Chapter 4

"Sheesh, I go three hours from home to college and I still can't get away from the Elys," Jen complained later when they were in their dorm room.

"He's not really an Ely," Sam pointed out.

"He's still related to them," Jen said. "Though he's pretty cute. Much cuter than Jake and his brothers."

Sam gave Jen a shove and the two friends laughed.

"If you like blonds," Sam raised her eyebrows.

"Well, being one, yeah I could like a blond," Jen responded.

"I didn't believe a word of it at first," Sam said.

Jen shook her head. "No, me either. I thought it was some type of weird pick up. I mean, come on. But then he mentioned Maxine by name."

"That's when I started to wonder too," Sam said. "You know if you start dating him and end up marrying him, you'd be related to Jake."

Sam laughed at the look on Jen's face.

"Way to buzz kill, Sam," Jen told her, making Sam laugh harder.

"You are interested," Sam said.

"We just met him," Jen reminded her.

"You're interested," Sam said again.

"Well, he is cute," Jen responded.

"In a blond sort of way," Sam grinned.

"I only thought you didn't like blond women," Jen teased.

"I'm not against blond women," Sam told her. "Just certain ones. Like Daisy and the rest of them that made me feel inferior when I was growing up."

"You could always dye your hair blond," Jen teased.

"Yeah right," Sam rolled her eyes. "I think Jake would kill me."

"Prolly so," Jen agreed. "Although, maybe you'd remind him of his mother."

"Oh yeah, just what I want to do," Sam laughed. "Give him a mommy complex."

Jen snorted.

"So what do you want to do tonight?" Jen asked.

"Besides pitch all my chemistry?" Sam asked a question of her own.

"Do you want some help?" Jen wondered.

"Will you do it for me?" Sam grinned.

"No," Jen shook her finger at her friend.

Sam's phone rang.

"Bet it's Jake," Jen made a face and Sam flipped off her friend. The two of them laughed as Sam dug her phone out of her pocket. She nodded at Jen and answered it.

"Hey," Sam's voice was soft and Jen pretended to put her finger down her throat. Sam flipped her off again and Jen laughed.

"What's funny?" Jake asked.

"Jen's being obnoxious and I flipped her off," Sam told him.

"I knew I loved you, Brat," Jake teased and Sam laughed.

"Tell him to bite me for whatever he just said," Jen retorted.

"Tell her to bend over," Jake responded and Sam burst out laughing.

"You two are so much alike which is why you don't get along," she told them both.

"Just kill me now," Jake complained, but Sam heard the amusement in his voice. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, I met someone today," Sam responded.

"Oh?"

Sam could hear the suspicion in his voice now.

"Don't be like that, Jake," Sam said. "Nobody could ever take your place."

Jen put her finger down her throat again as she got up. "I'm going to be sick so I'm heading back to the lounge."

"Bye Jen," Sam said as Jen left.

"Maybe I could hire someone to kidnap her," Jake mused.

"Jake!" Sam scolded him but she was laughing.

"So who did you meet?" Jake wondered, still suspicious.

"Your cousin," Sam told him.

"My what?" Jake yelped.

"Your cousin," Sam repeated. "His name is Eric O'Callahan."

"My cousin Eric?" Jake asked. "Are you sure it's him?"

"Bryan said he was legit," Sam said.

"When did you talk to Bryan?" Jake wondered.

"When I couldn't get a hold of you," Sam informed him.

"Just be careful around this cousin, Brat," Jake warned her.

"I will," Sam promised. "He might be your cousin, but he's not you."

Jake couldn't help the smile. "I love you."

"I love you too," Sam murmured.

"How are you doing with your classes?" Jake asked, changing the subject.

Sam groaned. "Chemistry is tough. Thankfully I like my Journalism classes."

"Will you be on the campus newspaper?" Jake asked.

"I applied," Sam told him.

"Good luck, baby," Jake murmured.

"Thanks," Sam felt warm and hugged herself. "I miss you."

"This isn't new," Jake reminded her. "We've been apart now for two years."

"I know, but I still miss you," Sam insisted.

"I miss you too," Jake admitted.

"You promise me that we're going to have a good reunion?" Sam asked.

Jake chuckled. "As much as I can."

"I love you, Jake," Sam told him.

"I adore you, Brat," Jake murmured.