Indulgence (398 page)

I was lying in bed, unable to sleep, when I heard Rick and
Sam’s footfalls in the hallway. A few minutes later they were going at like
they were the last couple on earth, in charge of repopulating the human race. I
put in my earbuds to deaden their cries of ecstasy. Guess an intense fight
calls for passionate make-up sex or maybe it was break-up sex. The curiosity
got the best of me and kept me awake.

Finally, I decided to get out of bed and make myself something
to eat. I was eating my grilled cheese sandwich when Sam walked into the
kitchen, dressed in a blue satin robe. She took a bottle of water from the
refrigerator and sat down next to me.

“So I hear you two made up,” I said, placing my napkin on
the table.

“I don’t know if we’re back on track. I don’t know what we
are right now,” Sam admitted with confusion in her voice.

“Sounded like you were back together from my bedroom.”

Sam laid her head on the table and groaned. “I’m sorry we
were loud. I’m so embarrassed. It was selfish of me to deny Rick his moment of
victory. He worked hard and he deserves this success.”

“I’m happy to hear you admit that. He wants you to be a part
of this so badly.”

“I know. I’m just not sure how long I can be a part of it.
He’s leaving soon, you know. Rick will be practicing, getting to know his
teammates, traveling for games, propositioned by tramps.”

“Is that what you’re really worried about? Will Rick be
faithful to you?”

“Of course I’m worried. Temptation is hard to resist.”

“If you love him, you should trust him. Rick has never done
anything to you to betray your trust,” I reminded Sam.

I didn’t sleep a wink that night, my mind pondering all the
different scenarios of Rick and Sam’s relationship. Then I started to analyze Jenna
and me. Was it possible that I was in love with Samantha the entire time, but
never let myself act on that love? I needed to talk to Sam.

I took a shower and then dressed for the day in a pair of
khaki shorts and a tee shirt. Searching every room in the house, I realized Sam
was nowhere to be found. She might have gone back home, but that didn’t seem
plausible. Sam was upset and needed to think. I had a hunch where she was, so I
grabbed my car keys off the kitchen table and drove to the library.

I wandered the library aisles until I found Sam. She sat at
a secluded table in the corner, books scattered all over the table top, her
head bent, blonde hair hiding her eyes. I watched her intently as she
feverishly studied, biting the bottom of her lip in concentration. It didn’t
matter that it was the middle of summer and college wasn’t in session. Sam was
always eager to learn.

Quietly, I walked up to the table and sat down next to Sam.
She didn’t even notice my presence until I gently placed my hand on her arm.

She jumped. “Jake, you scared me half to death. Why are you
sneaking up on me?”

“I need to talk to you.”

“What’s wrong?”

I shifted uncomfortably in my chair. “Jenna and I...Well, we
mutually decided...”

“You broke up?”

I nodded my head.

“Jake, I’m so sorry. Are you okay?” She closed her book and
turned her full attention on me.

This was love. I was sure of it. Samantha was the missing
piece of my heart I never found with Jenna. Sam really did understand me better
than anyone I had ever known. A warm feeling spilled over me and made me smile.
“I’m great,” I honestly replied.

Sam raised her eyebrow and touched my forehead with the back
of her hand to see if I had a fever. “I think you have a slight fever. I can
take you to the minute clinic to...”

I cut her off by kissing her on the lips. There was a spark
between us. Although Samantha was kissing me back, she quickly pulled away.
“You’ve completely lost it,” she whispered, touching her lips which moments ago
had been pressed against mine.

“I...I...” My mind was racing. I felt dizzy and needed to
get some fresh air. What the hell was I thinking? Was Sam just going to jump
into my arms and confess her love? “I’m sorry,” I managed to spit out. Then I
stood up and fled the library, leaving a bewildered Samantha behind.

I was convinced I had done the right thing by kissing Sam.
It felt so right. I know she felt the spark between us. She only needed to
admit it. There was something between us that couldn’t be denied. I had finally
admitted my feelings for Samantha, but I couldn’t verbalize them. She loved
Rick and Rick was my best friend. I guess she still hadn’t made up her mind
about her relationship with him.

It felt like a no-win situation. I had the memory of the
cabin in the mountains, and that would have to keep me going. I decided to skip
dinner because I just couldn’t face seeing Rick and Sam just then. I went to
the movies and walked around the mall to kill some time. Finally, the sun began
to set and I returned home.

Rick was sitting on the sofa, reading
Sports Illustrated.
“We missed you at dinner. Where were you?”

“Went to the movies. Have you talked to Jenna today?”

“No, why would I?”

“We decided to break up yesterday,” I told him slowly,
unsure how Rick would react to the news.

“She didn’t say anything. Are you okay?”

“Yeah. We’re still friends. We just realized we weren’t
right for one another.”

“Fine.”

“Really, that’s it? You’re not angry?”

“Will you give me some credit! Why would I be angry if you
made a mutual decision?”

“You wouldn’t,” I agreed. “Are you and Sam still together?”

“Yeah, why wouldn’t we be? She was fucking amazing last
night.”

“Too much information,” I said, raising my hand to make him
stop.

“Why are you asking? What did she say to you?” Rick asked
with suspicion.

“Maybe she’s just nervous about you going pro,” I suggested.

“Christ, she’s the smartest person we know. If that’s her
problem, it’s stupid.”

“Well, maybe if you were a little more supportive…”

Rick gave me the death glare.

“Forget I said anything.”

He grunted and went back to reading his magazine.

My phone dinged at an incoming text.

Sam: WE NEED TO TALK.

Jake: WHERE DO U WANT 2 MEET?

Sam: COFFEE HOUSE IN 30?

Jake: K

I stood up and headed for the door. “I’m going out for a
while,” I told Rick.

“You just got here.”

“Well, I’m leaving again.”

“Don’t be mad, Jake.”

I turned around and looked at Rick. “I’m not, man. I just
need to meet someone. I’ll be back in a while.”

I had a queasy feeling in my gut as I walked along the main
street toward the coffee shop. I opened the door and stepped inside. I saw Sam
sitting by the window, waiting for me. I joined her, trying to hide my
nervousness.

“I talked to Jenna today. She told me you broke up because
she thinks you and I should be together. She said you both agreed you weren’t
right as a couple.”

“That pretty much sums it up.”

“Is that what you think? That you and I should be together?”

I shuffled my good foot along the hardwood floor, stalling
my reply. “Well, I never really thought about it. I mean, you’re with Rick and
I liked Jenna, so what’s the point of pondering the idea?” I asked.

“There is no point. But you kissed me.”

I looked at her, taking in her pink pouty lips and warm
brown eyes. “It was the only way I could think of to make you stop talking,” I
confessed in an exasperated tone.

Sam began to laugh and I joined in. “You’re probably right.”

“Of course I’m right,” I grinned. “Sam, you’re my best
friend. Rick is too. I would never do anything to come between you two. You’ve
both been the most loyal friends a guy could ask for.”

“I feel the same way,” she admitted, hugging me tightly.

“So we’re okay?” I asked, pulling away.

“Never better,” she replied, handing me the coffee she had
bought for me.

In August, Jenna and Rick packed up the car and a U-Haul and
took off for Florida. Sam decided to stay on campus, so she moved out of my
house and into the dorms at Villanova. I had never felt so alone in all my
life. How could the summer have started so perfectly and ended so terribly?

Jenna and I were over, but remained good friends. Sam
decided to give the long distance thing a try with Rick. I don’t think either
one of us was convinced it would work. I only wondered how it would all fall
apart.

Sam and I still hung out. We studied in the library, acting
as if the kiss never happened or that we hadn’t made love in the cabin. The
only problem was that I couldn’t forget. The memory was so deeply ingrained in
my mind, it grew and blossomed into the only thing that kept me going during
those lonely nights in bed.

In October the Miami Heat came to Philadelphia to play the
76ers. The Welshes, Sam, and I drove down to the Wells Fargo Center to watch
the game. Rick was amazing. He was so in his element that I knew he made the
right decision to leave college and go pro. I wonder if the game helped Sam,
who was still grappling with the issue.

We said a quick hello after the game, but Rick had to board
a plane for New York City for his game the following night. I felt bad for Sam;
the incident only seemed to reinforce her idea that a long distance
relationship couldn’t work.

I picked up a copy of the
New York Daily News
when I
stopped at Wawa to get a cup of coffee. I was following Rick’s career and
cutting out the news clippings so he’d have something to remember when his
basketball career was over.

After class, I made my way to the library for my study
session with Sam. I was reading an article I’d found about Rick when she walked
up behind me.

“What are you reading?” Sam inquired, sitting down at the
table.

“Nothing,” I said, quickly closing the paper.

Sam looked at the cover. “
The Daily News
7is there
something about Rick in there? The game isn’t until tonight.” She grabbed the
paper from me and flipped to the sports section. She found the small
black-and-white photo of Rick and started reading. “Hot young Miami Heat
player, Rick Welsh, stumbles out of hot spot
Ice
with two bodacious
blonde beauties. Youth is on his side, but burning the candle at both ends
won’t lead to a lasting career in the NBA.”

Sam slowly closed he paper. I couldn’t read her expression.
Was she angry or sad? Maybe it was mixture of both.

“It’s just a paper. We don’t even know if the story is
true,” I reasoned.

Sam stood up from the table and rushed outside. I followed
her into the quad, where she fell to her knees and vomited in the bushes. I
pulled her long hair away from her face and gently rubbed her back. She wiped
her mouth with the sleeve of her shirt. “How could he do this to me, Jake?”

“I don’t know,” I replied, just as confused as she was. We
knelt together for a few minutes while Sam’s stomach settled.

“You don’t look very good. I’m taking you home.”

“Okay,” she agreed, holding out her hand. I took it and
pulled her into a standing position.

I placed her in the front passenger’s seat of the Sentra and
buckled her seatbelt. I got in the driver’s seat. “Are you sure you don’t want
me to take you to the doctor?” I asked before putting the car in drive.

“I doubt he can do anything for a broken heart,” Sam
muttered, leaning back in the seat and closing her eyes.

I carefully drove home, minding my speed. I knew I had to
remain calm, but part of me wanted to drive to New York City and break Rick’s
hand so he couldn’t play that night. I opened the front door to my house and
Sam wearily climbed the stairs to the bedroom she’d shared with Rick.

Sam entered the bedroom, kicked off her shoes, and then
curled up in a ball on top of the comforter. She began to sob uncontrollably. I
laid on the bed behind her and placed my arm around her to comfort her. “Hush,
I’m here. I won’t leave you, Samantha.”

“I knew it,” she cried. “I knew something like this would
happen. I just didn’t think it would be so soon.”

“I’m so sorry, sweetheart,” I said before planting a tiny
kiss on her neck.

Sam went through an entire box of tissues. She refused to
eat, but I persuaded her to drink some water. Her eyes were so puffy and
swollen, it looked painful.

“Let me get you a cold compress and some aspirin.”

She nodded her head in agreement and I left her alone to
grab the items from the bathroom. When I came back, Sam was staring at her
phone with a look of determination on her face. Her thumb moved over the send
button and then she turned off the phone and placed it on the bedside table.

I sat next to her on the bed and handed Sam the pills and
water. “What was that all about?”

“I just sent Rick a text.”

“What did it say?”

Sam took the cold washcloth from my hand and lay down on the
pillow, placing it over her eyes. “We’re over. Go fuck your blonde beauties,”
she announced with aplomb.

She was back my feisty, confident Samantha. I had to
suppress my laughter. I was grateful she couldn’t see my face.

“I know you’re laughing, Jacob Lewis. I can feel the bed
vibrating.”

God, I loved this girl so much. I let my laughter fill the
room. Soon Sam was laughing with me.

At eleven o’clock that night, my phone rang. I looked at the
caller ID. It was Rick. Sam was fast asleep, so I quietly left the bedroom and
answered the call in the hallway.

“Hello, Rick.”

“Where’s Sam? I’ve been texting and calling her, but she
won’t respond.”

“We saw the blurb in the
Daily News
.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You out on the town with two blondes. Is it true?”