Dave was awoken by the sound of Sammy climbing out of bed.
He wrapped one hand around her waist and pulled her back. Samantha pried out his hand and climbed out again.
He sat up and studied her. She was pacing about and biting her knuckles. She did that when she was nervous or scared.
"Dave… there is a problem," she continued, pacing.
"What is it? There is nothing I can't solve."
"I admire your confidence, but they are saying…" She couldn't say the words.
She held up the phone to him. He took the phone and read the post within seconds.
Samantha threw her hands up in the air.
"What am I going to do? They think I cheated on you!"
Dave chuckled, returned her phone, picked up his phone, and started typing.
"Technically, you did cheat," he said without looking up from his phone.
"What?!"
"Not with Ian. You got pregnant with me… not the man you married. You didn't know you were pregnant when we got married." He dropped the phone and looked up very casually.
Samantha glared at him.
"But-"
"It could have gone badly if it wasn't for me."
"And…why would…" Samantha muttered.
"I am not trying to hold you responsible for what happened, but Dave might. He doesn't forgive easily."
'What the hell are you saying? You are Dave!' she yelled.
He stood up, towering over her.
"Am I?"
She shuddered.
"You are scaring me. Why are you acting like this?"
Dave sighed and placed his hands on her shoulder, and smirked.
"I love you."
"Huh?!"
"You are supposed to say it back."
"First, you say you are not Dave, then accuse me of cheating on you. Now, you are saying that you love me?" Samantha asked. "What exactly do you mean?"
Dave pulls her into a hug. "Don't mind me. Sometimes I forget myself. I prefer being called Chris."
His tone was light... but his grip tightened for a second too long.
She leaned into his arms. "Next time, just say that. Don't scare me like that. If you don't want me to call you, Dave. Then I won't. I will call you Chris, fine. Just… don't do that again."
Dave held her closer.
"You are going to break my ribs," she said, trying to laugh.
"I just want to remember how you smell. I never want to forget it."
She stilled in his arms. Something about the way he said that didn't feel right.
"You're talking as if you are leaving. Don't bother, I won't let you leave. I will lock you up in a cellar and never let you out if you dare to try to leave."
"I will hold you to that," he smiled. "Let's go home."
"Yes"
Samantha glanced up and studied Dave. There was something different in his eyes.
Fear?
"Dav…Chris... Are you OK?" she asked softly.
He hesitated…nodded.
"I am fine."
Her phone rang.
"Probably someone calling to ask if I am carrying my ex-child," she groaned sarcastically.
"I doubt that."
"How would you know?" she picked up the phone.
Answering the call, she saw it was Nat calling back.
"Nat? What horrible thing have I been accused of now?" She rolled her eyes.
"The news has been cleared, and the influencer who posted it has been arrested," she heard her friend say.
Samantha looked up at Chris, who was still hugging her. She knew he had something to do with it.
"There was a press release. Pictures of you and Dave in Paris months ago," Nat explained. "The whole post explained that you and Dave have been together for months, and those spreading the misinformation will be arrested. Everyone took down their posts after the first girl got arrested."
"Huh?!"
"Your husband knows how to drive a message. I never want to be his enemy."
"He is the best," she said into the phone while gazing warmly at Chris.
"Yeah, I know." Nat groaned. "Now, I will leave you alone before I hear moaning."
"Nat!"
Nat laughed.
The call ended.
"You fixed everything again," she breathed. "I love you, Chris."
He lifted her. "You finally said it back."
He kissed her forehead.
"I love you, Samantha Jones-Rice."
[|]
Samantha parked the car in the driveway and tapped Chris. After they left the hotel, he had a migraine, so she drove them home. He fell asleep as soon as he got into the car.
She tapped him again.
"Chris… wake up. We're home."
A flicker of unease crossed her face.
She stepped out of the car, walked around, and pulled the door open.
"Chris-"
He clutched his right arm... as if he were fighting in his dream.
Suddenly, his eyes snapped open. Samantha paused.
"… You're finally awake," she said lightly, masking the sudden chill crawling up her spine. "You scared me for a second."
She turned toward the house.
"I'll make you some herbal tea. It helps with-"
In a blur of movement, he was suddenly in front of her—blocking the door.
She blinked, smiled faintly. "Now, what are you doing?"
His eyes scanned her face like she was a stranger. Cold. Assessing. Dangerous.
"Wrong question," his gaze hardened. "The real question is… why are you in my house?"