Chapter 15: Rule Three

Sam was sitting on the bottom step of my porch when I pulled into the drive at half past midnight.

He stood up and did not say a word.

I shut off the engine and sat with both hands on the wheel.

"Cody's asleep," he said through the window. "Carlton went to bed on the sofa. Colleen's door is shut."

"It was Robin."

He opened my car door.

"All of it," I said. "I'll tell you tomorrow. I can't say it twice tonight."

"Come here," he said.

I got out and walked straight into him.

He wrapped both arms around me and held on.

I put my face into his jacket and shook until I could stand without him.

When I could talk, I said, "I can't go in there."

"Then don't."

"I can't be in that house tonight."

"Come across the street."

He held the door of 121 open for me with his shoulder.

The hall smelled of cedar and coffee and wet turnout gear.

A lamp burned in the front room.

A plain gray couch stood under it with a firefighter's helmet on the arm.

Sam took my coat and hung it on a hook.

I had kicked off my shoes at the door without noticing.

I stood on his rug in my socks and said, "I want to stay."

"You can have the bed. I'll take the couch."

"That isn't what I mean."

He went very still.

"Jo."

"I'm asking you to stay with me."

"You've had the worst night of your life."

"I had that last week. This is the night I'm choosing." I stepped closer. "You said you'd let me break it."

"I said it was my rule."

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