Masquerade (Heven and Hell #1)(64)
Author: Cambria Hebert

“I’m sorry,” I murmured, wrapping my arms around his back and pressing in closer.

“Aren’t we a pair?” he wondered, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. Then, “You always smell so good.”

I wondered how I would live if he ever got taken away from me.

Too soon we had to leave the orchard. Sam had to work. I was sitting at the table with my second steaming cup of coffee at my elbow. I had a feeling I was going to need the caffeine today. Sam entered wearing a pair of clean khakis and a polo shirt embroidered with the Planet Fitness logo. The shirt was tucked in neatly, and he was wearing a brown leather belt. I smiled at his cuteness.

“Well, Sam, don’t you look ready for a day at work,” Grandma said, looking up from her crossword.

“Thank you for letting me change here,” he mumbled, looking a little embarrassed. I wanted to jump up and kiss him. I settled for a grin instead.

“What time does your shift end?” Grandma enquired without looking up.

“Uh, six, ma’am.”

“Just in time! I just put a roast in the oven. It should be ready right around that time. Why don’t you come back and join us for supper?”

My heart soared. Now I wouldn’t have to make an excuse to hang out in my room or the barn all evening so I could be with him. I tried to control my smiling. It was no use.

“Thank you,” He accepted graciously.

On his way toward the door he paused and turned back. “Ma’am? Would it be all right if I took the want ads from the paper with me? I could take yesterdays or last week’s if you still have them,” he rushed to add.

Grandma shuffled this morning’s paper around and pulled out a thin section. “Searching for another job?” she asked, handing them over.

“He already has two,” I blurted out. He couldn’t possibly have time for a third job, school, and me.

He grinned, his eyes sliding over to me. “I live with a few roommates right now that I don’t really get along with too well. I was hoping to find a smaller apartment or an efficiency that I could rent on my own.”

Excitement whirled through me. If he moved, there would be somewhere we could go to be alone! I would know where he lived and might actually be allowed to visit him!

“Good luck with your search,” Grandma told him, returning to her crossword. “We’ll see you at dinner.”

“Yes, ma’am. Thank you.” I followed him out to the back porch, closing the door behind us. I whirled around to see him smiling at me. I launched myself at him, laughing.

“Really? You’re moving?”

“Yes.” He kissed the tip of my nose.

“Will I be allowed to visit?” I batted my eye lashes at him.

“I’ll give you a key.”

I bounced around in his arms. The words I love you sprang onto my tongue. Instead I said, “Can I help you look?”

“I don’t know, it’s going to be pretty boring,” he teased, faking a yawn.

I smacked him in the stomach. He made an “oomph” sound and then grinned. “Okay, you can help.”

“I can’t wait!”

He was still grinning, which took all the warning out of his tone, “It’s going to be a few weeks until I can move.”

I nodded sagely.

“It probably won’t be that nice of a place.”

“Any place with you will be heaven.” I ducked my head shyly.

He lifted my chin with his finger; his eyes were soft. “I feel exactly the same about you.”

“Have a good day.” I said, sorry he had to leave.

“I’ll see you later?” His voice was deep and low.

I shivered, liking the way he made me feel. I walked him to his truck, and just before climbing in, he looked at me with somber eyes. “Would you please stay inside today? I’ll worry less if you do.”

I nodded. “Be careful.”

“I will.” He kissed me softly, briefly. “Go on in the house.”

I went, wondering the whole way how long until China came for me.

“What’s going on with you?” Kimber demanded.

“What? Nothing.”

Her eyes narrowed. “I know you better than that. We’ve been friends forever.”

“Why would you think there was something wrong?” Like say, my boyfriend is a hellhound, and it turns out that his hellhound roommate is stalking me and trying to kill me? Or maybe my Bible-beating mother thinks that the disfigurement on my face (that said stalker put there) is because I have been marked by evil and that she thinks I’m about to go completely postal at first chance?

She studied me. I felt like she was trying to pick out which lie she should call me on. Then she shrugged. “You just seem kind of jumpy and a little more quiet.”

“Me? Jumpy? Queen of the panic attack and not wanting to go out in public?” I pressed my hand to my chest like I was shocked she would say such things.

“Shut up.” She laughed. “I guess you are like that all the time.” But then she looked around her bedroom as if to make a point. I had been the one that wanted to hang out there instead of going to our fave coffee shop. “I just thought that stuff was getting better. You know with the wardrobe changes and prom and Sam. But lately, since prom actually, you seem to be worse.”

I never really thought Kimber was that observant of anything that didn’t revolve around her. I scolded myself immediately for that mean thought. Hadn’t she been the only one (besides Cole) who came to the hospital and treated me semi-normal after my attack? Hadn’t she stuck by me through all my moodiness, my crying, and my panic attacks after I came home all scarred and disfigured? She deserved more credit than I was giving her.

Tears sprang to my eyes. Kimber was my best friend, and she was right. Things had been super hard lately. But I still couldn’t tell her why. “I’m sorry.”

“I’m here if you need to talk,” she prompted, dutifully ignoring my tears.

“My mom thinks I’m evil,” I blurted. Then I slapped my lips together.

“What?” Kimber cried, dropping her hair brush and rushing over to the side of the bed.

I nodded, wiping at my eyes. What was the harm in her knowing this? Other than it being embarrassing, it wasn’t some big secret. “That’s really why I am staying at my grandma’s.”

“You said she needed help at the farm.”

I nodded. “I was embarrassed, and she really does need the help, but that’s not why I am there.”