“All we know is that you got a little too drunk last night, and that you…”
“Left with Nick.” Jake finished for her, and then eyed Sam. “So I guess you two were busy by the looks of things?”
“I don’t remember.” She mumbled and then looked at Jake. “He’s holding my clothes hostage!”
Jake burst out into laughter and Sam scowled at her brother. So much for family loyalty.
“Jake, she’s obviously upset!” Cara said as she eyed him warningly.
He sighed and kneeled in front of his sister. “Okay, I get it. But come on Sam, you know Nick wouldn’t do anything that crosses any lines, especially not with you.”
“Oh really? Then can you explain why I look like a five dollar hooker instead of a kindergarten teacher?” She asked him, watching as he tried to concoct a valid excuse to save Nick’s ass.
“I’m sure there is a reasonable explanation. I’ll ask him.” He said reassuringly.
“Right. Don’t bother.” She sighed and looked back and forth between them. “Did you guys come here to really witness my walk of shame?”
Jake smiled and shook his head. “I tried calling you this morning.”
“I have no idea where my phone is.” She said her shoulders slumping in yet another defeat. She raised an eyebrow at Jake. “Is everything okay?”
He nodded towards Cara, and she pulled out two envelopes from her pocketbook. She winked at Jake as he took them from her. Sam stared at the envelopes suspiciously before looking back up at Jake.
“Yours and Luke’s test results came in the mail yesterday.” He said and reached for her hand, squeezing it lightly.
Sam’s eyes widened as she looked into her brother’s hopeful eyes. She looked at the envelopes that he clutched in his other hand, and she felt the tears well in her eyes. The contents of those envelopes held the information that could potentially save Jake’s life. She could be the match and be the one who rid him of the cancer.
“Oh my God, Jake. Why didn’t you open them yet?” She asked hoarsely.
“Because, I wanted you and Luke to be there when I did.” He shrugged his shoulders, as if it having them both there made all the sense in the world to him. Sam shook her head. Jake never failed to amaze her. He held the answers to his future in his hand, yet he waited so they could all be together. Sam turned and looked at Cara, who was smiling.
“We told him we’d come pick you up when we couldn’t reach you. He’s expecting us to meet him over at the garage.” Cara explained.
Jake squeezed her hand again, and she turned back to him. He grinned at her.
“So go on and get dressed. I’m dying to know which one of you gets to save my life.”
Chapter Three
Nick pulled his truck into the parking lot of Lanza Automotive. He spotted Luke immediately at the front of the garage working on a classic car, they were restoring for an upcoming car show. He took a deep breath and prepared himself for the wrath of a grumpy Luke. Nick didn’t get why he was always so bent out of shape these days. He thought settling down with Leah would soften him up, and make Luke less cranky. Yeah, not so much. Luke hated when Nick was late, and as he looked at his watch Nick realized today he would be two hours late. He didn’t think it would make matters any better telling him about his little ordeal with Sam this morning.
Speaking of the blonde firecracker, she had left her phone in his apartment that morning. The damn thing hadn’t stopped ringing. He grabbed it from the passenger seat and slid it into his pants pocket for safe keeping. He’d have to figure a way to get it to her. The thing was, he was fairly certain he’d pissed her off enough that, if she saw him, he feared his family jewels were at risk.
He climbed out of his truck and remembered Sam’s friend Mallory’s little declaration. Sam didn’t like her nickname she preferred to be called Samantha. He had teased her last night about it, but for some reason