When I'm With You (Little Hollow Series, #2)(7)
I shouldn’t have gone to see him. What was that? Was he really looking at my lips?
I shake my head, don’t be stupid, Keeley.
I’m back at the salon and I need Sam to tell me how stupid I was to go over there, I need to hear someone else voice my own opinion. But when I walk in there, she’s curled up on the sofa with red rimmed eyes and my thoughts go out the window. “Sam? What’s wrong?”
She starts to cry as I gather her in my arms, and I hug her as she tells me all about some guy called Connor who’s back in town. I feel my fists tighten, if he’s hurt her, I will find him.
“Connor was my best friend throughout school. We did everything together, and he was like a big brother to… Tommy. He didn’t care that I always had him with me, he was just as excited to spend time with Tommy as he was with me. They even went on days out together.” She pauses. “Connor was the one who pulled Tommy out of the water.”
My hand flies to my mouth. Why hasn’t she told me about this guy before? I know every little thing that reminds Sam of her brother sends her spiraling into the past, so this must be really hard for her.
She tells me the whole story and I sit there dumbfounded, he must be back here to see her. I voice that but she shakes her head. Well there must be some reason he’s back, there must be more to their relationship than she’s telling me? “Were you two ever, you know... together?”
She’s deep in thought for a moment then tells me there was a kiss once, but nothing more. I can tell by her expression she wanted there to be, there’s more to the story though, I can feel it.
Wait. Isn’t Lewis’s friend called Connor? It can’t be, can it?
Just when Lewis seemed so clear cut; he has secrets after all. Or does he? It’s hardly his secret to tell but being a good friend to Sam, he should’ve told her that Connor was back in town.
“Hey, you remember when I said Lewis was sitting with a guy at the BBQ place when I turned up?” She nods at me, probably wondering what I’m going to say. “Well, his name was Connor, and when I went to the garage to apologize tonight, he was walking out as I walked in.”
Her tears turn angry and she immediately goes on the offensive. “Sam, I can see the wheels turning in that head of yours, maybe he didn’t know? Maybe they just bumped into each other?”
I’m trying to think of a reason he’d keep this from her, but I come up empty. She scoffs, “Look, I know you like him, Kee.” I look down at my hands, I’m not sure what I feel about him. “You don’t have to look away, it’s obvious and it’s fine by me, I’m just angry at him right now. How could he not tell me?”
I need to get away from this conversation so I go and make a drink. Is he just being nice to me to get to Sam? That’s who he really wanted there last night after all. I must’ve spoken out loud as Sam comes through to join me.
“What was that?”
Me and my big mouth again. “Oh, erm, you don’t think he’s using me to get to you do you? I mean, I apologized for being a total bitch yesterday and he invited me in for a beer. It was nice you know? It felt easy with him and he didn’t ask me about my past which, for once, was a breath of fresh air.”
Sam looks at me like I’m delusional and assures me she thinks he likes me, which is crazy since she hasn’t even been around the two of us, but I keep that thought to myself.
“You do need to spill though. Go on, take my mind off all of this!”
I pass her a glass of water and tell her everything we talked about. Sam puts in her two cents and then starts talking about the fundraiser again, I tune out a little and my mind drifts to Lewis’s gray eyes.
I just don’t know how I feel about him. He’d offered to take me for a ride on his bike sometime, did that mean a date? I’m sure he was going to kiss me tonight, but I couldn’t let him, I can’t let him in.
Sam yawns and picks up her purse, she looks at me while saying goodnight with bloodshot eyes, and turns to walk in her room. I don’t know what to say to her to make any of this better, so I say the first thing that comes to my mind, as usual. “You’re going to be fine you know that, right? Connor better hope that he doesn’t cross my path, just wait until he gets a piece of me.”
That fucker better stay away from Little Hollow from now on.
I hear Sam laugh and it makes me thaw a little. “You’re one in a billion, Keeley Michaels.”
I feel myself blushing and I wave her off.
Once in bed, my mind drifts back to Lewis. Why hasn’t he told Sam that Connor is here? I don’t know what to make of it but the more I think about it, the more I need to know the truth.
I sigh. I guess it looks like I’m going to be seeing him again sooner than I thought.
Today has had me on a rollercoaster of emotions. It wasn’t the best of mornings due to actually having to get out my warm, cosy bed. I love my sleep, what can I say? Then when I came down to the salon, some letch was staring at Sam’s ass. Seeing someone like that, leering at her in that way immediately brought up old feelings and I couldn’t stop myself from threatening to cut his balls off if he ever did it again.
Once I finally managed to get out of there, I made a beeline to confront Lewis. Low and behold, Connor was there.
My emotions get the better of me and before I know what I’m doing, I throw my hand into Connor’s back. He turns toward me with a shocked expression on his face which changes to confusion the moment he realizes it’s me.