The feel of unseasonable warm weather was like a heavy blanket wrapping around his shoulders, but it offered no comfort. Sam stepped out from under an overhang. The rain would come soon. His dark t-shirt fluttered against his stomach in the growing wind. He hadn’t had time to grab Ty’s hoodie before running away. He looked behind as he walked. Things were getting out of control. Light was the touch of his fingers to his tender lip.

Dropping his hands, he turned away. It was clear to him that he was running away, but for good reason. Why the hell did Ty have to step in back there?

“It’s too late for a rescue,” his arms crossed over his stomach.

He turned into a parking lot of a closed business. No cars and no people were around, giving Sam the solitude he felt safest in. He really needed to think through what he was doing. Why was he letting Ty do what he wanted? It was safest alone. He shouldn’t have to remind himself of that.

A bitter smile surfaced! Maybe Ty was right and it was fate imposing its design. Or maybe it was karma. Bad things had always happened to Sam. And Ty was definitely a bad situation. Always in fights meant that he was the very type of person that Sam kept far away from.

His feet slowed as an image surfaced in his mind. Ty with his little brother at the park. “Family is family. I know how to keep mine safe.”

He didn’t know how to process that! So, why wouldn’t that moment leave his memory? Why did his heart flutter every time he thought about it? Why did he want what he couldn’t have?

!CRACK!

The reaction to the sudden and explosive sound was outside of his control. Hands slapped to his head to cover his ears. Eyes slammed shut, and he felt the hard ground under his knees.

“Damn,” an amused voice spoke, “Mr. Attitude really is afraid of loud noises.”

That voice! Sam couldn’t breathe. He knew that voice. He knew…

There was a hollow sound when a wooden bat was dragged over solid brick. That sound left him cold as the first drops of rain fell.