Home > Desperate Times (Silver Ridge Book 2)(5)

Desperate Times (Silver Ridge Book 2)(5)
Author: Emily Goodwin

She rolls her eyes, laughing as I get out of the SUV to punch in the code for my gate and pick up the package. My entire property is fenced for privacy reasons more than safety, as the gate is pretty easy to slip under on foot. I’m not a super famous celebrity, but better safe than sorry, right? My usual delivery driver knows the code and leaves my packages by my side door, but I’m not expecting anything today, though I have ordered stuff in the middle of the night after a few too many glasses of wine and got a nice surprise a day or two later.

“What it is?” April asks when I get back in the SUV.

“I think it’s flowers,” I tell her as she drives up to my house. I’ve gotten flowers enough in the past to recognize the shape of the box.

April parks in my driveway and we all get out together. I never enter my house from the front door, and use the keypad to unlock the side door, disarming my alarm system as soon as I’m in. My house is new and big, way too big for just me, but I bought it thinking it would have good resale value when I eventually moved. I have a small yard and a pool, and I’m far enough from the city that it’s surprisingly quiet here at night, yet it’s not too far to make driving into the city a pain.

I already have a good idea who the flowers are from, but don’t want to get ahead of myself in case they’re not from Sam. Hurrying into the kitchen, I put the box on my counter and carefully slice it open, smiling as soon as I see the dozen red roses.

“He is so sweet,” April coos as I set the roses in a vase on my kitchen counter. She opened the little card before I got a chance to look at it. Mica snatches it out of her hand and makes a gagging sound.

“Gross.”

“What?” Lola leans over. “Aww, that’s sweet.”

“I don’t even know what it says yet,” I laugh, and Mica gives me the card.

Chloe- I miss you already. Love, Sam

“What’s wrong with this? It’s only seven words, not some long love poem,” I say, though I’m grinning ear to ear.

“Nothing,” April tells me with a smile. “The beginnings of relationships are always the best, and I already like this guy more than anyone else you’ve dated.”

My friends here don’t know the whole backstory of Sam, only that we were friends in the small town of Silver Ridge and sparks flew when we saw each other a few weeks ago. They don’t know just how much Sam means to me, or how I’ve been head over heels in love with him since the moment I laid eyes on him.

“I do too,” Lola agrees. “I have a good feeling about him, and I cannot wait to meet this sexy doctor of yours.”

I read the little card again, heart feeling so fucking full. I have a good feeling about this too.

 

 

3

 

 

Sam

 

 

I set the bag of takeout on my counter and sink down on a barstool. I felt like such a fraud talking to Chloe, smiling, telling her I love her, acting like everything is fucking peachy. It’s far from it, and I don’t think I’ve quite processed everything yet.

I don’t want to, but I know I have no choice.

Sighing, I take my food from the bag and stare down at the fried rice and orange chicken. Normally after work, I’d get something healthier than this after swinging by the gym for a quick workout. I’ve strayed from my workout since Chloe has been here, not that I mind at all. My eyes fall shut for a minute, trying to drown out the voices in my head telling me how much I’ve screwed up—again.

Forcing myself to eat a few bites, my mind drifts and I’m almost startled when my phone rings. It’s still on silent, face down on the counter, and my heart speeds up thinking it could be Chloe, somehow finding out the truth and calling me out on it.

But it’s not, and I answer my mom at the last second after debating letting the call go to voicemail.

“Hey, Mom.”

“Sam! How are you? Did you work today?”

“Yeah, I just got home.”

“Is Chloe there?” Mom wastes no time getting to her point.

“No, she—”

“I know she was there. Rory told me to look at her Instagram things, stories I think she called them? You weren’t in any of them, but I recognized your apartment in the background.”

“Creep,” I tease. “You and Rory both.”

“We’re just happy to see you two finally together. Are things serious?”

“You know I hate that question,” I remind her. “We’ve only been dating for a few weeks.”

“You’re happy, though?”

“No, Mom, I’m miserable dating Chloe.”

“I’m going to take that as a yes then,” she huffs. “When are you two coming back? We need another family dinner! One wasn’t enough to catch up with everything Chloe’s been up to.”

“I don’t know.”

“Oh, I was hoping soon. Mason might come by on Saturday on his way to another job that he won’t tell me anything about. Typical, right?” she sighs. “Do you remember Mrs. Clemmons from high school?”

“Uhhh, no,” I say.

“Well, she teaches English and she’s been gushing to everyone how she talked to Chloe about coming in to speak to the class! That’s so sweet of Chloe, isn’t it? You know I like her. I always have. She’s such a nice girl, even with all her fame.”

Of course I agree with Mom, but I know she’s taking a dig at Stacey. Though Stacey never met my family, no one was ever a fan. “Chloe is…” Perfect. Gorgeous. Hot. Sexy. Everything I ever wanted. “…still Chloe. The same, weird, stubborn, amazing girl I was friends with years ago.”

“Like I said, I always thought you two would be good together. Took you long enough,” she adds with a laugh.

“Yeah, it did.”

Too long, and I’d give anything to go back to that night at the party, where Chloe showed up looking like a historically accurate, yet still hot, pirate. I was too drunk, too scared of my own feelings to run after her. I’ve always been confident, but Chloe was on a whole different level.

“Well, you two better get back into town soon. Now that word is going around about Chloe talking to Silver Ridge High, the movie theater is going to host a Nightfall watch party with a costume contest for people to dress up like the characters. To think all of that is based on something little Chloe Fisher wrote…I’m so proud of her.”

“Me too,” I say, smile coming to my face. “She really is amazing.”

“She is.”

“It’s late,” I start, knowing Mom will talk my ear off if I let her, telling me about any and all drama going on in the town. She doesn’t take on as many clients anymore, but as the only seamstress in the town, Mom hears a lot of gossip when she’s doing alterations, especially on wedding dresses. “And I haven’t had dinner yet.”

“Did you get takeout again?”

“I did but—”

“When Chloe is there, you should cook for her, not get takeout.”

“Noted,” I say, smiling yet shaking my head.

“I hope she comes back to see you soon, or you go see her. You know I hate the thought of my boys eating dinner alone.”

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