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

85. Samantha

I'm so lucky.

I'm also a total and complete idiot. Like, really, really dumb.

I don't know why I let my brain get away with the shit it does. How could I possibly think Dylan would have done anything to hurt me? How could I think he'd be anything like Tristan? 

I popped him off a quick text to tell him I was going to hop on a call with my parents before checking up on him doing his homework.

"That's fine, sweets. Tell them I say hi and just so you know, I'm starting with History and then Biology. I gotta plan, Sam,' he texted back with a kissy face emoji. I rolled my eyes and smiled at his text.

I took a deep breath and hit the contact for Dad's phone.

"Well, well, well, look at who it is," Dad smiled at me. Mom's face popped into the frame. They were sitting on the couch together. There was a blue glow so I figured they were watching TV.

"Hi," I said.

"Hello to you. It's been a few days. How are you? How was prom?" Dad smiled. Did they not know?

"It was fine. It was fun. Dylan and I were crowned King and Queen," I said.

"Sam! That's so exciting!" Mom said. "Congratulations!"

"Thanks," I smiled, shyly.

"So, what's been going on? I was hoping we'd hear from you Sunday sometime after the prom," Dad said.

"Well, you know," I sighed. "I let my brain get the better of me."

"What do you mean?" Dad frowned.

"Oh, Sam," Mom said, sympathetically.

"Dylan got us a hotel room, I know you know that," I started. "And when we got up there after the dance it was all decorated with flowers and petals on the bed and... well, I kinda got scared."

"Scared? Why?" Dad said. Mom slapped his shoulder.

"Sam," she said. "I'm so sorry sweetheart. What happened?"

"I ran," I said, not looking at my parents.

"Sam," Mom said. She sounded disappointed. I felt tears coming. I hate disappointing people. Mom and Dad especially, since they're the ones who chose to raise me.

"Sam, look at me," Dad said. I raised my eyes just a little. "Samantha Joseph, you have dealt with some really horrible things. I can imagine what you were thinking might happen and I can understand how that would scare you. You have nothing to be ashamed of. You're still learning to cope with some of the things you're dealing with. You can't expect to just get over everything just because a year or so has passed. But tell me, us, please tell us you've spoken to Dylan?"

I looked up at Mom and Dad.

"You don't have to cry sweetheart. You did nothing wrong. You're okay, right?" Mom asked. I nodded.

"I didn't go to school yesterday or today. I was really upset and scared about what Dylan might have said to people. But Aunt Sarah took me to the pier after my appointment with Dr. Angela. We kinda just sat there. She didn't really say anything, but sort of let me know I could talk to her. So I did. And she talked to me and I guess sort of convinced me to talk to Dylan without telling me to."

"And have you?" Dad asked.

"Yeah," I said.

"How did it go? Are you okay?" Mom asked.

"You know, it went better than I expected. You know me. I'd convinced myself he was going to break up with me. But, when we got home from the pier, I called Dylan and asked him to come over. I told him everything," I said.