Sam’s shoulders relax and he rushes forward, taking me in his arms. My heart swells in my chest, and I wrap my arms around him, kissing him with fervor, pulse racing.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, still shaking.

“Stacey lied. She really is pregnant, but it’s not mine. I wanted to tell you in person.”

I blink, needed a second to process everything. “Seriously?” I blurt, and Sam nods.

“Yeah. There’s no way it’s mine. The last time we were together was June, but she’s only nine weeks along.”

“What a bitch,” Charles says, and I turn, almost forgetting he and Eric are there. The world disappeared the moment Sam took me back into his arms.

“I don’t know how she thought it was going to end,” Sam goes on, brushing my hair back. “I would have found out eventually.”

“So everything is okay now?” I ask, eyes filling with tears.

“It was always okay,” Sam soothes. “Because I love you, Chloe, and our love isn’t fragile. It won’t break easily, no matter what happens.”

A tear rolls down my cheek, and Sam brushes it away with his thumb before kissing me again.

“I love you,” he whispers. “I’ve always love you, Chloe Fisher. And I always will love you.”

“I’ll always love you too.” I’m crying as he kisses me again, dipping me back and pushing his tongue in my mouth. Charles and Eric cheer and Sam straightens me back up, chuckling.

“Let me introduce you,” I say, not letting him go. Sam envelops his arms around me and inhales deep. “Come in.” I take his hand and we turn. “Guys, this is Sam. And Sam, this is Charles and his boyfriend Eric.”

“Hi,” Sam says, looking at Charles a little starstruck, which I find adorable. Hand in hand, we go back inside.

“You came all this way for me?” I ask Sam.

“I’d go anywhere for you, Chloe.” He takes both of my hands in his.

“We’re going to take off,” Charles says, smiling at me. “I take it you two are going to want to be alone.”

“Yeah,” I say, heart swelling in my chest. “I know I do.” I break away from Sam so I can walk Charles and Eric to the door.

“Text me later,” Charles says and hugs me goodbye. I wait a beat, making sure they get into Eric’s Range Rover and then close the door, going back to Sam, who takes me in his arms.

“I’m sorry, Chloe.”

“Why are you sorry?”

“For putting you through that.”

“You didn’t do anything.” I let out a breath and we sit on the couch, close together. “You’re here.” I’m getting emotional again.

“Hey,” Sam says gently and pulls me onto his lap. “I’ll always be here.”

“I can definitely get used to the sunshine.” Sam stretches his arms out over his head, and lies back down, snaking his arm around me. We’re in my bed, naked from having sex. It’s sometime in the morning, and I have no intentions of leaving this bed anytime soon.

“It is nice.” I roll over, smushing myself against Sam. “I could easily be a snowbird and spend most of the winter here.”

“Like an old person.”

“Very much like an old person.” I rest my head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. “Though the last few years, I’ve missed the change of seasons. Working from home makes it so I don’t have to leave the house and go out in the cold very often either, and writing while sitting by a fire in the living room as snow drifts down does sound heavenly.”

“Mhhh, yeah. And then I come home from work, take your computer away, lay you down in front of the fire and fuck you senseless.”

“This needs to happen. I wonder if we can get my dad and Nancy to go on vacation so we can use their living room.”

“As long as you tell them specifically we want to fuck in the living room, I’m sure they will pack up and leave right away.”

I laugh and run my fingers up and down Sam’s arm. “You’re going to be the one to tell my dad that.”

He nods. “Excuse me, Mr. Fisher, can you please vacate the house for at least twenty-four hours during a snowstorm? Your daughter wants me to bend her over, pull her hair, and choke her while I’m fucking her from behind.”

“Sam!” I laugh. “Yes, please say that.”

“If I do, I think the guns will come out of the safe in the basement.”

“Oh, for sure.”

Sam kisses my neck and I close my eyes. “Aren’t you supposed to be at work?” I ask as it suddenly dawns on me.

“I called off sick,” he admits. “First sick days I’ve used in years, so it’s okay.”

“You rebel. I like dark-Sam. Especially when he shoves me up against a wall and fucks me until I can’t walk.”

“Your dirty talk is getting better.” He kisses me again and then pulls me onto his chest. We lay together in silence, just enjoying each other’s company. “When I thought Stacey was having my baby,” he starts, “it made me realize that I do want kids and a family, but not with her.” He rakes his fingers up and down my bare back. “Anytime my mom or sister brought up how I should get married and settle down, my mind always went to one person.”

“I really hope it’s me.”

He smiles. “Yes, it’s you. All I could think when she said she was pregnant was that I wished it was you, and I know how messed up that is since we’re not even in the same state. Chloe, there will never be anyone for me but you. I don’t want to rush you into anything,” he breathes. “But I know I want to spend the rest of my life with you. You’re the only one I’ve ever wanted, and I can’t see anyone else but you being the mother to my children.”

I know anything I say is going to pale in compassion to that, so instead I sit up and kiss Sam. He moves on top of me, kissing me passionately.

“Come back to Chicago with me,” he says between kisses. “I want you there with me when I wake up every morning and when I come home from work. I don’t want to be without you, Chloe, and I know we’re going to have time apart, but when we can…I want us together.”

“I want that too. I want you, Sam, and I’ll take you any way I can.”

He’s right. The long-distance is difficult, but not being together is worse.

*

“He’s beautiful.” Sam runs his hand down Spartan’s neck. “And big.”

“He’s a big softie is what he is.” I clip the lead rope to his halter and lead my big gray horse outside. The grass is dry and browning, and Spartan sniffs around, looking for the best grass to eat. Sam has been in LA with me for two days now, and has to leave in a few hours so he can get back to Chicago from work.

And I’m going back with him.

“How’s he doing?” Sam asks.

“Better, but I’m still worried he’s going to pull a muscle again. Retired racehorses can run into lots of issues. It’s sad, really how they’re worked so hard when they’re young and it sets them up for a lifetime of issues after that.”