15. Jameson #3
“Sam, I’m an asshole for not saying back then what I truly wanted.
I thought I was doing the right thing based on what your mom and my dad said to do.
Not once since we’ve been apart have I not missed you.
You’re smart, sweet, sexy as hell and have a hell of a wrist shot.
You’re gorgeous, and the best mommy to our little girl.
How could I stay away? I know I don’t have the right to ask, but please give this a chance. ”
She bites her lip; her eyes guarded. “Give what a chance, Jameson? What are you asking for exactly?”
My hands come up to frame her face. “I’m asking you to give me a shot.
I want a relationship with you. One that's better, stronger than what we had in high school. I want to take you on dates; I want more family dinners; I want to watch you play the game you love. I just want to get to know the woman you are now and for there to be no other dates you’ll ever go on with anyone else. ”
Tears flood her eyes. “You want all of that with me? After everything? There are still so many things we have to talk about.”
My lips brush against hers gently. “And we will. We have time. Sammy, I’ve always been yours. I know I’m not good enough, but I want to be. Can we please try again?”
She sniffles and lays her head against my chest, right over my heart while we sway to the music.
After a few heartbeats she raises her head and wipes tears from her cheeks.
“You’ve always been good enough, Jameson.
I can give this a chance, but we need to move forward with caution.
It's not just us anymore. Dylan always comes first. I want honesty between us too.”
“I can do all of that babe,” I assure her, my hands squeezing her side.
The next instant her face falls and she jerks a little in my hold, her eyes dropping from mine. I pull back, my body coiled with concern. “What just happened?”
She shakes her head and moves to keep us dancing, but there’s a stiffness to her now that wasn’t there before. I pull her tight against me and lower my lips to her ear. “Tell me what I did or said. We just agreed with complete honesty.”
Sam’s shoulders hunch in and she blushes, unable to hold my stare. “It's stupid. I just, you called me babe.”
I pause, my eyes roaming over her. “You don’t like it?”
Her shoulders shrug. “You never called me babe before.”
It dawns on me then what she’s saying. And the past weeks run through my head, noticing now her change in demeanor when I did call her babe. Because I never used to when we were together. She was always my “Pretty Girl.”
Sam squirms in my hold and can barely look at me.
I’m not letting her get away though. Not over this.
There’s absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about.
“Sam, I haven’t called you that because I didn’t feel like I have the right to.
In my heart...” I take her hand and place it over my chest. “Fuck, baby, in my heart you have and always will be my Pretty Girl. And now I have a little Pretty Girl too.”
Her lips tip up in the corners and a giggle escapes her. “Smooth.”
I shake my head, my smile now matching hers. “Nah. I’m just the luckiest guy on the planet.”
The last rifts of the guitar play and the song is coming to an end.
Before the moment ends, I know I have to kiss her.
Every part of my being is screaming at me to make her mine.
My lips caress hers gently at first. When she sighs, I go all in.
My tongue thrusts into her mouth with hunger, claiming her.
She whimpers and my hands roam over her back and down to her waist, pulling her body as tight to mine as I can.
If I could crawl inside her, I would. One of her hands runs through my hair while the other curls around my bicep and holds tight.
It's an obscene kiss, too intimate for the dance floor at a bar.
That is the only reason I release her mouth with a low growl, before pressing my forehead to hers.
“I’ve missed that electrifying feeling over the past two years. Only with you, Sam.”
Sam nods, speechless, her eyes dazed while she licks her puffy red lips.
My arms wrap around her shoulders and I hold her close, my eyes sweeping over the dance floor.
We’re surrounded by people, but I know it's time to get her home. She had fun and let loose, we talked, we kissed, our relationship is moving in the right direction. Before she shuts down, or tries to second-guess herself, I need to get her into her own space. I lead Sam off the dance floor and out of the bar. The night air is cool and crisp, with the promise of snow in it. Sam doesn’t let go of my hand during the walk to my truck, the drive, or even when I walk her back to her apartment.
I know better than to try and go inside, her girlfriends are going to be questioning her the minute she’s there.
Instead, I kiss her outside the door, quick enough to be polite but hard enough to show her that tonight wasn’t a fluke.
I’ve been coming for her for a while. Now that she’s agreed to give me another chance, I have to prove to her she made the right choice.