"Well, I am pretty official."
"Yeah, I guess you are, Samuel."
"Do you remember my middle name?" he asked.
"Yes."
"What is it?"
"I'm not telling you, but I remember," I said.
"If you remember, then tell me."
"I do remember."
"Then say it."
"David. Samuel David Allison."
"You're right," he said, looking at me with an approving stare.
"I don't blame you for not remembering mine," I said.
"I do remember yours," Sam said.
"No, you don't.
"Yes, I do. All eight names."
"It's four," I said.
"It's Trinity Jane Lily Banks.
"Oh, my gosh, you seriously got it right. I can't believe you remembered that."
"You remembered mine," he said.
"Yeah, I guess I did."
We approached some trees, and I stared downward so that I could make my way over the roots without falling. The root system was not a tripping hazard at all, and I still used it as an excuse to reach out and touch him. I had used this trick before, but my circumstances were better this time.
I held onto his forearm for a second or two before letting go. Sam was a little ahead of me, and he stopped walking abruptly, forcing me to run straight into him. He was ready for the impact, and he turned and caught me, both of his hands on my arms. I gasped at the sudden change in momentum, and my gaze snapped up to meet his.
"Are you okay?" I asked, my eyes widening.
"Yeah, are you?"
"Yeah, I just was holding onto you because of the roots."
"Oh, all the roots?" he asked, in a teasing tone.
"Yes," I said, looking down as if I was certain there was lots of uneven ground. I met his gaze again, and he grinned, shaking his head a little like he was thinking something. Sam Allison was a leading man, and he stared at me at that moment like I was the object of his affection. He was big, and he had a light hold of my arms, looking down at me, scanning my face. We stood there, in the darkness, behind trees, all alone.
"Aren't you scared in the woods?" he asked.
"No," I said. My voice came out lighter and more vulnerable than I intended.
We stood there and stared at each other for the next five seconds or so.
