CHAPTER 15
LOGAN
“You sure you’re not hungry, Sam?” I asked.
“I’m sure,” she said.
“You can have some of my fries if you’d like them,” Liam said.
“I promise I’m okay.”
“They’ve got your favorite dessert here. A molten chocolate cake,” Luke said.
“Guys. Please. I’m not hungry,” she said.
“Then at least let me give you a ride home,” I said.
I watched her sigh as she slumped back into her chair. I hated this. Her feeling that, for whatever the reason, being with her fucking parents was better than being in Bakersfield near all of us. We all knew that’s the only reason Lauren was in L.A. To keep an eye on Sam. Which meant that whatever was plaguing her was bad.
“Come on,” I said. “I’ll give you a ride. Liam, you got this?”
“Yep, got it covered,” he said.
“Good. Come on, Sam. I’m giving you a ride home.”
I held out my hand for her, and she took it willingly, but the car ride was silent. Sam had never been this distraught before. And even if she was upset or stressed, she was always rattling on about it.
Her silence worried me.
“Are you really okay, Sam?”
She sighed, her shoulders heaving deeply as her chest fell.
“I’m just really tired. I don’t know why you guys insist on asking me the same question over and over again,” she said.
“Fine, but do you think it’s best to ride whatever this is out with your parents?”
“I’m not sure of anything right now.”
“That’s not the Sam I know,” I said.
“Well then that makes two of us now doesn’t it?” she muttered.
“What does that mean?”
“Vegas,” she said with a heavy sigh.
“Sam, we’ve all already told you. You have nothing to be embarrassed about. You wanted it, we wanted it. It was beautiful. You could never be anything but special to us. So come home and let us show you how special you are.”
She rolled her eyes, and it made my stomach churn.
“I thought you guys came to talk. Not to try and convince me to go home,” she said.
“If being with your parents is only going to make it worse, then maybe you should come home,” I said.
“Then it’s a good thing they’re out at one of their fancy schmancy balls tonight.”
“So your parents aren’t home?” I asked.