"Aw, chivalry is not dead," Amelia said as Sam stood up and took the pillow from Ty.
"I'll scoot over if you both want to sit up here, Mark offered, seeing that he had room.
"That's okay," Sam said, since he was almost already on the floor with the pillow.
There were so many people and so much chaos that he easily got by with letting his back and arms touch her legs. They didn't acknowledge each other in any sort of special way that would getthe attention of others, but there were plenty of opportunities to accidentally let his body brush hers. And she did not pull away. She made herself available to come into contact with him. It was a delicate balance the two of them had, touching each other when no one noticed.
At least he thought no one did.
"We've got Tommy and Lottie back together, over here," Judd said, pointing at them. He was standing in the middle of the room and had just taken a turn at Wii bowling. He noticed their proximity when he turned and faced them.
Ty adjusted, shifting away casually when he called them out. Sam wanted to confirm it and say that Tommy and Lottie were back together, but he didn't.
They played games with everyone for a couple of hours. There were chips and drinks, and Sam felt like he might never be alone with Ty ever again.
Henry and Amelia were the first to excuse themselves. Henry's cousins and Bailey still wanted to hang out, but Josh and Judd agreed that they needed to be up early and should turn in. Ty left the room with them, saying goodnight to Bailey and her cousins.
Sam couldn’t take it any longer. He had to be frank and make a move. "Hey, I need to talk to Ty for a few minutes. I'll meet you in a minute, Judd. Josh, I'll see you in the morning." Sam man-hugged Josh. "I’m looking forward to shooting in the morning. Are you coming to breakfast with us in Missoula after?"
Josh shook his head. "We're busy this time of year. I'll be helping my dad tomorrow. Thanks, though."
Sam and Ty were both staying in the main house with the Sutters, though they were on different ends of the house. Ty was in a bedroom in the main house, near where they were now, and Sam and Judd were on air mattresses on the back porch area. It was fully enclosed and heated, but they wouldn't have privacythere, since Judd was in the room. Sam also knew he wouldn't take her to the upstairs bedroom for propriety's sake. Although he didn't feel very proper at the moment. He knew he had to be a gentleman.
Sam told her they could talk anywhere, like in the kitchen, since no one was around. Judd and Josh finally walked off, and he was alone with her, thank goodness.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
"I don't know," he said. "There are too many people around. I feel like Bailey and Mark and them are going to come out here any second."
"I know, and it's cold, so we can't go outside," she said. She smiled. "But I know of a spot where no one will bother us. I'll take you there. We have to go outside to get there."
"Okay," he said, nodding and feeling willing to follow her anywhere.
She told him that she was going to get a coat. Sam did the same and went to grab his own coat, assuming they were stepping outside.
None of this was going fast enough.
He finally caught sight of her as she was crossing the living room, heading his way. She was moving quickly, jogging silently as she swiftly crossed towards him. She smiled, and he just stood there and let her come to him. Her hair was cropped in a shorter style above her shoulders. She looked fresh and put together, even in pajamas.
"Are we going?" he asked in a quiet tone.
She nodded and reached for the door handle, not hesitating, and Sam took the door for her, held it open while she walked out, and then closed it. He followed her down the sidewalk and along the driveway and to the exterior door that led to Mr. Sutter's workshop.
"I came in here earlier," she said, stepping inside. "Mrs. Sutter told me I could use it to make a call when the house was full at dinner."
Ty crossed to a little couch that was on the wall close to the door. The workshop was dark and quiet, and Sam had never in his life seen such a beautiful, inviting couch. He smiled as he sat down in the corner of it, stretching and taking up almost half the room.
She sat down next to him, and when she did, he closed his eyes, breathing in the smell of her and praying for patience and the ability to say the right things.
"Are you okay?" she asked when she saw him.
"Yes," he said, smiling as he opened his eyes.
"You're probably tired."
"I'm the one who changed my plans and stayed here."
"Thank you for doing that, I'm happy we've been able to hang out," she said. She sat down on the other side of the couch, turning to kick her leg onto the seat. "I would have been so sad to see you for two hours, and then that's it—it's just over."
