“AND HERE IS Sam at four. We went for ‘All Night Long’ Lionel that year. I think it turned out pretty great,” Sam’s mom said as she turned the page of a huge photo album.
For over an hour, the two of us had sat at one of the corner tables flipping through page after page of Sam’s childhood. There were numerous pictures of Anne and Sam’s dad too. It was easy to see where Sam got his good looks, but after talking to his mom, it was easy to see how he’d turned out to be such an amazing man as well.
“All right. Enough is enough,” Sam said as he strolled up beside us with a beer in one hand and a gift bag in his other.
“Whatcha got there, hot stuff?” I asked as he placed the gift bag in front of me.
“Well, I figured we should show Mom our photo album too?” He tossed me a mischievous grin.
“We have a photo album?” I asked.
“Yep,” he answered as his smile grew. “Hey, Henry. Wanna see how Levee and I met?”
I immediately pushed to my feet as my eyes nervously flashed down to his mom. I did not want her to know how Sam and I had met. Hell, I wished Sam didn’t even remember how we’d met.
“Umm, maybe we shouldn’t do this here?”
Looping an arm around my waist, he tugged me against his chest and whispered, “It’s not what you think.”
I swallowed hard and searched his eyes, finding them dancing with humor. “Okay,” I breathed, sitting back down as everyone gathered around us.
After reaching into the bag, I pulled out a rectangular book. It was the shape of a license plate, and on the front, in an airbrushed font, was Sam & Levee 4-eva.
I started laughing, but as I opened the book, my vision began to swim.
Yeah, Sam had been busy.
Once upon a time… was written in script across the top of the page. The image was one of Sam’s composites where he’d cropped us together. And, for once, I wasn’t falling on my face. We appeared to be on a street corner, and Sam was sitting on the ground in filthy clothes, holding a cup for change, with Sampson sleeping at his side. His mouth was hanging open in awe as he looked up at me.
For me, he had used a still from one of my music videos where I was dressed from head to toe like the princess America viewed me as. My expression was fierce, and my curls were blown back away from my face while my leg peeked from the high slit in my sexy version of a ball gown.
“Oh my God,” I laughed.
The next page read: The princess met a pauper and gave him a job building her bookshelves.
The image was of me standing over him with my arms crossed while he looked like he was yelling at me, but in his hand was the unmistakable hollowed-out body of one of my Gibsons.
I sucked in a sharp breath, looking up at him in question.
“I only made you two of them,” he explained. “I figure you can sign the other two and we can donate them to a charity auction or something. Make us both feel better about destroying twenty-four grand.”
At that, my vision did more than just swim. A tear rolled down my cheek as a huge smile spread across my lips.
Sam used his thumb to wipe it away, whispering, “I’m glad you approve.”
I went back to the book, turning the page to find the caption: The princess didn’t realize how much she would like the pauper’s beer and chicken.
I burst into laughter at the picture of Sam in a pair of jeans that were riding low on his hips. He was shirtless and his abs were flexed impossibly tight, and if I wasn’t mistaken, they were airbrushed a good bit too. Even from behind the beer bottle that was tipped to his lips, I could see the smirk on his mouth.
I had no idea how he’d found a picture of me on my hands and knees, but somehow, he had, and he’d placed me directly in front of him. If it hadn’t been for the rooster I appeared to be chasing from between his feet, it would have most definitely been X-rated.
Henry suddenly piped up behind me. “I’m going to need a copy of this book.”
“Consider it done,” Sam answered without hesitation.
The next page read: And that was when the princess began falling for the pauper.
I immediately recognized the picture as the first one he had ever sent me. Everyone around us began laughing, but warmth washed over me at the memory.
The following pages were the rest of the pictures he’d sent me while I had been in Maine. Each one was captioned with: And falling…
With each page, the group would laugh louder, pausing to point out something funny, like the random chickens Sam had hidden in background. I, however, couldn’t tear my eyes off him—in person or in the pictures. In Sam’s little story, I was the princess and he was the pauper, but in that moment, with his friends and family huddled around us, I realized he was the wealthy one. I was most definitely the pauper in our real story. I didn’t care though. I’d never been more proud to call someone mine in my entire life.
After several pages, the caption changed to: But the good news is he was falling for her too.
The following pages were brand-new images I’d never seen before.
And they were stunning. Not because I really looked great, but because they were pictures of us. Real pictures. It started with the selfie of us that had been taken outside the theater before we’d gone to see Fifty Shades of Grey just a few nights earlier, only Sam had transported us to the red carpet at what looked like the premiere, and he’d added a pair of handcuffs dangling off the wrist he had slung over my shoulder.
Ryan burst out laughing, throwing Sam a high five that got left hanging.
The next page read: And falling…
It was a picture of me sleeping, cuddled up in a ball on Sam’s bed. Only the side of his face was visible as he kissed my nose. My heart began to melt at something so sweet, but a laugh bubbled from my throat as I leaned in close, realizing he had added a trickle of drool coming from my mouth and a wet spot on my pillow.
My hand immediately snaked up and tweaked his nipple. I figured mine were safe since his mother was sitting beside me. But Sam didn’t hesitate before reaching down to pinch mine as well.
“Sam!” His mom swatted his arm, but he just shrugged, completely unfazed.
Laughing, I turned to the last page in the book, only to freeze when I took in the image in front of me. My heart began to race, and frenzied butterflies stampeded in my stomach.
I wasn’t in the last picture at all. It was just a picture of Sam in those same filthy clothes from the beginning, and he was standing in a jewelry store, handing over Sampson’s leash and a crate full of chickens in exchange for a huge diamond engagement ring.
His mom gasped.
But I had absolutely no air in my lungs. Was he proposing? It was way, way too soon, but the word yes wasn’t even teetering on the tip of my tongue. It was in the starting block, ready to fire from my lips the moment I opened my mouth.
The caption read: And, eventually, that pauper sold all of his meager possessions just to be able to afford to keep that princess forever.
As I slowly tipped my head up to look at him, another traitorous tear escaped my eye, giving Sam my answer to his unspoken question.
Smiling warmly, he lifted his thumb to my cheek, wiping the damp trail away before pressing it to my lips. Whispering, he said, “That’s what I thought. But I just wanted to check. Turn the page, Levee.”
I didn’t want to turn the page at all.
But, at the same time, I’d never in my life wanted something more.
I was terrified that he was just being rash. We had so much going on. So much more to overcome. He didn’t even know what it was like to really be with me. So far, we’d been living in a perfect little bubble of solitude. What if Sam didn’t like life in the limelight? What if he couldn’t trust me when the tabloids attempted to ruin us with rumors? We needed more time.
It’s too soon.
I was unquestionably going to say yes though.
And, for as long as I lived, I would never regret that yes.
I knew, from the depths of my soul, that Sam was the rest of my life. Everything else would fall into place.
We’d fall up together.
So, sucking in a deep breath, I turned the page.
Then I burst into full-on tears.
Jumping to my feet, I threw my arms around Sam’s neck as he held me tight against his body.
There was no proposal.
But there was definitely a promise.
And, in that moment, it was better than any ring he could have put on my finger.
There was no picture. It was only a white page with the words: To be continued. (In thirty days.)
“Well, that was anticlimactic,” Henry deadpanned.
I was still holding Sam impossibly tight when Meg’s hand slap his shoulder as she said, “That was mean!”
It wasn’t mean.
It was us.
And, more than that, it added a whole other gear to my drive to get myself together over the next month.
It was the best gift he could have ever given me.
“I love you so much,” I murmured into his neck.
He chuckled. “I can tell.”
“Thank you for not proposing.”
He laughed a little louder. “You’re welcome, Levee.”
“Please don’t sell Sampson to buy me a ring. And, just so you know, I’m not sure I’d marry you without the cock. So please keep that too.”
“Noted.” He squeezed me hard before releasing his grip.
I stepped away, suddenly aware of our audience and my makeup probably siding down my face. “So, who wants to eat?”
“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.”