“Speaking of Jackson,” Audrey awkwardly offered as a segue, turning to me.“He’s got the day off today, so I thought we could skip our usual date, and I’d get some time with him while I could.”
I smirked.“You came all the way over to tell me that?”
Her glare was challenging.Cute, but ineffective.“You seem to have your hands full anyway.”
I pulled her into a hug and whispered, “Oh, you have no idea,” enjoying the way it caused her to blush.“Fine, go be with your man.We can chat later.”
After Audrey had left, Sam looked prepared to do the same.Phone in hand, apologetic expression in place, he said, “I should … probably think about getting back to the bar.”
But I wasn’t ready for him to leave.Something about him, here, felt precious.“You could,” I said, already removing my shirt, lips curling when I caught his eyes tracking the movement, “or you could stay.Weren’t you the one who said you worked too much?”
He stayed.And okay, maybe my suggestion of showering together moved the needle in my favor, but once we were clean(ish) and back on the couch, he seemed happy where he was.
I was glad.
I synced up my Netflix to play the next episode of a Norwegian sci-fi show I’d recently started watching while Sam lounged beside me, one arm around my shoulders.I was practically purring as his fingers played with my hair.There wasn’t anything I needed right now except this.If someone asked me at that moment what my future looked like, it would be this.
During a long stretch of exposition, I caught him eyeing his phone.“No work.It’s the weekend, for christ’s sake.You’re not going to miss anything important.”
“I could.”
“Sam,” I kissed his cheek as I pulled the phone from his hand and hid it behind a cushion, “it’ll be fine.”
“It’s just.Since the whole thing with Pierce, I’ve been anxious about the re-opening.But you’re right.I should take a break.”
It was the mention of Pierce that set my teeth on edge.
Returning to the show, I sunk a little deeper into his side, basking in the soapy smell of his skin and recalling the surreal reality that only a few months ago, I’d been on this very couch calling him every name under the sun.
My small chuckle jostled him, and he said, “I didn’t realize a foreboding forest could be funny.”
“I was just thinking back to when we first met.I would not have guessed this was where we’d end up.”
“You were very hostile.I was certain you were going to stage a revolt.”
I poked his ribs where I knew he was sensitive.“You didn’t exactly make it easy on me.Who expects bartenders to be pleasant so early in the morning?”
He looked smug.“I needed to know who would show up.”
“You were testing us?You asshole.”I sat up to push him in the chest, careful of his shoulder.“What would you have done if we didn’t show?”
“Fired you.”He sounded serious, but the tiniest lift in his lips gave him away.
“Like you could ever replace me.”
The teasing left his voice.“It has been difficult.You’re one of a kind.”
“You’re not so bad yourself.”
He laughed.“The highest of compliments.”
“Oh, you want compliments, do you?”Ignoring the show, I straddled his lap.“In that case.You’re sweet.”I kissed one cheek.“You’re loyal.”I kissed the other cheek.“You’re generous.”I ran my hands up his chest, around his neck, nuzzled his nose with mine.The next words escaped, soft like a secret.“And even when you make me want to tear my hair out, you’re still one of my favorite people.”
I pressed one last kiss to his lips, soft but sure, with the conviction of an emotion I didn’t want to voice but knew to be true in every fiber of my being.
Sam was quiet when we parted, and I had expected it (when was Sam not quiet?), but the silence still dulled the hope that had sprung up under my skin.It was fine, really.What had I expected?That I’d open the door with some sweet sentiments and he’d confess his love for me, and we’d live happily ever after?
I was too much of a realist for that.
