by Rue Volley
“Sam? Just a friend.”
“Mmm. I could use a friend like that.”
I tried to ignore her comments. “Can I get two more cups, please?”
She nodded to me. “So, Jack Landon came in yesterday.”I coughed and tapped my chest as she tilted her head. “You okay?”
“Yeah—I'm all right. Can you leave a little room for cream in that one?
She nodded. “I did it.”
I looked up at her. “Did what?”
“Asked him out. I mean, you don’t care, do you? I saw the pictures in the paper when he saved you.”
I held my hand up to her. “Why would I care? I mean—he saved me, but that was it.”
“Really? I heard that you dated him.”
I took the cream and my hand shook a little bit as I poured it in.
I stared at the cup and wished that I could dive into it and just disappear. “So, what did he say?”
She leaned on the counter toward me. “He said yes.”
“Oh yeah?”
She stood back up and looked me over. “You’re sure that you don’t-”
I interrupted her as I shook the bottle. “Can I get some more? Please?”
She leaned down and grabbed some more creamer for me as I gripped the counter. I couldn’t believe that it bothered me so much. It did. It bothered me on a level I couldn’t even explain. How dare he come into my coffee shop and let the girl ask him out who gave me my favorite thing in the world...my coffee! Screw him!
She stood back up and my fake smile could have been detected by anyone. I even felt awkward, like a cardboard standee of myself.
“And, no. Why would I?” I said as convincingly as I could.
She narrowed her eyes, her skepticism shining through. She handed me the creamer. “Okay, well. I’m excited.”
Sure she was, damn it. “So—where are you going?”
She looked around the shop and then back to me, like she was about to tell me something huge.
“His boat, can you believe that? A boat.”
“Oh yeah?”
She leaned on the counter and held her chin in her hand, daydreaming. Knock it off, sister.
“They own an enormous yacht, for fundraisers and parties.”
“Enormous, huh?”
She laughed. “Well, I hope it’s not the only thing, if you know what I mean. I heard that he is pretty bi…”
I interrupted her without hesitation. I know exactly how big he is, you harlot. “Is he taking you to a charity auction?”
She tilted her head, it confused her. “No—a party of some sort.”
“Ahh.” I took a sip of my coffee as Sam called out to me.
“I may pass out over here.”
I waved a hand to him, he could wait. “Coming.” I didn’t even look in his direction. My whole focus was now on this Jezebel who was shooting up get laid flares all around me. I couldn’t stand it. I just couldn’t. The anger rose in me like a volcano getting ready to explode into the atmosphere.
I grit my teeth, and then something came over me. I lowered my voice. “Listen, I know that we just know each other from here, but—well, the reason I didn’t go after Jack Landon is because he has, well, he’s got the herpes, I mean just herpes, I don’t think it’s called the anything, but whatever.”
She sucked in her breath. “Shut the front door.”
I nodded to her. “Yeah, I just—I would hate for you to, you know, and then—it would be terrible. That stuff is nasty and stays with you forever. Rashes and creams—and the smell, is there a smell? I heard that there is.” My eyes floated down to her who-ha. She swallowed hard and shifted from one foot to the other. She crossed her legs like it would help.
She reached toward me. “Oh my God, I could never thank you enough—holy shit. That would have been horrible because I would have jumped on him in a heartbeat!” She snapped her fingers, making me blink. “Free, seriously. Free coffee anytime I am working, girl.”
I grinned at her, feeling like a complete jerk for lying, but I couldn’t help it. The thought of her telling me how he was and in turn, forcing me to give up the best coffee in the city was not happening. I didn’t give a damn.
She turned the eye of Sauron on Sam. “So—what’s the story over there?” Her expression was alarming, it said one thing and one thing only. She wanted him.
I turned and smiled at Sam. My friend, my Sam—was she serious? No damn way was this happening either. She refused to stop dry humping him with her eyes, I could feel the anger boiling up in me. “Seriously, you should take advantage of that, and if you aren’t...”
I shook my head and pushed my hair behind my ear. “Sam’s like a brother to me; that’s it.”
“Shame.”
I looked up at her. “Gay—he’s gay and loving it.”
She sighed, completely deflated. “Really?”
“Oh yeah—totally gay.”
She sighed, cupping her hand on her chin as she eyed him like a schoolgirl. Sam glanced in our direction and smiled back at her. She straightened up, tossing the white towel on the counter to signify her true defeat. “Damn it, why are the gay men so freakin’ hot here in New York? It’s torturous.”
I couldn’t help but look at Sam. He was hot, there was no denying that. I turned back and shrugged my shoulders. “I don’t know, it sucks, right?”
She rolled her eyes. “Big time.”
I took the coffee in both hands and carefully made my escape back to Sam. I rolled my eyes, I whispered to myself, ‘good Lord’, as Sam happily accepted my offering of caffeine. He would have died laughing if he had just witnessed everything that I had just said. I relaxed in my chair and studied his beautiful eyes as he took a drink of his coffee. My Sam, damn straight, and if he was gay, I would love him even more. Wait, did I just say love? Sam spoke and jerked me from my thoughts. “Walk in the park?” I nodded to him, grateful for the much needed interruption. “Yeah—oh yeah, sounds good.”
We sat in the park and I tossed some feed at the pigeons as they all raced after it. The season had changed and taken the winter wind with it. I was grateful. I enjoyed the cold, to a certain degree, only because it allowed me to layer up with a good book. But, now that I wanted to get out of the apartment, I was happy to see summer return. Sam nudged me from the side.
“What’s on your mind?”
I looked down into the bag of bird seed and then threw some more out to them. Birds, what a simple existence. I could really go for some simple right now. I sighed. What wasn’t on my mind? Sam had a date that would probably lead to him abandoning me not unlike Jack had. I missed Jack, so much so that I had lied about an STD to prevent someone from dating him. So ridiculous. I couldn’t track down every woman in the city and spread lies, a billboard crossed my mind, a big ad proclaiming…I laughed under my breath. I may be losing it. I shook the ridiculous notion off and decided to ask Sam about his date. “So, where are you taking her?”
“Well.” He paused. “To a function that I was invited to.”
I turned to him and set the bag down in between us. “What function?”
“Abi—it’s with He-who-shall-not-be-named.”
I rolled my eyes. “Are you kidding me? A Landon function?”
“The tickets came to my office with an apology. I guess he thought that he should…”
I looked down at the bag and stuck my hand into it, tossing feed to the side without even looking. He watched me, knowing that I was irritated. Of course I was. First the hooker at the coffee shop and now Sam was betraying me too.
“Apologize to you, of course,” I muttered under my breath. Sam leaned down to try to see my eyes. “He did bust my lip open.”
I looked up at him, my eyes heavy with sadness. He could see right through me.
“Oh, Abi, I didn’t want to say anything. I should have, but there was no way that I was going to bring you, so when Liv asked me out—well I decided to take her.”
I nodded to him and then f
orced a half-smile. “No, I get it. It’s not you—damn him. I bet he thought that you would bring me and I would be forced to see him.”
“Why would he do that, Abi?”
I paused. Maybe I was being weird about the whole thing. Of course, he wouldn’t naturally assume that Sam would bring me, would he? Or maybe he did it on purpose so that Sam would tell me, and I would be upset. Oh my God. I am not that girl. I have to stop right now. This is so not me. I tapped Sam’s leg. “You know what? I want some ice cream.”
He tilted his head as I stood up and tossed the rest of the seeds to the birds. He rose, but his expression was that of disbelief. Of course he could see right through me, it was Sam. He was good at calling my bullshit bluffs.
“There’s an extra ticket,” he said quietly, and I looked at him.
“What?”
“An extra ticket, at the office. He sent a few, and one of the girls is pregnant, having a baby this weekend and she can’t go. If you…”
My laughter came out nervous because it was. “Oh no—not me. I’m fine.”
I started to walk as Sam caught up to me and took my arm. He wrapped it in his as I leaned against him. He was so comforting. I loved that about him and, honestly, I couldn’t imagine my life without him in it at this point. He had been a surrogate to Avery’s absence, a wonderful friend and companion. He would be a catch for anyone and I had to understand that he would be snatched up. If I could only feel for him as he had for me, but it was impossible. The spark just wasn’t there. I couldn’t lie and let him waste his love on me. It would be so unfair and I would never be able to forgive myself. No one should be the second choice. It cheapens everything and sets it up for failure.
“Abi.” He stopped walking and stared down at me. He touched my chin.
“That would be ridiculous. I couldn’t,” I said as I tried to convince him.
“Why? I know that you want to.”
I looked down and then back up to him. “I am not a desperate person.”
He leaned down into my face. “No, you aren’t, you are a woman in love.”
I bit my lip as he hugged me. I sank into him and his honesty. At least someone could tell me exactly how it was and stop me from faking it.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
PAWNLESS ENDGAME
I stared at Avery’s dresses laid out before me on the bed. I pushed the red and black ones aside. I had worn them around Jack before and I had no idea why I pulled them out, except for nostalgic reasons.
I let my eyes go over the one that spoke to me like a whisper on the wind. The top of the dress was made out of gold lace, muted and delicate. The bottom of the dress, which began mid waist, was made of black silk. It felt like chocolate tastes. Smooth and sensual. I picked it up and turned it around. The back was open. Exposing plenty of skin. I grinned. “You,” I whispered to it as I laid it down and smiled.
We rode together in the back of the cab. I felt as if I had ruined Sam’s date. It wasn’t my intention at all. Sam sat between me and Liv. She stared out the window as I glanced over at her and then tapped Sam on the knee. He jerked from deep thought and turned his face to stare at me mouthing the word ‘what?’ I nodded toward Liv, and he looked at her and back to me. I raised my eyebrows and nodded to her again.
He cleared his throat. “You look beautiful, Liv.”
She ignored him; he had to repeat himself. “Liv.” She turned to look at him, her eyes hitting me first and then she grinned at him. It was subdued. I felt worse by the minute. I told Sam that I could go on my own, but he reminded me of my budget and insisted. Truthfully, I think he was nervous, but this was no way to go about a first date. I sighed. Being the third wheel was not helping my already frazzled nerves.
Sam may be a great catch, but his dating skills left a lot to be desired. I could kick myself for selfishly letting him convince me that having the three of us travel together would be wise. It wasn’t, at all. If I were in Liv’s position, I would be pissed and rightfully so.
“Yes?”
He paused and I nudged him. He cleared his throat. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you, you look nice,”she replied.
I bit my lip and leaned up to look at her. “I’m sorry, I should have traveled there on my own.”
She said nothing, which told me everything. Of course she agreed. I leaned back and stared out the window. Sam decided to try to strike up a conversation with her.
“So, I know that I got these from work, but it isn’t business. No business, tonight. All fun, that’s why I got a cab.”
“…and drinking,” I added.
Sam smiled. “And lots of drinking.”
Liv smiled at him as her eyes softened. Sam’s sweet nature was something no one could deny. His comfort radiated out much further than just me.
“Well good.” She wrapped her arm around his. “I plan on drinking, a lot. I can’t do it at work- of course, so this is nice. You know, to just relax and be one of the idiots.”
I laughed and so did Sam. I spoke, trying to connect with her. “Is that what we are? Idiots?”
She eyed me. “Oh no, not you.”
I smirked. It was a jab at me, and I gladly took it. I had intruded on her night and I deserved a bit of her cattiness. Sam sighed and I stared out the window, ignoring her words and only thinking of one thing. Seeing Jack and possibly moving the game forward. I was so ready.
The cab rolled to a stop and my eyes widened. I stared at the yacht. It was so long that it almost looked like a smaller version of a cruise ship. It rose two decks high. Why was I surprised? The Landons did nothing on a small scale. Nothing at all. Everything was larger than life, including Jack’s ability to seduce me.
I stepped out and Sam followed me; we stood there staring up at the monster when we heard a throat clear and I nudged him to go open her door and get her out on the other side. Man, Sam was messing this up something terrible, or he was really, really nervous. Much more so than I had ever seen him be. Was Liv that special to him? He had not mentioned her at all to me and suddenly, here she was and he was acting like he had on our prom date. Oh damn. He does like her—a lot. Oh man, I should have come here on my own. I am such an idiot. I should have never let him convince me to ride with them, but he practically begged me. Begged! It must have been his nerves.
I heard laughter and a woman yell as a bra dropped from the side of the yacht and into the water. I sighed as the name ‘Jack’ followed. More laughter and then she yelled at him. “Where are you going, Jack?” Of course, he probably had a full blown orgy happening up there. I could die. What the hell was I thinking?
Sam looked at me, and I smiled. “You do look very pretty, Abi.” I looked down at my dress. I felt pretty, well—more than that. I felt sexy. I really did. The dress fit like a glove and showed off things about me that I didn’t even know existed. Some dresses are magic and this was one of them.
We walked toward the long gangway. Two men stood there in very nice tuxedos. They tipped their hats and then offered us champagne as soon as we stopped. I grinned and took one, sipping on it and enjoying the refined taste. I couldn’t deny that the luxuries that surrounded Jack did not entice me.
Sam took a drink from one of the trays and handed it to Liv. Then he grabbed one for himself. He looked so handsome and I hoped that the night would be amazing for him. He deserved it. He deserves so much more than I could ever offer to him.
We walked along as I started to take in the majesty of the yacht. It was overpowering, but not as overpowering as the feeling that was rising in my chest. I stopped and caught my breath. Who the hell was I and what did I do with Abi? I felt a hand on my side and turned to see Sam. My grounding had arrived.
“You okay?” he whispered to me as Liv stared up at the yacht in wonder. She was mesmerized, as anyone would be. I nodded to him and chugged my champagne down. He laughed and took my glass, chucking it over the side. I watched it drop into the water and then laughed at him.
�
��You can’t do that.” I watched the glass sink into the water below. Swallowed whole.
“Like they will miss it, Abi.”
I grinned; he was right. I was sure that one glass meant nothing in a sea of a million.
We reached the top and again we were met with more champagne, only this time it was two women who offered. They were both beyond gorgeous and I looked down as I took a thin, beautiful glass from a silver tray. My eyes lifted to meet the girl who held it. She grinned at me, her dress so sheer that I could practically see her nipples through it. I tried to avoid looking at her body, so I scanned the room. There were so many people, a sea of them.This was a real party, the music was loud, the lights low, and the people intoxicated. I turned and Sam and Liv were gone. I spun
around and spotted them over at the food bar. Sam was laughing as Liv grabbed a plate and placed some sushi on it. Of course, seafood. No. I would not be eating tonight. It made me regret that I had skipped it before I left the apartment.
I took another drink and then almost spilled it as Jack entered the room. I reached up as I caught the sweetness dribbling on my chin with my other hand. The people in the room parted like the red sea as he walked in my direction. It was much more dramatic than I needed it to be.
“Oh—oh, hell,” I muttered as I stepped off to the side and tried to fight my way out of his path. I tripped and started to fall, only to feel two hands catch me before I hit the floor. I looked up and, of course, it was Jack. This was his job, regardless of where we ended up in life; he would always be catching me when I fell. Saving me from myself.
His eyes took me in. Deeper than I expected. He was pleased to see me. “Abigail.”
“Jack.” I rose up, hanging onto his hands until I didn’t need them to balance any longer. Sam stepped up, and Jack glanced at him. “Sam.”
“Jack, nice boat.”
Jack grinned. “Yacht.”
Sam laughed and looked me over. “Are you okay?”
I parted my lips, and Jack spoke for me. “She’s fine.”
“I asked her.”
Jack turned to him. “And I answered.”