Chapter 32

 

Every time he got another text from Wyatt, Sam had to smile. Though they were a reminder of what happened with Brian, they also reminded him how much Wyatt cared.

In his last text, Sam told Wyatt he was almost there. As he went up to Wyatt at Mrs. Del Rio's, Sam could see signs of concern on his face. He hated that he made Wyatt worry about him, but at least they were going to be together now.

"Glad to see you," Wyatt told him. "But I might not be able to let you out of my sight again."

"Don't be weird. I'm fine," Sam told him.

After a quick kiss, they joined Lara, Raquel and the kids who were talking to Rico.

"I swear everyone wants to push me into something," Rico was saying as they approached. "My dad wants me to be a dentist. I finally put my foot down, and I said no, so we're at war."

"Don't be a dentist, Rico," Riley told him.

"OK. I won't. Glad to see someone is on my side," Rico said and he high-fived Riley.

Seeing Sam, Riley wanted a high five from him too.

"If you're here, I guess I have to be heading to the café soon," Rico said.

"Don't worry. You're not late," Sam told him and the two of them went off so he could grab a drink.

"Those little squirts are not so bad, but I still think it's weird dating someone who has kids?" Rico affirmed once they were away from the others and Sam was staring back at Wyatt.

"The boys are great." Sam loved DJ and Riley with no reservations. And Wyatt too.

Damn. Why did he have to think that? Sam looked away from Wyatt quickly and stared at the ground at his feet. He didn't want the word love in his head when it came to Wyatt. Wasn't it enough that his love for Wyatt was etched into his heart, or more like carved into it deeper every day?

"Rico, my boy, your turn to go feed the tourists," Mrs. Del Rio said startling Sam.

"I'll head over there now," Rico said sighing before he rushed off with a wave.

"He's a good boy," Mrs. Del Rio was saying then some new arrivals got her attention.

As Rico was leaving and Sam looked after him, he saw something that made his blood run cold. Stunned, he watched as Rico stopped halfway to the road to talk to... God, why was he here? Why was he grinning at Rico like that?

Sam was over there before he knew it, pulling Rico away from Brian. "What the hell are you doing here? I don't think you were invited," Sam said through gritted teeth, but Brian only smirked.

"He said he was a friend of yours from out of town," Rico said, obviously confused.

"He is not," Sam said while glaring at Brian.

"That's right. We're a lot more than friends," Brian said suggestively.

"Go, or you'll be late for your shift," Sam said to Rico, not wanting to involve him in this.

Rico left reluctantly, looking back a few times. Sam had a feeling he wouldn't have if he knew what kind of guy Brian was.

"You need to leave or do you want to get the cops called on you?" Sam asked him.

"Me? I don't think so," Brian said threateningly, reminding Sam that he could press charges against him. "I haven't done anything wrong. I saw you talking to that pretty boy, and I just wanted to get to know him a little."

"You stay the hell away from him," Sam warned him. He already considered Rico his friend, and he wasn't going to let Brian mess with him.

"You have gotten brave," Brian said with a sneer. "You sure that's how you want to play this, babe?"

"Fuck off, Brian," Sam told him.

"Nah, I don't think so," Brian said smugly, but then he looked over Sam's shoulder, smirked and started to walk away. "See you around, Liam."

As Brian moved off, Sam turned to look over his shoulder and saw what persuaded Brian to leave. It was Wyatt coming over, looking ready to pay him back for every beating he gave Sam.

"Settle down. It's fine," Sam said, placing his hand on Wyatt's chest.

"You sure?" Wyatt asked and he stroked his face.

"I am. You're here, aren't you?" Sam told him. "I want to let Mrs. Del Rio know about this."

Going in search of her, Sam texted Rico at the same time to let him know that Brian was bad news.

"Not to worry," Rico texted back. "Not my type."

Sam told Mrs. Del Rio that Brian had been there. "I'm so sorry," he told her.

"What are you apologizing for, sweetheart?" she asked and patted his arm.

"I brought trouble to your doorstep. I'm so sorry," Sam told her.

"You silly boy, you want to take responsibility for all the jerks of this world? This isn't your fault. You chased him off. Now try and forget him and enjoy my party," she instructed him.

"OK," Sam told her. He didn't want to be a downer, but he couldn't forget about Brian. It was bad enough for him to approach Sam in town, but that he would come here. That was a bad sign. How far was he willing to go to get to Sam?

While Sam was lost in thought, Riley ran over to him and grabbed his hand. "I came to get Sam," he said to Mrs. Del Rio.

"What if I want to keep him?" she teased Riley.

"No, Mrs. Del Rio. Sam is ours," Riley told her.

"But you got your uncle and those two dogs," she said.

"We need Sam too," Riley told her decisively.

"Is it because he can cook?" she wanted to know.

"Yeah and to watch TV with us and make funny faces when Uncle Wyatt tells us bedtime stories," Riley said.

"Do I do that?" Sam wondered and Riley nodded to let him know that he did.

Sam cupped his face and thought about how unfair he was being to him and DJ. He had no right to bring disruption to the lives of these sweet little boys. But what was he supposed to do to fix things?

 

Later, as they left the party and walked to their cars, Sam was silent and far away, and DJ noticed.

"You're not sick, are you, Sam?" DJ asked. "Do you have a tummy ache?"

"Maybe he's just worried that we might have rain for the parade tomorrow," Raquel said.

"It can't rain on the parade," Reilly said alarmed.

Sam turned to him and gave him a smile. "I don't think it will rain. Nothing will spoil the parade for you guys," he promised them.

 

That night Sam woke from a nightmare, out of breath and in a panic. He calmed down quickly as he felt Wyatt take him in his arms. Wyatt pressed a kiss to his temple, soothing him with his entire body, his warmth and his gentle strength.

"A nightmare?" Wyatt said and Sam nodded against his shoulder.

Surprisingly, this nightmare wasn't about Brian though. It was worse. Sam had dreamed that DJ and Riley were gone, and he couldn't find them.

Wyatt stroked his hair and murmured reassurances under his breath. Sam was so grateful to him, but even Wyatt couldn't free him of the grip of that nightmare.

As he thought about it, Sam realized something. This nightmare didn't seem to be about Brian, but what if it was?

Brian was here. He wasn't just a nightmare any more. The nightmare was real. He found Sam, and he was already trying to get close to the people around him. How long before this latest nightmare turned into reality as well?

The way he approached Rico, what if he approached DJ or Riley? Sam couldn't let that happen.

"You want to tell me about it?" Wyatt asked, but Sam couldn't.

At the same time fierce and tender, so protective, Wyatt made his heart ache. Sam never thought anyone would ever care about him like that, stand up for him, be ready to fight for him. He couldn't let him do that though.

"I'm going to make breakfast," Sam said and started to get out of bed.

"It's still early," Wyatt said. "It's not even light out."

"I'll make some cinnamon buns and leave them to rise. It will help to take my mind off things," Sam told him.

Wyatt started to get out of bed too. "OK. Then I'll come and help. Maybe learn a thing or two," Wyatt said and Sam couldn't talk him out of it. But maybe he didn't really want to.

 

The cinnamon buns were done, and Sam left them to rise. The sun was only now starting to come up. Stepping out on the back porch, Sam inhaled sharply. Cool, morning air filled his lungs a little painfully.

"You feeling OK?" Wyatt asked coming to stand next to him.

"Just a little tired," Sam lied. More lies would follow. He couldn't tell Wyatt the truth or he would try to stop him, of that Sam had no doubt.

"I have to get ready for work. Don't burn those buns," Sam said to Wyatt.

"I can't promise that," Wyatt said. "Maybe you better stick around."

Hearing those words hurt him inside so much, but Sam did his best to keep his breathing even, his voice casual so Wyatt wouldn't notice how he was suffering at the thought of leaving him. "I can't. I have the early shift. Just follow the instructions I left."

He kissed Wyatt with an ache in his heart. More empty words fell from his lips flat and meaningless, lies about seeing him soon. Saying them, Sam felt dead inside.

It killed him not to be able to say the three words which he wanted to say more than any others. But those words were impossible now.

Sam had to go without saying goodbye. Without saying "I love you."