"If you change your mindagain… it could really break us.Even our friendship, for good, youknow?If you decide you want to give this another shot, then youneed to be completely sure first, is that fair?"
I nod."Yeah."
"Think about it.We'll talkabout it on Monday.No pressure either way.I mean it.Just behonest with me about how you feel—be honest withyourself."
"Okay."What he's askingis fair.
"I really am sorry abouthow I've been acting," Sam says contritely.
I nod."Me, too," I reply."Last night—"
"Don't apologize for lastnight."It's a good thing he interrupts because I have no idea whatmy explanation was going to be.Even an apology wouldn't have beengenuine, because if my drunken rant stopped Sam from hooking upwith that girl, well then I certainly can't regret it.But Samdoesn't elaborate.Instead, he changes the subject.
"You coming to the citytomorrow night?"he asks.
"Yep," I answer about ourgroup's plans to go to some extraordinarily expensive restaurantand some supposedly hot new club in Manhattan to celebrate our lastweekend in high school.
Sam nods his approval andsmiles his incredible smile."So I'll see you there, then.I'll bedriving, so I'm not drinking," he adds.
I smile then, "I'm notdriving, but I don't think I'll be drinking anyway.Not for awhile, after the fool I made of myself last night," Iadmit.
Sam shakes his head, buthis smile widens even more, "Don't be ridiculous," he saysmatter-of-factly, sounding more like the Sam I used to know, beforeI ruined everything between us.
"See you, Pine," hemurmurs, before cupping my jaw and brushing his thumb over mycheek.A shiver runs through me from the point ofcontact.
And then he's backing upand turning away, and my eyes drop back to my boots, completelydazed as he walks away.
So I don't see him changehis mind and turn back, reaching me again in barely a couple longstrides.My face is held and tilted to an expedient angle,impatient fingers thrusting firmly into my hair as Sam's lips crashagainst mine.
My senses are on overload,all of my them assaulted with their favorite damned thing all atthe same time—Sam.His beauty, his scent, his incredible taste, thefeel of his lips, of his light stubble rubbing softly against myskin, the sound of his encouraging soft huffs—they light me on fireat once.My fingers dig into the skin of his bicep, anchoringmyself to him—anchoring myself to my anchor.
He steps forward againeven though we're already against the wall, and presses furtheragainst me.His arm comes around my waist, pillowing my back fromthe cinder block wall, and holding us flush together.His tonguereclaims my mouth in a possessive kiss and I revel in thefeeling.
It has been so long sinceI got to be close to him like this, since I got to feel this.Weeksthat have felt like an eternity.And I'd feared I'd never get toexperience it again.My hands slide up into his hair until I gripthe thick locks at his nape, clutching him desperately tome.
I am lost tohim.
I never want to befound.
I whimper in both pleasureand desperation for more.And for a second it feels as if maybe hewill give me more, even here and now.
And then his mouth ripsfrom mine.He presses his forehead to mine for a split second,gasps a deep breath, and then he disappears.Gone.Just likethat.
I am still lost, and bythe time I've managed to open my eyes, he's already turning to walkaway.I watch, dazed, as he saunters off, full of some newdetermination, and I wonder about it.
I sigh.The bell to endthe last period of the day will ring any second now and the hallwaywill be swarming with students making their way out of thebuilding.I need to pull myself the hell together.
But before I can pry myselffrom the wall, I look to my right and see Chelsea watching me,obviously captivated.I know immediately that she saw what justwent down between Sam and me, and a wave of anxiety rolls throughme.But then she smiles, and though it's an obviously forced,insincere smile, I know how hard it must be for her to even fakeit.We both know she didn't get over her "crush" in the past coupleof weeks.I guess I should appreciate the effort, and I smilehesitantly and faintly, back at her.
Chapter Fourteen
Itoss the key to the valet at the twenty-four hour garage.Iwon't make the same mistake I made that time I parked in the onethat closed at midnight and had to take a train back to the city atdawn to retrieve my car.Marshall is right behind me, Tina andChelsea each a couple cars back, all of us with fullcars.
We trek the three blocksto Philippe, one of my favorite restaurants, and the maître d'leads our group past the bar, down the back stairs, and through thekitchen into the wine cellar.There are only a few tables down hereand most people don't even know they exist.Another benefit ofhaving an uncle who knows everyone in hospitality.
The manager is there asecond later, shaking my hand and telling me to send his regards toUncle Kelly.If there was some girl here I was trying to impress, Isuspect this treatment would be very effective.But the only girl Igive a damn about is far fromsomegirl, and she's barely even aware of the specialtreatment as she makes herself comfortable in the leatherupholstered bench and orders a ginger ale from our overly attentiveserver.
In the end, I resent themanager's greeting since it hordes my attention while our grouptakes their seats, and I find myself unable to position myself nextto Rory.As it is I'm barely even sitting across from her, twoseats down.
