Lukas
I neededto get my head examined. Vincent had said to befriend Sam, not to continue to invite him to my house, where he could so easily find out I wasn’t human. Why hadn’t I just agreed to go see a movie where we didn’t have to talk and afterward I could go home, alone? What the hell was wrong with me?
“Are you okay there? You’re making some strange facial expressions.” Sam’s brow was dipped, my internal argument clearly causing him concern.
“I’m fine. Let me just give this to Winston.”
I rushed down a hallway. I could hear Winston talking with one of my other staff and when I was in front of him, I thrust the package at him.
“Take this.”
“Of course, sir.”
“Sam is here, again.”
Winston cocked his head to the side. “Did he stow away on the boat?”
“No, that’s absurd. I’d have heard and smelled him.”
He nodded. “Then why do you sound as if he’s here much to your dismay?”
I clenched my fists. “Because he is.”
“I’m sorry, sir. Are you requiring me to ask him to leave?”
“What? Why would I do that? I’m the one that invited him.”
He opened his mouth to say something dumb, I was sure, but closed it. A moment later, he answered with a more dignified, “Very well, sir,” and walked away.
Sam was in the grand room, staring out the window. It was late afternoon and with the colder months it was getting darker earlier. He had a cheesy smile on his face, and for a moment I thought I might not need to get a movie started—he’d likely be entertained watching the view.
“What movie are you in the mood for?” I asked.
He turned, happiness radiating from his body. “Nothing scary. While Sandra Bullock was able to wash away the creepies last time, I feel we should stick to something calmer.”
“You’re the movie expert. Honestly, I don’t watch many.”
“You have a theater room with a popcorn maker and a cotton candy machine, and you never use it?”
The only time I’d set foot in that room had been with Sam the other day. “I prefer books.”
“Okay, fair…but, Lukas.” He motioned toward the direction of the theater room. “You have a theater room. Life is far too short not to make time for luxuries when they are given.”
Life is too short.Wasn’t that the biggest lie I’d ever heard? Not for him, but for myself, life was never-ending.
“Well, I guess it’s a good thing you’re here, so I can indulge.”
He walked past me with a pat on my arm. “Come on, grumples, let’s watch someHot Rod.”
“Some what?” I followed after him.
“Only the greatest comedy ever made…well,Tommy Boymight be tied for that.”
I didn’t know either of these movies, and I’d likely have spent all of eternity never knowing them if Sam hadn’t cannonballed his way into my life.
We sat in the plush recliners, and I handed him the remote. “Show me this outstanding comedy.”
He giggled, took the remote, and for the next hour and a half, I listened to Sam laugh so hard he was gasping for air. It was a funny movie but oddly, I’d used up most of the time staring at him. What an unusual man he was.
