Russell

I Won't Let You Come Between Us

Russell's POV

I woke up earlier than usual today. Sam was still sound asleep, making me smile as she sighed. I pressed a kiss on her exposed back and got up.

I got dressed and went directly to the kitchen,  prepared coffee for when she got up, and began making breakfast for her. I opened the cupboard and realized we were completely out of her coffee muffins, making me grunt.

Lucky for me, there's a cafe right under us. I grabbed my hoodie, keys, and wallet. I went down the elevator and made a beeline to the cafe register. "Hey, Russell. Good morning." the barista greets me, making me smile. "Hey, Emilio. Six coffee muffins and six cinnamon rolls, please." I place my order and slide my card, paying for my goods.

"Got it. I'll have your order out soon. Here, why don't you have a coffee in the house while you wait." he slides a fresh cup toward me, making me smile. "Are you sure?" I ask, looking up.

"Yeah, man. On the house. Enjoy." he says, tapping the counter and nodding. "Thanks, man," I say, taking out a twenty-dollar bill and putting it in his tip jar.

I sat, scrolling through my phone. The spring semester was starting soon, and I wanted to ensure I was up to date with my payments and that my new schedule was set. I opened my school app, logged into my profile, and smiled, seeing everything was accurate.

"Russell!" I hear an older woman's voice behind me, making me look behind me. I closed my eyes, grunting inwardly as I saw Samantha's mom stand behind me.

"Ma'am," I say, clearing my throat and fixing my posture. I could not help but clench my jaw as she came and sat in the seat before me.

"I'll get straight to the point, Russell," she says, looking at me from head to toe, smacking her teeth. "I don't want you near my daughter."

"With all due respect, I thought we've had this conversation, ma'am. I am not letting go of Samantha. Why is it so hard for you to be happy for us?"

"Oh, please. You and I know that will only last for a while. You two are from different social worlds. Do you really think Sam and you will get married and be together for a long time? How do you intend to support her? She has a high social life, o e and I do not see you fit for it. Don't get me wrong, Russell, you're an attractive boy, but you're just not cut up to be with my little Sam." she says, making me fist my hand around my phone and clench my jaw.

"How do you know I'm not suited to her social life? You haven't even given it a chance to get to know me. Do you think she's better off with Craig?"

"YES. Yes, I do."

"He tried to molest her!" I raised my voice, feeling awkward instantly as others glanced toward us. Her eyes bulged with hatred, making me clench my jaw. She has no right. I love Sam, and I know she loves me. I refuse to give up on our relationship.

"He loves my daughter. And Sam knows it. She's only dating you to rebel against me. I will not stand for her subordinate behavior. She is my daughter, and she will do as I say." she says, making me want to punch the wall.

"He does not love her," I say, pointing to the obvious.

"I will not stand for you to bad mouth MY future son-in-law. Sam will see how wrong she is dating you. Eventually, but," she says as she combs her hair back and sighs, rolling her eyes.

"That's not what I'm here for. I know your true intentions," she says, raising a brow, giving me the stink eye. "Russell, I know your type better than you think," she says, taking out a small black book and a pen, making my blood boil.

"Tell me, how much do you want? I will pay any amount you want as long as you break up with Samantha and never see her again," she says, making me fist my hands. "Do you really think you can put a price on our relationship? Your husband is right. You're a lunatic." I grit my teeth, scrunching up my nose.

"How dare you!" she gasps, wide-eyed, holding her chest as if I had just insulted her.

"How dare I? How dare you, lady? You have no right. The only reason you want Sam to marry that douchbag is to keep your high social life in front of all those snobs in your country club. You don't care about Sam or her happiness. All you are about is you!" I say, standing up, fisting my hands.

She bulges her eyes, and her mouth gaps open, looking at me as if I were speaking fallacies. "I knew you were a menace the minute I met you, but I never thought you were a disrespectful brute."

"You know nothing about me." I slammed my fist slightly on the table, making other clients in the cafe look at us, murmuring amongst themselves.

The barista looks toward us, nodding in disbelief. He had already dealt with her attitude before when she came to eat with Mr. Julian. She was an entitled woman who felt the need to act superior to everyone around us.

"I know plenty. And I know that I do not want you near Sam. Now, how much do you want? I will not repeat or offer again,"

"Mother!" Sam yells, making us turn. Her eyes look at Sam in shock, making me regretfully close my eyes. Regardless of how cruel her mom is, I have never been the kind to act this way and talk to a woman this way.

"Sam. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to disrespect your mom." I say, hanging my head as she stands in front of me. "How dare you? This is a new low, even for you." Sam tells her mom, making her eyes bulge.

"Samantha Adams, I am your mother. I only want what's best,"

"No, mom! You only want what is best for you. You've never cared about me! When I told you Craig was hurting me, you said stop provoking him, Sam." she says, looking at her mom through tears.

"Every time I told you he was cheating on me, every time I told you I caught him sleeping with another girl, every time I did something to piss him off, he went crying to you and his mom, and what did you do?" she says, getting closer to her mom, making her mom take a step back.

"You took his side and yelled at me for making him upset. He's a manipulative, selfish asshole, but all you cared about was our families joined together. It didn't matter if he was being abusive or manipulative. All I needed to do was stay silent and look pretty, right?" Sam was shaking from the anger radiating inside her, making me feel bad.

"Sam," I whispered her name, putting my hand on her shoulder. She whimpers, dropping her shoulders. "I thought you were still sleeping. Baby, It's ok. It's ok, I... I wasn't going to take the money, I swear."

"I know you weren't. But you," she says, looking at her mom.

"You and I are done. Until you realize all the damage you have caused me, you are no longer allowed to be around me. If I have to get a restraining order on you like I did with that asshole, then so be it. Leave, and don't ever come back." she fists her hands shakily, making her mom's eyes tear up. "I am done with you, mother. I will not let you come between Russell and me. Do you understand? And tell Craig I hope he's ready because I am going to make sure he pays for everything he's ever done to me." she says, fisting her hands shakily.

"Sam, let it go, sweetheart. Let's just leave!" I whisper, holding her shoulders as I stand behind her.

"You're making a big mistake, Sam. I'm your mother. Sooner or later, he's going to get tired of you, and when that happens, don't crawl back to me to apologize." she says, making Sam scuff.

"The only one who's wrong here is you. I hope you realize it before it's too late. Oh wait... it already is too late." her mom's eyes widen, locking eyes with Sam.

Her mouth purses angrily, and she grabs her checkbook, stuffing it in her bag, and storms past us. "I hope you're happy. You ruined a perfect relationship with my daughter and a good man," she says, making me chuckle unbelieved by her audacity.

She storms off, making me close my eyes in relief. But I can't help but feel like I've failed Sam as she begins to cry. I turn her, embracing her in my arms and hugging her tightly.

I'm going to prove that woman wrong. I know there is much more to my story. I'm meant for bigger things. I'm going to work hard and prove her wrong.