“Me!” Morgan yelled.
After picking up my new prized possession off the table, I snagged her hand. “Let’s go, pretty girl.”
As we walked away I could hear Sam’s mom scolding him for the non-proposal.
He just laughed. “Stop, Ma. She loved it.”
I really, really did.
The party was winding down, and Morgan had just finished blowing out the candles on her makeshift birthday cake. Henry and I were huddled around her, taking pictures so she could show her friends, when there was an angry knock at the front door. Initially, I assumed it was someone else Sam had invited, since they’d clearly gotten through the security gate, but the moment it swung open, I realized I should have made changing my codes and keys a priority.
Devon stormed in, leveling me with a murderous glare before I even had the chance to utter a hello. Or, more likely, a get-the-fuck-out.
“You fucking married him!” he roared, raking his eyes over my dress and getting the completely wrong idea about what kind of party we were having.
And, because I was still hurt from the little stunt he’d pulled in Maine, not even to mention his showing up and screaming at me in front of a room full of people, I answered, “Yep. And you were not invited. Leave.”
“You ungrateful bitch,” he snapped before stumbling off-balance, barely keeping himself upright by leaning back on the wall.
Is he drunk? I’d never even seen him have a drink.
Henry and Sam both rushed forward.
“Hey! Watch your mouth,” Sam growled.
Devon’s eyes flashed to Sam just seconds before his fist clumsily sailed through the air. Sam was able to move out of the way. Henry wasn’t so lucky.
“Oh, God!” the whole room gasped as Henry stumbled back, cupping his jaw.
Ryan and Ty both jumped in their direction. Thankfully, from out of nowhere, Carter came barreling into the room, wrapping Devon in a bear hug from behind before slamming him to the ground.
“How could you do this to me?” Devon screamed from the ground as Carter held him in place with a knee in this back. “I love you!”
“You what?” I shrieked back at him, more confused than ever.
“Oh, fuck,” Henry mumbled, still rubbing his jaw.
“I’ve given up my life for you, Levee. I’ve spent every waking minute at your side. I’m a fucking bodyguard, not your servant. Or even your driver or butler. But I sucked it up and did it for you because I love you.”
My head was spinning, but he continued before I had a chance to catch up. Devon loves me?
“I sat back and watched you parade dumbass after dumbass around for three goddamn years, but I knew eventually you’d see me as more. I was always there for you. And you fall in love with some suicidal asshole you met while trying to jump off a bridge. What is wrong with you?”
The free fall didn’t just find me—it swallowed the entire room.
“Oh my God!” Sam’s mom cried, throwing her hand over her heart.
Sam’s face paled as he quickly said, “It’s not what you are thinking, Ma.” Rushing toward her, he folded her into his chest. “I swear to God it’s not what you are thinking.”
“Come on. Let’s go outside.” Meg took Morgan’s hand. “Ty. Ryan. Jen. Let’s go.”
Ryan eyed Sam carefully. “Swear to God you didn’t lie to me,” he pleaded, crossing his arms over his chest as the rest of them filed from the room.
Sam just tilted his head at him and impatiently flared his eyes.
Ryan nodded, throwing his hands up in surrender before backing away.
“He’s lying, Ma. None of that happened.” Sam looked up at me with wide eyes while holding his mother in his arms.
I could see it in his eyes that he wanted to tell her the truth and assure her that she wasn’t going to lose her only remaining child the same way she had her husband and her daughter. I could also see that he didn’t want to reveal my secret in the process.
“Bullshit,” Devon slurred.
And that’s when it hit me.
It really was bullshit.
All of it.
The fact that it had happened.
The fact that I was hiding it.
The fact that Devon was trying to use it as an excuse for why I had fallen in love with Sam.
It was all bullshit.
“Devon, you’re an idiot. Because I love you too.”
Sam’s head snapped to me. “Excuse me?”
I waved him off and kept talking. “Maybe not the way you want me to love you, but it was still love. You and Henry were the only two people I could depend on without question. I wish you would’ve been a man and said something instead of acting like a little boy pulling the pigtails of your crush. You know why I haven’t returned any of your phone calls or even confronted you about the crap you pulled in Maine? Because I was scared it would mean that I’d have to say goodbye. I was hoping I could cool off and discuss things with you on a personal level, but then, tonight, you come into my home…drunk… hurling lies and insults?” I shook my head in disgust. “Thank you. You embarrassed the hell out of me in front of some really amazing people, but you made my life so much easier. Devon, you’re fired.” I squared my shoulders and looked at Carter. “Get him out of here.”
“Levee, wait,” Devon pleaded as Carter pulled him to his feet.
“Henry, you want to press any charges?” I asked as he made his way over me.
“Nope,” he replied, draping his arm around my shoulders in a show of solidarity.
“Okay, then. Devon, if you ever show your face on my property again, I will call the police. I will have you arrested. And I will press charges.” I held his gaze for several seconds to reinforce how serious I really was.
My heart was still absolutely breaking, but I sucked it up, because I had to.
I wasn’t Spiderman.
I couldn’t fix the way Devon felt for me.
I couldn’t keep him employed just because I felt guilty.
I could, however, do what was best for me.
“You did good,” Henry whispered as Carter led Devon out of my front door.
My shoulders slacked, but my stomach rolled. I had so much more good to do.
“Mrs. Rivers, I’m sorry you had to witness that, but what he said was the truth…kinda.”
“Levee, leave it alone,” Sam warned.
“No. First of all, with the way that went down, I give it until the morning before Devon airs all of my dirty laundry to the press. Secondly, don’t lie to your mom on my account. Mrs. Rivers, Sam and I met on the top of a bridge. He was there mourning Anne. I was there to kill myself…I think. I don’t really know for sure because I never made it that far. Sam has saved my life in more ways than I can count, and tomorrow morning, I’m heading out to a treatment facility in a desperate attempt to get my life back under control. I’ve been drowning for a long time, and your son not only breathed air into my lungs, but he dragged me from the water altogether. You raised an amazing man, and I’m doing everything in my power to get to a place where I can be the woman he deserves. You should be really proud.”
“Wow,” his mom breathed, looking up at Sam.
I smiled tightly, following her gaze up to his eyes.
Pure adoration was etched over every inch of his handsome face. “I’m so fucking proud of you,” he praised.
“Don’t speak too soon. I think we need to do some sort of press release before Devon has the chance to sell all of this information. I’d like you there so at least he can’t use you as some sort of leverage against me.”
Sam’s smile grew. “Levee Williams, are you asking me to be your public boyfriend and not just your secret lover?”
“Eww,” his mom said, stepping out of his arms.
“I think I am.” I smiled. “I think I’m ready for the world to try to steal you from me.”
Sam’s lips lifted even higher as he sauntered in my direction. Using my chin to tip my head back, he placed a kiss on my lips then arrogantly said, “I dare them to try.”