Chapter Eighteen

JAMIE

“What are you doing?” His voice is coated in disdain, his eyes laced with disgust when I turn to face his outburst.

“No! You don’t get to come over here with your judgment and controlling tactics. Go back over to the upper echelon, your Highness,” Lisa stands between us mocking Sam.

“It’s okay, Lisa,” I assure her, my voice is dejected and tired.

“Is everything okay?” Josh asks, placing his hand on my shoulder, and I watch as Sam’s jaw clenched, his eyes becoming slits as he stares at our embrace.

“Yeah, I’ll be back,” I remove his hand, walking a few feet away, hoping Sam will follow, but he stays there staring at him until I call for his attention.

“Are you serious?” I ask.

“I was going to ask you the same thing,” he begins, moving closer to me.

I want to be mad at him, I really do. I’ve spent so much time worrying about us, and how he abandoned me, but now I’m just taking in every detail about him. He’s even more handsome than I remember, having only photos and memories in his absence.

“Well, I’m glad to know you’re alive,” I sassily place one hand on my hip.

“You have my number too, Jamie. Who the hell is he?” He growls.

“Josh? He’s just a friend,” I shrug. How dare he ask me about a guy when he’s the one that’s been on one trip after the next without so much as a text.

“A friend? You’re posting him online like he’s more than that. Then I see you out here parading around with him?” He accuses, and I can’t help but feel a little happy that he’s jealous because I’d feared he wasn’t interested in me anymore.

“What? Are you worried I might let him teach me to surf?” I quip, noticing the beautiful blonde not more than fifty feet away, as his family gathers behind him.

“Jamie, I already told you that didn’t mean anything,” he argues, but his aggression has faded like he knows he wouldn’t want me doing what he had.

“Look, Sam, I’ve had a lot of time to think about this, and I just don’t think it can work,” I take a deep breath.

“Because of this mystery dude, you’re flaunting around?” He scrunches his eyebrows together in disbelief.

“No, crazy! I’m not dating Josh!” I place my hands over my temples, frustrated by his continued lack of understanding. “You just don’t get it, Sam. I’m never going to be okay with you refusing to stand up for me. I don’t care who it is, family or not. If you love me, there shouldn’t be any secrets,” I search his eyes, but I can’t read his emotions.

“Jamie, I have to walk you into that life slowly. It’s different in Sutton Hills, and reputations mean so much,” he runs his fingers through his hair as he always does when he’s stressed.

“And I taint your resume? Is that it?” I smirk at his callousness.

“No, Jamie. Of course not. I don’t care about any of that, I’ve always told you that,” he reminds me.

“Well, for someone who doesn’t care about their standards, you sure are caught up in their rules. Look, I’m sure there are plenty of girls from Sutton Hills that will look great on your arm, and your resume. I wish you the best of luck,” I try my best to hide my emotion before turning to return to my party.

Two steps in the sand and I feel his strong fingers wrap around my wrist as he spins me towards him.

“I’m not letting you walk away again. If this is what you want, come on,” he grumbles before tugging at my arm as he marches in the sand towards his family, who are all staring at us like we’re putting on a performance.

“Listen up!” Sam yells once we’re only a few feet from his family, as they sit in beach chairs, and stand to watch. I see his mother, who is in the center of the seats, her eyes locked on her son. Nikki and Tasha are standing to the right of him, and if I weren't frozen in shock, I’d surely burst into laughter when I notice her provocative dress and stilettos at the beach.

“This is Jamie,” he turns to me before continuing, and I see a flash of the warmness I missed gleaming in his eyes. “She’s my girlfriend, and she means the world to me. She’s not from Sutton Hill, and it shouldn’t matter. I’m in love with her, and I don’t care where she lives or what her last name is. I’ll be changing that soon anyway,” he announces loudly, and a few of the women cover their mouths after gasping.

“Sam,” I whisper, unable to access my vocal chords.

“Baby, I’m sorry. About everything. I messed up, but I can’t lose you. Every day without you is torture. I don’t care about any of this, baby. I want you. I need you,” he professes, his body moving closer as his voice grows softer.

My stomach muscles clench when his hands cup my face, a lone tear sliding down my cheek.

“I didn’t mean for it to happen like this, Jamie. I don’t even have a ring,” he chuckles, lowering his handsome face for a moment before staring deep into my soul.

“Baby, I want you forever. You’re never a secret. I want everyone to know how crazy I am about you. And I know this is soon, but,” he pauses, dropping to one knee.

“Sam,” his name falls from my tongue, barely a whisper, more of breath.

“Will you marry me?” He asks, kneeling in the sand, as my vision blurs from the tear pouring out of my eyes.

“Yes! Of course!” I cry, and he chuckles before rising to his feet, lifting me in his arms as he spins me around before kissing me with all the passion we’ve held off between the two of us. His family and my friends all applaud, but it sounds like a distant melody in the background as I focus in on Sam, in what feels like a dream. My heart melts, kissing him over and over, eager to spend the rest of my life this happy.