Leave The City (Book 8 of Adopted by the Josephs)

73. Samantha

It sucked when Mom, Dad, Rosie and Junie went back home. They'd stayed a couple of extra days because I'd been in the hospital, but Dad had an album coming out and videos to film, Mom needed to be close to home because Tommy was due soon and you know, life.

The day they left, Dylan picked me up after we got back from the airport and took me to the pier at Santa Monica. We wandered around, he took me on a couple of the rides and then we went to have dinner. The whole time he either had his arm around me or was holding my hand. It felt like there was electricity between us when he held my hand. It was a wonderful feeling.

"I know you're sad they went home today," Dylan said. "My parents really like them. Especially your sisters."

I smiled.

"It's hard not to like those two," I said. "They sort of cornered the market on cuteness."

"I can't wait to see what your brother is going to look like," Dylan said. "It'll finally start to balance out between you four girls."

"How does one extra boy make it close to even? We still outnumber Dad and Tommy by two," I said.

"Oh," Dylan said. "Right. Well, I mean, I guess I kinda was counting myself in there."

I looked at him. That wouldn't be so bad, I thought. But come on, we're 18. No way he's thinking beyond grad and college.

I shook my head. Getting way ahead of myself again. But who knows. Maybe after college, if we're still together. I smiled. I have my whole future ahead of me. I don't need to worry. I'm here. I'm alive. The future is now. I don't need to think about way off in years. I can live my life my way.

March was cold and rainy, which for California is weird and welcome. But it still sucked. I started to miss the sun. Even Uncle Brendon was more low-key with the grey skies and near constant rain.

But Easter was coming and so was Spring Break. A bunch of my friends were going away together. They were going to go to Mexico and hang out on the beach. A few people were going to Florida, and a few were going away with family.

"Sam, where are you going for break?" Tim, a guy in my chemistry class asked.

"Columbus, Ohio," I grinned.

"Ooh. Exotic," he laughed. "No beach for you?"

"No," I said. "I'm going home to visit my parents and sisters and some friends. And my mom is due, like, any day with my baby brother."

And before I knew it, it was the day before my flight. I was leaving early on Friday, so Thursday, Dylan took me out for dinner after school.

We went to a restaurant he liked, that he thought I might (he was right), and we walked around the area for a while, just holding hands and talking.

"Do you ever think about the future?" Dylan asked me as we walked past an event planner's office.

"In terms of what? I mean, I think about college and whether I want to go to grad school and be a psychologist, or major in business with a focus on fund management and charities. Otherwise, I don't know. Five years ago I didn't imagine I'd be graduating high school. So..."

Dylan wrapped his arms around me and kissed the top of my head.

"I hate that you almost didn't get to be here," he said. "Not just because of... Stanley, but all the other stuff, too. You have no idea how scared I was when you had that seizure when your parents were here."

I tightened my arms around him. I hated how much that had scared everyone. I hated that it had happens at all. But Dylan had now seen me at pretty much my very worst. And he was still here with me.