Epilogue
That same evening
"How many kids are we going to have?" Sam said, his mouth close to my ear. Those words made me want to melt. The fact that his breath touched my ear added to it, but the idea of having children with this man gave me a longing I never even knew was possible.
"One?" I said tentatively. I smiled. "At a time," I added, whispering near his ear.
He was thinking about kids because we were with some at the moment.
We were hanging out at Josie's sister's house, and we had just watched some kids perform a magic show.
Audrey's little girl, Luna, had a couple of her friends over, and they put on a show for us.
Most of us were piled onto a couch. It was so packed that I sat on Sam's lap and no one noticed.
"That was actually really good," Judd said, standing up from the couch and looking impressed. There were six of us crammed on there for the show, so we all had a lot more room when he got up. I had enjoyed being forced to sit with Sam, and I was sad the show was over.
We had spent the day with everyone in Missoula.
We ate brunch, and then we went to a historic mansion and then to an art museum.
Then some of us had gone to the mall while others went to a different store.
We met back up for dinner, and then we came to Audrey's place to hang out and watch the girls do a show.
It was only 8:30 in the evening, but it had been dark since before 5, so it felt later.
I knew I would leave Missoula after the show, and it was probably for the best because I was running on fumes physically.
Sam had been next to me all day, but our PDA had not been obvious at all. There were so many of us around that we had both refrained. As soon as the magic show happened, however, that changed. I sat on his lap, and now he wouldn't let me go.
The couch emptied after the girls took their bows.
Everyone got up and started talking to each other, but when I moved, Sam held onto me.
He put his big hands around my waist, and he effortlessly held me in place on his lap.
I turned to look at him. His face was only inches from mine, and he stared at me, holding me.
"We're leaving tomorrow," he said, wearing a serious expression.
"I know," I said, regretfully. "This is horrible."
People were walking around and talking to the girls about their show, and I honestly didn't think anyone was paying attention to us, but then I heard Alex's voice from the other side of the couch.
"I have to admit I really like this," he said.
I was so entranced by Sam that I wouldn't have paid attention to Alex, but he projected his voice in our direction, and there was no mistaking that he was talking to us.
Both of us turned to him, me still wrapped in Sam's big arms. Alex smiled and gestured to us.
Josie had gotten up to talk to her niece, and he was talking to us from the other side of the couch.
"I have to say, I like this," Alex repeated. "If this is happening the way it looks, I'm going to feel like I played Cupid."
"I thought I suggested that we make Ty the one who stays in Missouri," Cameron said, hearing us and chiming in.
"You did, but I was already thinking about it," Alex said, grinning at her.
"And I'm the one who hired the girls in the first place.
" He was being lighthearted, and he made a face at Cameron and then looked at me again.
"Anyway, I'm not sure how you waited this long.
I have that egg scene edited, and the chemistry is…
a force. I couldn't have asked you guys to produce that if I tried.
That was just natural, if you know what I mean. "
"Yeah, I know what you mean," Sam said sardonically, causing us all to laugh.
Alex stood up with a smile and went to say something to Luna about her performance.
He mentioned that they'd have to video the performance next time, and everyone started talking about making magic videos.
I was only aware of that conversation long enough to make sure that they weren't talking to us.
I glanced at Sam again.
"Alex is happy," Sam said as if it were something significant.
"What's that mean?" I asked, grinning at him.
He shrugged, and I reached up and put my hand on his face. He hadn't shaved in a couple of days, and I could see and feel the stubble on his jaw.
"We can't let him down. He's happy we're together. So, let's just stay together."
"Okay, I will. I'm in," I said, nodding and talking quietly since we were so close.
"Tomorrow?" he said. His tone was hopeful.
"Tomorrow's going to suuuck," I said, groaning with a sad smile. Earlier today, we had moments when we weren't being overheard, and we had solidified his plans to come to my parents' house for Christmas. I knew I would be seeing him in a few days, but I wasn't looking forward to tomorrow.
"Then let's not," he said.
I grinned at him and shook my head. "I knowww," I said, feeling sad and longing for him already. "I hate that today's already over."
I thought back to where the day had gone.
Henry had been at the ranch, but he was excited to see Amelia, so he drove to Missoula to get her.
They both ate dinner with us, but they went back before the magic show.
I had my dad's SUV, and I knew I had to take it back to the ranch.
I also knew I would be leaving soon since it was getting late and I had been with them all day.
My heart felt changed. There was a dent in it… a Sam-shaped dent. And the thought of him flying back to California tomorrow made my chest ache.
"Stay with me," he said.
"You mean tonight?" I asked. I smiled.
I had already thought about getting a hotel in Missoula and then taking my dad's truck back to the ranch tomorrow after Sam flew out.
It would be really easy to talk me into that plan, and I was pretty sure my dad would understand since I was with all my friends and I would be in Monterey for several days at Christmas.
"I had sort of already thought of getting a room at your hotel tonight," I said. "That way we can hang out longer and I don't have to make the trip tonight."
"Ty."
"What?"
"That's great and everything, and I hope you get the room, but I'm not talking about just staying the night. I'm talking about forever. I wish you could not leave me. Could you just please be mine from now on and stay with me starting tomorrow?"
"Like, what? Just fly to L.A. with you?"
"Yes," he replied, looking happy that I got it. He was still holding onto me. He was completely serious, and neither of us cared that there were eight other people in the room.
I smiled because I had money and the means to make more of it in L.A. I could promote shows in any big city, and I had revenue from YouTube in the meantime.
It would mean quitting college even earlier than I thought I would.
It would mean so many things.
There were so many reasons that a decision like this would be a questionable choice.
But I didn't care about those reasons.
All I could see was Sam's face, and all I could hear was an invitation to be with him forever, starting now.
I was about to open my mouth to agree to it when someone yelled out that Sam's commercial was on, and someone else turned it up.
It was a preview for Echos, and we all sat in silence and watched.
I sat up to watch it and balanced on the edge of his lap.
He was holding my hand. After a day of not much PDA, the hand holding had me feeling like I might melt into a pool of goo right there in front of everyone.
I concentrated on the preview. It wasn't one of the ones that Sam was in… but we were all pumped about him being in that movie, and it seemed like it was going to be one epic blockbuster. We all cheered when it finished. I let go of his hand so that I could clap with everyone else.
"That's going to be so good," Alex said. "Congrats, bro, I'm so pumped for you."
"What was it?" Luna asked, wondering why we were all cheering.
Her mom went on to explain about Sam starring in a movie.
I stood up since everyone else was doing the same. It seemed like we might be leaving soon since our magic show was over. I knew Alex and Josie would stay, but Cameron, Judd, and the others were already getting to the door.
Sam stood up, and I glanced up to meet his gaze.
"I think yes," I said.
He grinned. "Really?" he asked, raising his eyebrows just a little.
I squinted at him. "Are you asking me to move to L.A.?"
He nodded.
"Quit school?"
He shrugged. "Or come to school there. Transfer student." Sam's blue eyes looked me over with a serious, engaged expression as he waited for my answer.
I felt a quick, sharp stab of jealousy and fear at the thought of him being an actor and being in an egg scene with someone else in the future.
But then I chose not to let fear win. We would deal with future egg scenes if and when they ever happened.
He might just go the rest of his life only doing action movies.
The group sort of shifted toward the kitchen area, leaving us mostly alone.
"Please say you're coming," he said, putting his hand on my back, his piercing eyes making me all sorts of promises as he looked at me.
He licked his perfect lips before he spoke again.
He hadn't done it to entice me. It was a natural movement before he spoke.
But it did entice me. I loved how he looked.
I loved him, and I was physically aching to stay with him.
"I'll marry you and love you forever," Sam said, his deep voice low and serious in the mostly deserted room.
"Yes," I said, unable to believe what I was saying.
"Yes, you're coming with me tomorrow?"
"Yes," I said, grinning and wondering if that was even possible. "I'll go anywhere with you."
He squeezed me. "We'll figure out getting your things from San Francisco."
"I'm not worried about it," I said easily.
Sam bent down and put his face near my chest, hefting me into his arms, squeezing me, hugging me so tightly that I giggled. He pulled back and then leaned in and kissed me. His perfect mouth touched mine, and the feeling of riding a rollercoaster came back.
Sam was shamelessly holding me and loving me in front of everyone, and it felt amazing. He let his lips touch mine a few times—quick, warm kisses—the kind that had me thinking about wanting to go ahead and get to the marrying him and having kids part.
But we would get to that.
For now, I was content knowing that I was with Sam and I would stay that way for good.
The End (till book 4)