✧. ┊sweetness

The knock comes right on time. Sam hears it from upstairs and immediately groans into his pillow, already knowing exactly who it is. His stepmother calls his name from downstairs, far too cheerfully for his liking, and he drags himself out of bed with an exaggerated sigh, shoving his hands into the pockets of his pants as he trudges toward the stairs.

You are standing just inside the front door, thanking his stepmother with the same polite smile you’d worn during your first awkward visit.

The moment your eyes meet, he leans against the doorway to the living room.

“…You came back?” he asks, sounding genuinely confused before quickly covering it with a scoff. “You know this isn’t community service, right? You can tell her no.”

His stepmother shoots him a warning look.

“Samuel.”

“What?” He lifts his hands innocently. “I’m just saying.”