“That is sad, but he has a good home now.”

“Yeah.” I smile and follow along, letting Spartan take the lead on where to go. “I do think he’d like being in the Midwest where it’s a little cooler and the grass isn’t always dry. Plus, almost having to evacuate him a few years ago really traumatized me. I mean, I know something bad can happen anywhere, but the fires…they scare me.”

“That would be scary. He’s making me miss having horses.” Sam pets him again, brushing pieces of hay of his withers. “There’s an old farmhouse in the town Rory lives in that I’ve always liked. It’s in rough shape, but any time we go visit her, something about it appeals to me.”

“Do you think it’s haunted?”

“It probably is, which is why it’s been bought and sold so many times.”

“Ohh, now I’m interested.” Spartan leads us to a new patch of grass. “How far from Chicago is she?”

“Only about an hour or so. It’s not a bad drive if you don’t run into traffic.”

“I’d like to go see her sometime,” I say with a smile. “It would be fun.”

“She would love that. She still looks up to you so much. You helped her probably more than you know.”

My smile widens. “If I can make anyone weird, I’ve done my job.” We walk Spartan to the pasture and Sam opens the gate for us and Spartan takes off, nickering to the other horses out there. We walk back to my car hand in hand, needing to rush back to my house so I can pack enough stuff to last me a week at Sam’s place.

It’s nothing official; I can’t really say I’m moving in with him. But it’s a start, and I know our ending is going to be a happy one.

28

Chloe

I look up from the couch and see Sam standing in the doorway. His eyes go from me to Charles and back again. I don’t think anything of it until I see the abhorrence on his face.

“Is this why you needed more time?” Brows pushed together, he turns and starts to walk away.

“Sam!” I call, scrambling to get up. My foot catches in the blanket and I fall, hitting my arm on the coffee table. Pain radiates through me, but I ignore it. “Sam!” I call again.

I make it outside and he slows but doesn’t turn around.

“It’s not what you think!”

This time he stops. “Then what is it?” He looks at me, pain obvious on his face. “Because it looks like you went back to the arms of your ex-boyfriend as soon as things get rough.”

“No,” I press, heart racing. I open my mouth to tell him the truth, but it’s not my secret to tell. “There’s nothing going on between us. Charles is my friend and we…we…”

“It’s fine, Chloe,” he says, and sounds so defeated.

“It’s not,” I go on and move toward him. Sam takes a step back and my heart breaks. “There’s nothing between us.”

“She’s right.” Charles appears in the doorway and Eric, his stuntman boyfriend that joined us for a pity party, stands behind him. “We’re friends and nothing more. That’s all we’ve ever been.” Charles comes down the stone porch steps. “Because I’m gay.”

“What?” Sam asks, looking from me to Charles and back again. Charles has a playboy reputation—with woman. Sam’s confusion is warranted.

“I’m gay,” Charles repeats and motions to Eric. “That’s my boyfriend.”

“Charles,” I start. “You don’t have to.”

“I want to. For us both.” Charles steps forward. “Nothing is going on between the two of us and it never has. Our whole relationship was fabricated by Karina, our publicist, to get attention for the show. It worked, and when we were fake-dating, we became close friends. Chloe was one of the few people who knew—and kept—my secret. I love Chloe like a sister, and even if the thought of kissing a woman did appeal to me, I wouldn’t want to kiss my sister.”

Sam’s shoulders relax and he rushes forward, taking 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 loved 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 envelopes 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 lays 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.