Authors: Liz Crowe
Indulgence (400 page)
“What are you thinking?” she murmured, looking up at me.
“Being with you like this, this is home. Stay with me. Don’t
go back to the dorms.”
“I’ve missed living here,” Sam admitted.
“Then why did you go back to the dorms at the start of the
term?”
“I don’t have a car to get back and forth to classes like
you do,” she reminded me.
“I’ll buy you a car.”
“I’m not going to let you buy me a car, Jake.”
“I didn’t say it would be a Mercedes,” I laughed.
“How would that look if I let you buy me a car, yet I’m
dating the NBA pro?”
“You’re not dating the NBA pro now,” I replied, kissing her
on the lips. “Move in with me, Sam. I want to fall sleep with you every night and
wake up with you in my arms every morning.”
“I want the same thing. Yes, I’ll move in with you.”
Nearly a month had passed before I received an email from
Rick. During that time, Sam and I settled into our domestic bliss. Our relationship
was so different from the one she’d had with Rick. It was easy and comfortable,
everything clicking into place. I was teaching Sam how to cook and she was
teaching me things in the bedroom. I had never been happier. Yet one thing ate
at my conscience: I hadn’t spoken to Rick. I followed his career and watched
the televised games, but I felt awkward contacting him. Sam said to stay clear
and I followed her advice. I was glad Rick was reaching out to me. The email
was brief, saying he missed our friendship and he wanted to meet the following
Saturday.
Sam came home from class to find me sitting at the kitchen
table writing a paper on my laptop. “Rick emailed me, ” I told her.
“I wondered how long it would be before he contacted you,”
Sam said, sitting down next to me. “What did he say?”
“Only that he wanted to meet me here.”
“I want to tell him about us,” Sam added.
“Then we’ll tell him together. If there is any way we can
save our friendship, we have to try.”
Rick knocked on my front door. It was odd that he didn’t
just let himself in. It was just another sign that things really were changing
between us. I opened the door to greet him. “Hey, it’s good to see you. Come
inside.”
Rick entered the hallway and took off his winter coat. He
stopped in his tracks when he noticed Sam standing on the landing of the
stairs.
“Sam.”
“Hi, Rick.”
“Why don’t we go sit in the kitchen? There’s fresh coffee,”
I suggested, leading the way. Sam fell in line behind me and Rick joined us.
I poured the coffee into mugs and passed them around the
table. Rick was tapping his foot on the floor, clearly anxious. I don’t think
anyone wanted to speak first. Rick took a deep breath and then finally said, “I
know I really fucked things up, but the three of us are best friends. I want you
back in my life.”
“I want that too,” I admitted.
“Rick, I know things didn’t end that well for you and me,
but I miss our friendship. We can’t be a couple, but we can still be friends,”
Sam interjected.
“I’m glad you both feel that way.” Rick took a sip of his
coffee. “Well, this isn’t awkward at all,” he said with a hint of sarcasm.
Sam looked Rick in the eye and began: “It’s going to take
some time to figure this out. We spent almost every day for the past six years
together. Now you're traveling and Jake and I are still in school. You can’t
expect things to stay the same forever.”
Rick gave a wary look at Sam and then he focused his
attention on me. “Come on, you two. Just tell me what’s going on.”
“Rick, since you and I broke up, Jake and I...”
Rick put up his hand to stop her from completing the
sentence. “I get it. You don’t have to say it.”
“Nothing happened between us while you two were together,” I
jumped in, trying to smooth things over.
Rick gave me a pathetic glance.
“Well, okay, after the night the three of us shared in the
cabin, nothing happened.”
“Stop it, Jake. I’m okay. I’m not going to dissolve in a
puddle of tears or beat you up.” Rick took another sip of his coffee. “Truth
is, I always knew there was a special connection between the two of you. I
often wondered how I got so lucky to have you as long as I did, Sam.”
Sam leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you,
Rick.”
We spent the next few hours telling each other what was
happening in our lives. Rick imparted tales of traveling from town to town and
seeing the Untied States. He loved his basketball career and having a home base
in Miami. When Rick wasn’t playing he found a youth group in Miami where he
mentored kids from disadvantaged backgrounds. The kids looked up to Rick, who
was so young and already playing pro ball. He and Jenna got to hang out from
time to time. Jenna loved college and had recently found a boyfriend.
Sam talked about her classes and GPA I told Rick that I was
following his career and stats, never missing a game. I had even gotten Sam
hooked. Mostly I told him how happy I was that the three of us were together
again.
We walked Rick to the front door when it was time for him to
leave. Rick gave me a hug and whispered in my ear, “Take care of her, man.
She’s a keeper.”
I patted Rick’s back. “I will. I promise.”
We watched Rick walk next door to visit his parents.
“That went well,” Sam said, placing her arm around my waist.
“I think we can really make this work. Do you think he’ll be okay, out there on
his own?”
“Yeah, he’ll be great,” I replied.
“How do you think we’re doing?”
I reached out and touched the key on her necklace. “You and
I; we’re golden.” I dropped my crutch to the floor and cupped her face with my
hands. “I love you, Samantha,” I confessed, pouring all my love and emotion
into the kiss.
Theresa Troutman lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and
their crazy dog, Niko. She loves reading, theatre and traveling. Her books
include: My Secret Summer, A Special Connection and the Love's Great Adventure
Series: Life's What You Make It and Love This Life and London Loves. She is
currently working on contemporary romance called, By My Side, which will be
released in early 2015.
Feel free to contact her on Facebook and like her page.
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