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

86. Samantha

"Good morning, my pet," Dylan smiled at me as I got into his car Wednesday morning. Aunt Sarah was at the door and waved to us as we pulled out of the driveway.

"Good morning, handsome," I said back, quietly.

Dylan took my hand as he drove us to school.

"Ugh. It's so nice out. I wish we could ditch," he said.

"I have a test in chemistry, so I don't think today would be a good ditch day. Besides, Senior Ditch Day is next Monday," I said.

"I know," he sighed. "And I have a test in calculus, but still. Want to go to the beach after school? We could just hang out, grab a snack. Do our homework while staring at the view."

"And which view do you mean, exactly, Mr. Reynolds?" I smirked.

"Well, you can look anywhere you want. I'll be looking at the most beautiful creature there," he said.

"Dylan!" I said, lightly slapping his arm. "You'd stare at bikini-clad women right in front of me?"

"Are you wearing a bikini? Because that'd be hot," he said, a goofy look on his face.

"No. Never," I said, shaking my head.

"You'd look great in a bikini," Dylan said.

"Dyl, I have so many scars from all the surgeries and the accidents. A bathing suit is too revealing for me," I said, looking out the window.

Dylan squeezed my hand.

"I get it. You're beautiful though. Your scars tell a story," he said.

"Be that as it may, it's not a story everyone in the world needs to know," I said.

"Fair. I get it. Say, Friday, Lakers game? Want to go?"

"Oh," I said, smiling. "Yeah. Yeah. I'd like that."

I had a Lakers jersey from when I'd been out here for Christmas a couple of years ago. I could wear it again.

We got to school and as soon as we got out of the car, I was enveloped in a huge hug.

"Sam!" Carli exclaimed. "Where have you been? What happened?"

"It's really dumb," I said, hoping that she'd drop it. "Like, embarrassingly dumb."

"Sam," Carli said. "We were all really worried about you. I think we deserve at least something of an explanation."

She wasn't wrong. I took a deep breath.

"You know what happened last winter, right?"

"At your school's dance. Yeah," she said.

"Well, we got to the room and Dylan had it all decked out romantically. I got scared. I was afraid he wanted... well, I'm just, I'm not ready," I said. "I got scared and ran, thinking - god this is so dumb. I was afraid he'd break up with me if I refused, and I am not ready for... that."

Carli's arms wrapped around me again.

"Oh, Sam. I understand," she said. "Really. I do.  You had your trust broken, and that's not something that is easy to just 'get over'."

I nodded.

"Dylan texted us after Brendon texted him the night you ran. We were so happy that you were okay. We were so worried about you!"

"I'm sorry," I said, hanging my head.  I hate putting people out or making them worry.

"Don't be. It's completely understandable, now that I know the reason. I wasn't mad. Just worried.  Where have you been the last couple of days, though?"