Sammy go and why I so desperately want more with him.

A sappy grin remains on my face as I finally get to work finishing off my room. I wonder if he’ll wear it over the summer. Hell, maybe he’ll sleep with the thing. My heart flips over a little wildly.

Maybe I should sneak into his room and see if I can steal a shirt of his.