“Well, you might have a career as a poet.”
She laughs. “I’ll be poor forever, then.”
“Let me be your benefactor.”
Sam looks at me like I need to stop saying everything that pops into my head.
“I’m serious,” I say. “I’ve got this big house, all alone. If you quit the circus today, if you decided you were done, I wouldn’t mind sharing it all with you.”
“Oh, you wouldn’t mind?”
“Nope.” I lace my fingers in hers. “I’d be thrilled. Because, if I’m being honest, I’ve been dreading the moment you leave town since I met you.”
“Stop! You can’t be so damn charming all the time…”
Sam’s cheeks turn bright red. I pull her into a kiss, taking some of that heat from her, sharing it.
“And… you can’t…” she whispers, staring into my eyes, “just do that whenever you want…”
“Yes, I can.”
“Yeah.” She nods and noses brush together. “Maybe you’re right.”
“Stay with me.”
“I can’t.”
“Why?” I growl.
Sam groans and hides under the sheet. “Even if that was a good idea… which it isn’t—“
“It is.”
“—is not.I could never abandon the show in the middle of the summer season. They’d be screwed without the main act. Settingusaside, I know that I need to move on, but I won’t quit like that.” She takes a deep breath, making her decision. “I’m going to tell Charles that I’m done after our summer tour. That’ll give him time to find a new act.”
I rub her back through the sheet. The fact that she values her coworkers so much warms my heart. “You’re doing it right. And after summer’s over? What then?”
Sam peeks her perfect face out from under the sheet, smiling like a massive weight has been lifted off her shoulders.
“I have no idea.”
I laugh and pull her into my lap.
The acrobat feels as light as a feather to me, as delicate as a rose.
“I believe in you. Whatever you do, you’ll be amazing.”
She rests her head against mine. “How do you know?”
“After the things you did last night…”
“Those contortions are just foryou.”
“You’ll be amazing because you’reyou, Sam. You’re special. And I’m going to support you in whatever step you decide to take.”
Sam’s face droops. “That’s nice, Thor. Truly. But I’m not even sure when we’ll see each other again.”
“What do you mean?” I smile mischievously. “I already have a ticket for your next show.”
