She shakes her head."Sam,I want to.I want to do everything with you.But school dances…they're a trigger.And anyway, everyone's had their plans made formonths, prom is in a week!"
I lean down and nuzzleher."It's not a school dance.It's not in the gym; it's at acountry club.It's more like a wedding reception than a homecomingdance, Ror.Plus, barely anyone will even dance.We'll sit aroundour table and talk with our friends and pick at our food, thenwe'll go to the Hamptons for the rest of the weekend.It will befun.And we already have a party bus and everything, all you needis a dress.And God knows you'd look beautiful in anything.You canwear your jeans for all I care."She'd still be the most beautifulgirl in the room.
A small smile.I'll takeit."It's not in the gym?"she asks, obviously the trigger she wasworried about.
I shake myhead.
"You really want me tocome?"
Now I shake my headincredulously.She's ridiculous."Yes, baby.My friends would neverlet me get out of it, and I would never take anyone else."I lookat her meaningfully."I really want you to come."
She groans."Ugh, fine,I'll go to the stupid prom," she concedes.
Yes.
I grin widely in triumph."Suddenly I'm looking forward to next weekend," I admit.
Rory smirks."What aboutthis weekend?"
I smirk right back at her."Let's just say I can't wait for Chip to drive back home so I canhave you all to myself."
"You have me all toyourself right now," she says wryly.
This girl.
"Like I said, I've neverfelt luckier."
We don't make love again,though I definitely could.I always could with her.But I don'twant her to think this is only about lust.It isn't.Instead, Ijust hold her, and we talk.She tells me how it felt to listen tome flirting with that girl in that bar and I apologize, but I alsotell her that if it's what made her come to her senses and take meback, then I don't regret it.I was never going to hook up withthat girl.
I tell her how it all feltfor me.Trying to pretend she was nothing more than a friend.Wanting her all the time.And then hearing her call me a friendafter we made love in her bedroom.My voice cracks at the memory.Rory tears up, and I kiss her cheeks dry.She tells me she thoughtI hated her after that.It amazes me all over again—how she couldpossibly convince herself of such a thing.She has moreinsecurities than she lets on and I need to be mindful of them.Ineed to tell her how I feel about her more, and I resolve to dojust that.
I tell her I want her torelax after the stress of the last two days, so I call down to thespa and book her a manicure and pedicure.My mom and Bits alwayssay it's what they do to relax, and since I'm pretty sure Rorywouldn't be up for a full body massage, even with a femalemasseuse, it's the best idea I've got.
I tell her I'll ride withChip to take her mom to the airport so he doesn't have to driveback alone, but really I want to get to know him a little better.Ialso may have a few questions for him.
Rory goes to her mother'sroom to say goodbye and I go with Chip to get his car from thevalet.We both hang back while Rory and her mom hug each other andexchange emotional, but apparently celebratory, words.Rory headsdown to the spa, and Amy, Chip and I climb into his pickup.Hereally is a country kid, through and through.It surprises me thathe's going to school in New York, but then again, I get the sensethat he feels alienated from his peers in his hometown and Isuspect it has more than a little to do with his choice to supportRory, and it wins him more points in my book.
I help Amy with her bagsat the airport and I'm a little startled when she pulls me into abear hug and thanks me for being there for her little girl.It'sweird to hear.Sure, I'd kill for her little girl, but I also justfucked her little girl senseless barely two hours ago.And now I'mthinking about fucking her again.
Shit.Grandma Lena, Grandma Lena, Grandma Lena.
Amy hugs Chip, too, theirgoodbye a little more drawn out, and then we head back to thehotel.
We're silent for a fewminutes, each feeling the other out.I know he must have as manyquestions for me as I do for him.
"So…" he says finally."You and Rory have gotten pretty close," he observes.
That's what he's goingwith?"You could say that."
"Can't say I was expectin'it.She only moved up north, what?Six months ago?"
Actually it's been lessthan five, but who's counting?"What can I say—we hit it off."Idon't want to give him details about my relationship with Rory, butthen, I do want information from him.
"She's been through alot," he says pointedly.I'm not sure I get his meaning.
"I know that."Obviously.Does he thinkI thought we just came down here for a quick vacation?
"You seem to really careabout her…"
