Heaven and Hell (Heaven and Hell #1)(134)

“Obviously not well,” I remarked.

Sam’s jaw clenched. Then he removed his jeans. Then all thoughts of Luci swept from my mind.

He pulled the covers back, climbed in, flicked them over his body then did an ab curl, his long arm reaching out toward me. He tagged me around the waist and yanked so I fell chest to chest into him as he settled on his back.

His arm stayed around my waist and his other hand sifted into the hair at the side of my head, pulling it back, his fingers curling around my skull. I left one hand pressed between us on the warm, silk skin of his chest and curled the fingers of my other one around his neck.

“Your Mom sees it and she’s worried too,” I told him.

“I know,” he told me.

“I’m at a loss, Sam.”

“Me too.”

I thought about it and shared, “Missy never snapped out of it. She breathes but she doesn’t live. Do you know what I mean?”

He nodded. “You tellin’ me her story, I watched her. Switched off. Existing. Wrapping herself in other people’s problems so she won’t have to face her own.”

There it was. He’d also figured out Missy.

“Seeing Luci, now I think something should be done about the both of them,” I said quietly.

“Yep,” Sam agreed.

I sighed.

Sam was done talking about sad, worrisome things and I knew this when he started to pull my face to his.

I resisted, whispering, “Sam, your Mom’s on California time. When I came up, the light was on under her door.”

“We’ll be quiet,” he muttered, his eyes dropping to my mouth at the same time they heated, them doing both making my ni**les tingle and he put more pressure on my head.

“Sam –”

Suddenly, he rolled me and when he was on top and I got a good look at his face, I knew instantly something profound had changed.

“Learn from them, baby,” he whispered. “You got one life, never use it just to breathe.”

I stared in his face, his intensity seared into me and it hit me that he was so right.

I had one life and I lived it for seven years doing nothing but focusing on each day, each breath, not living my dreams, not seeking excitement, not pursuing happiness, not searching for my slice of heaven.

I was done just breathing.

“We’ll be quiet,” I whispered back, Sam grinned his approval then he kissed me.

* * * * *

I woke up in a bed that didn’t include Sam or Memphis.

Then I looked at the alarm clock and saw I’d slept in. Sam was either out walking Memphis or he was already at the gym.

I rolled out of bed, did my bathroom thing, grabbed my fabulous robe and shrugged it on.

I was tying the belt, my bare feet silent on Sam’s wood floors, just about to round the railing to hit the stairs when I heard it.

“I did not raise an idle son.”

I stopped dead.

That was Maris and she sounded pissed.

I was more than mildly shocked. I knew from what Sam told me and what I’d seen of her that she was not a weak woman. I had no idea how she was before Sam and Ben ousted their father. I just knew from Sam’s stories that she blossomed after that and everything about her was proof. She was happy. She dressed well. She lived well. She had a great sense of humor and an easy smile. She worked and enjoyed what she did. She was her own boss. And she raised two boys who turned into fine men.

But she was like Sam, albeit with a bit of feminine drama, she was mostly laidback, good-humored and easygoing.

At her tone I learned she was just like her son. In other words, she could get pissed.

“Ma, Kia’s up,” Sam returned on a low growl I still heard from my position on the stairs.

“So?” Maris replied and I started backing up.

“I’d say we’d talk about this later but we’re not f**kin’ talkin’ about this later. We’re not talkin’ about this at all,” Sam declared.

“Do not use that tone and language with me, Sampson August Cooper,” she snapped.

“You’re standin’ in my kitchen, in my home talkin’ about my life with my woman awake upstairs. Do not f**kin’ tell me how to behave in my own goddamned home,” Sam shot back on a continued, infuriated growl.

Now I was even more shocked. Shocked stone-still. Sam loved his mother. I couldn’t believe he was speaking to her like that.

“Of the many things I’d like to know, now I’d like to know why you’re so concerned Kia is going to hear us,” Maris stated.

“That’s none of your business either,” Sam returned.

Ohmigod.

“I don’t like that, Sam. Kia is –” she started.

He cut her off, “My woman and my business. Not yours.”

Yikes.

“I cannot believe you just said that to me,” Maris whispered, sounding hurt.

“I did.” Sam didn’t hesitate to confirm.

Ohmigod!

Maris was silent.

I decided to tiptoe back to Sam’s room.

I didn’t even get started. This was because Maris broke her silence.

“You cannot go on like you are.”

What did that mean?

“I can do whatever the f**k I wanna do. It’s my life, Ma. You gave it to me but that doesn’t mean you get to lead it.”