Page 4 of A Constant Reminder

“Say no more.” He stood to slip back into his coat. “Send me the flight details. And Tyler?”

I glanced up at him.

“She’ll be okay. She’s tough.”

I forced a smile the best I could, but the knot in my stomach wasn’t going anywhere.

Once he was gone, I reached up to grab Sam’s hand. Noticing the brace on her arm, I took extra care to be gentle.

Placing a kiss on the back of her hand, I began to whisper, “Come on Sam, I need you to wake up for me. I need you to be okay. I finally get you all to myself, and damnit, I can’t lose you.”

I laid my head on the bed next to our hands when I heard a soft groan. “I’m not going anywhere, Trust Fund.”

My head jerked up to see the beautiful blonde shifting in the bed.

“Sam, baby! Thank goodness!” I said continuing to kiss the back of her hand. Tears began streaming down my cheeks as I tried to recall the last time I had cried. “You had me worried, Kansas,” I whispered.

Gently, she grabbed my chin easing it up, so I was staring into those big green eyes of hers. Her thumb whipped the tears away.

“Hey, none of that,” she whispered.

“I’m so sorry baby.”

“For what?” She asked, confused.

“I should have been there.”

She shook her head, trying to sit up. “No. Don’t do that. We aren’t playing the blame game. I could just as easily blame myself for rushing home alone. But I didn’t do this to myself, and you didn’t do it to me either.”

“Was it him?” I could barely get out the words without them making me feel like I was about to vomit.

Thankfully, she knew who I meant and didn’t make me explain. All she did was nod.

I was just about to ask for details when another knock sounded on the door.

But this time two policemen entered as Sam shifted uncomfortably, preparing to tell her story.