“Maybe we could watch your favoriteStar Warsmovie?”he ventured.
An array of red lights pulsed inside her like warning beacons.Danger and heartache threatened beyond her defenses.She knew where this would lead, and half of her didn’t want to walk that road again, while the other half yearned to run down it, hoping for a different outcome.
She was older and wiser now.Hurts, betrayals, and disappointments over the years had scarred her once-pristine heart and honed her edges to a razor sharpness.She no longer held herself open like she had back when she’d first met Sam.Instead, she had built up a wall of ice to guard and protect her tender feelings.But it was getting cold and lonely inside her fortress.
Before she could formulate an answer, he ran a finger down her wrist, over the back of her hand.“Or maybe not.I’ll go.”
Her emotions went to war.Could she send him away when he was obviously hurting—hurting becauseshehad brought up his painful memories?The shadow of that girl whose heartstrings hummed when his soul called out still lived inside her—the way he called out right now.But could she say yes and walk that tightrope between friendship and giving in to a desire that was growing stronger ever day?
It’s for the best.She swallowed.“Good night, Sam.I’ll see you in therapy in a few days.Call or come by the clinic if the pain gets worse.”
With a nod, he turned slowly on his heel, as if giving her one last chance to invite him to stay.She steeled her spine and watched him shuffle down her walkway, even as fissures formed in her resolve.
Angie showered and slipped on a robe, her spirits knotted and bleak.Questions and what-ifs clogged her brain, and she couldn’t turn it off for all the circles it continually raced around, like the water from her shower had whirlpooled down the drain.Her head hurt.She needed the oblivion of sleep, so she poured herself a healthy glass of red wine, settled into the couch with a blanket, and turned onThe Empire Strikes Back, hoping the banter between Han Solo and Princess Leia could take her to a galaxy far, far away.
Only minutes into the movie, a sharp knock at her door had her almost dumping the wine on her lap.She set down her glass, crept toward the front door, and peeked through the peephole.Her visitor stood hunched on her front stoop, where the porch light threw shadows over his face.She didn’t need to see it fully to know who waited for her to answer.
Sam looked up at the peephole and gave her a wan smile.“It’s only me, Ange.”
Heart thrashing in her chest, she cinched her robe tight and opened the front door.He leaned in, his arms braced on either side of the door frame, his form filling the opening so it blotted out the street beyond.
“What are you doing here?”she squeaked.
“I brought you something.”He held out a small plastic bag with a logo she didn’t recognize.He had changed from his suit into a dark hoodie over a sage-green T-shirt, jeans, and sneakers.His hair was a damp, tousled mess that made her fingers itch to straighten it.
She took his offering.“What is it?”
“Bear spray.”
Her mouth dropped open.“You got me bear spray?Tonight?”
“Figured it was an emergency.”
“Bear spray is an emergency?”
“It is when you need it.”His mouth curved slightly at the corners, hinting at that lopsided grin that had a way of liquefying her knees.
Dumbfounded, she stared at the bag a beat before lifting that stare to him.“Oh.Um, thank you?”
His amused expression faded.“Also, you said to come see you if the pain gets worse.”
Befuddled, she glanced down at his ankle.“What’s going on with your ankle?”
“It’s not my ankle, Ange.”Misery veiled his eyes, making her heart wobble behind its fortifications.He flicked his hand toward her TV, which stood on a console at one end of her tiny living room.“Do I hear Han trying to repair the Millenium Falcon?”Optimism lifted his tone.
Breaking eye contact with him for a tick while she regained her wits, she glanced over her shoulder and nodded.“Yes.”
His entire face brightened.“This is the best part!They’re about to figure out they’re stranded in the exogorth’s mouth and it’s going to swallow them.”
She turned back to him.“Not quite there yet.”Now rays of hope danced in his navy blues where sadness had glimmered seconds before, and she couldn’t resist his infectious excitement.It was a scene they’d watched together over and over, and it was, in fact, one of his favorites.Hers too.
Rules and what-ifs be damned.What was wrong with two old friends sharing a moment they’d enjoyed many times before?
“You can come in, but only for this one scene.After that, you’ll have to leave.”
“But that’s the part where they navigate the asteroid field to shake off Imperial warships.It’s the same sequence!”he protested.He even stuck out his lower lip, which she found infuriatingly cute.“The way Han pilots the Falcon is so freaking fire!You know it’s true.You used to go on and on about how badass Han was because of that scene.I’m pretty sure you had a major crush on him after watching it the first time.”
Lord, sometimes he knew her too well.Without another word, she surrendered and opened the door, sweeping her hand to the side as she deadpanned, “By all means, come in and watch the space slug and the badass pilot battle it out.”
