Taran. “If you’re still on for later, my answer is
yes.”
“Don’t say yes because I’m not being a pain in the ass at
the moment. Say yes because it’s what you really want.”
“There’s something you need to know, Taran.” Sam took a deep
breath. It was time to take a chance and trust him.
“What’s that?”
“I like you, all your personalities included.”
“I like you too, Sam.”
“My answer’s still yes.”
“Hallelujah!”
Taran’s hallelujah was cut off by his phone going off.
Before she could answer it for him, Bluetooth transferred the call to the
truck’s state-of-the-art stereo system. He shifted his hand on the steering
wheel and tapped a button.
“Hey, bro,” he answered.
“Hey,” Ethan said, his voice coming over the speaker system.
“Wanted to let you know Morgan and I are heading to Salem for the weekend.”
“What’s the occasion?” Taran asked.
“Cassie and Morgan are shopping for nursery stuff and
maternity clothes.”
“What are you and Phalen going to do?”
“Probably carrying packages and hopefully catching the
Celtics game tomorrow night. We have Guinness, so no worries about the dog.”
Taran laughed. “Better hide your shoes.”
“Why does he need to hide them?” Sam asked.
“Is that my Sam?”
“Yes, Ethan,” Taran answered. “We’re heading to a roller
rink.”
“Seriously, you’re roller skating with my partner?” Ethan questioned.
“She deserves caviar and champagne.”
“Treat her nicely, Taran,” Morgan insisted on her end.
“You know me by now, little sister, Samantha’s safe with
me.”
“I can take care of myself,” Sam interjected. “Why are your
shoes in danger, Ethan?”
“Samson and Delilah blame me for bringing a canine beast
into their abode.”
“Ugh, Cassie and Phalen’s cats don’t leave nasty presents,
do they, Ethan?”
“Nah, they destroy my things, namely my shoes.”
“What about Morgan’s things?”
“They adore her.”
“Have fun and let me know if Morgan or Cassie needs
anything,” Sam offered.
“We will,” Morgan answered back. “Bye, Sam. Taran, lose the
towel.”
“That won’t be an issue. Take care, Morgan, same to Cassie.”
Taran ended the call. “What do you know? We have the brownstone all to
ourselves for the weekend.”
Nervousness took over. It was one thing to say yes. It was
entirely different to contemplate a weekend alone with Taran.
“If I change my mind, what will happen?”
“We’ll talk and see what I can do to change it back to yes.”
“My apartment is ten minutes from the roller rink. Wouldn’t
it be easier to go there than Boston?”
“We’ll thumb wrestle for it later. Route 9 is coming up.” He
let go of her hand to downshift as the truck neared an off ramp. “Where are we
heading?”
“Do you know where the Jordan’s is? The Roller Emporium is
up on that hill behind the furniture store.”
“Have you gone to the IMAX movie theater there?” He eased
the truck onto the off-ramp and they eased into the traffic on Route 9.
“I haven’t been to the IMAX yet. I’d like to go sometime
though.”
Route 9 featured a lot of shopping centers, trendy
restaurants, a Crown Plaza hotel and a smaller motel across from a huge mall in
Natick, which bordered Framingham. Stores in the mall consisted of everything
from standard boutiques to Nordstrom’s, Macy’s, Neiman Marcus and Lord and
Taylor.
As malls went, it had everything anyone needed and more.
Even so, Sam didn’t care for the closed-in feel of malls. She much preferred
going to less-expensive outlet stores or somewhere else.
“Sam? You okay?”
“Sorry, was thinking about shopping. In a couple weeks, I’m
going to need to find roller derby gear and shorts.”
“Are we talking sexy shorts, Sam?”
“Yes, there’s safety equipment too, but even though some of
my teammates have designed matching jerseys for the Femme Fatales to wear,
we’re allowed to add things for
yes.”
“Don’t say yes because I’m not being a pain in the ass at
the moment. Say yes because it’s what you really want.”
“There’s something you need to know, Taran.” Sam took a deep
breath. It was time to take a chance and trust him.
“What’s that?”
“I like you, all your personalities included.”
“I like you too, Sam.”
“My answer’s still yes.”
“Hallelujah!”
Taran’s hallelujah was cut off by his phone going off.
Before she could answer it for him, Bluetooth transferred the call to the
truck’s state-of-the-art stereo system. He shifted his hand on the steering
wheel and tapped a button.
“Hey, bro,” he answered.
“Hey,” Ethan said, his voice coming over the speaker system.
“Wanted to let you know Morgan and I are heading to Salem for the weekend.”
“What’s the occasion?” Taran asked.
“Cassie and Morgan are shopping for nursery stuff and
maternity clothes.”
“What are you and Phalen going to do?”
“Probably carrying packages and hopefully catching the
Celtics game tomorrow night. We have Guinness, so no worries about the dog.”
Taran laughed. “Better hide your shoes.”
“Why does he need to hide them?” Sam asked.
“Is that my Sam?”
“Yes, Ethan,” Taran answered. “We’re heading to a roller
rink.”
“Seriously, you’re roller skating with my partner?” Ethan questioned.
“She deserves caviar and champagne.”
“Treat her nicely, Taran,” Morgan insisted on her end.
“You know me by now, little sister, Samantha’s safe with
me.”
“I can take care of myself,” Sam interjected. “Why are your
shoes in danger, Ethan?”
“Samson and Delilah blame me for bringing a canine beast
into their abode.”
“Ugh, Cassie and Phalen’s cats don’t leave nasty presents,
do they, Ethan?”
“Nah, they destroy my things, namely my shoes.”
“What about Morgan’s things?”
“They adore her.”
“Have fun and let me know if Morgan or Cassie needs
anything,” Sam offered.
“We will,” Morgan answered back. “Bye, Sam. Taran, lose the
towel.”
“That won’t be an issue. Take care, Morgan, same to Cassie.”
Taran ended the call. “What do you know? We have the brownstone all to
ourselves for the weekend.”
Nervousness took over. It was one thing to say yes. It was
entirely different to contemplate a weekend alone with Taran.
“If I change my mind, what will happen?”
“We’ll talk and see what I can do to change it back to yes.”
“My apartment is ten minutes from the roller rink. Wouldn’t
it be easier to go there than Boston?”
“We’ll thumb wrestle for it later. Route 9 is coming up.” He
let go of her hand to downshift as the truck neared an off ramp. “Where are we
heading?”
“Do you know where the Jordan’s is? The Roller Emporium is
up on that hill behind the furniture store.”
“Have you gone to the IMAX movie theater there?” He eased
the truck onto the off-ramp and they eased into the traffic on Route 9.
“I haven’t been to the IMAX yet. I’d like to go sometime
though.”
Route 9 featured a lot of shopping centers, trendy
restaurants, a Crown Plaza hotel and a smaller motel across from a huge mall in
Natick, which bordered Framingham. Stores in the mall consisted of everything
from standard boutiques to Nordstrom’s, Macy’s, Neiman Marcus and Lord and
Taylor.
As malls went, it had everything anyone needed and more.
Even so, Sam didn’t care for the closed-in feel of malls. She much preferred
going to less-expensive outlet stores or somewhere else.
“Sam? You okay?”
“Sorry, was thinking about shopping. In a couple weeks, I’m
going to need to find roller derby gear and shorts.”
“Are we talking sexy shorts, Sam?”
“Yes, there’s safety equipment too, but even though some of
my teammates have designed matching jerseys for the Femme Fatales to wear,
we’re allowed to add things for
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