Play for Me (32 page)

“Your flight is at noon, so sleep in. I'll serve a brunch
and we can leave for the airport around ten thirty. Speaking of which, I better
get some sleep. Goodnight, Dad. I love you.” Sam gave her father another hug.

Sam went to her bedroom and pulled out her suitcase and
started to pack. The way she figured it, she would drop off her parents at the
airport and make sure they were settled in. Then she would come home, pack up
Cracker and go back to the airport for her plane. She couldn't wait to get off
the island. Between Jennifer and Drew she had had enough drama in her life.

Bunny remained unusually quiet in the morning and hardly
said two words to Sam. Sam pretended it didn't bother her because she knew
Bunny wanted her to break down, but she wouldn't. Sam dropped them off at the
airport and Bunny barely glanced at her. Artie rolled his eyes and hugged Sam. “We
will see you soon.”

“Have a safe flight.” Sam watched as her parents went
through security. Rushing back to her car, she checked her phone when it beeped
with another message from Ian.

“
Have your parents left yet?”

Sam hedged about returning the text. She didn't have time.
She had a ton of things to do to catch the plane on time.

****

“Bryce? Ian again. Are you sure you know where Sam is? She's
not answering her phone.”

“I know she had to take her parents to the airport, dude.
She could be anywhere. Don't worry about Drew if that's where you're headed.”

“No, I heard from Rock and they sent Drew back to the
mainland. It's not like her to not answer her phone.”

“Maybe she's really mad at you.” Bryce could just see Ian's
face.

“Yeah, I think I blew it this time. But her parents, I mean
Bunny, totally tripped me out.” Ian put his head in his hands.

“I know where you're coming from,” laughed Bryce. “She had
Sam seeing red after she made a comment about how you left her alone on the
island. Bunny's got quite the mouth on her. One thing to remember, it's Bunny,
not Sam doing the talking.”

“Yeah, I know. That's all I need is for Bunny to rub it in.
I'll try Sam again.” Ian hung up the phone and dialed Sam again only to get her
voicemail. Ian made flight arrangements to get back to Maui as soon as he
could.

****

“Whew, we made it, Cracker.” Sam and Cracker settled in on
the airplane as it taxied to the gate. Sam felt a little guilty about not
calling Ian promising she would text him when she arrived at LAX.

As they exited the plane, Toby waited for them at the gate
which surprised Sam. “Toby, what are you doing here?” asked Sam. Cracker had
already jumped on Toby in his excitement to see his buddy.

“I got bored on the tour and I switched places with my
double when I found out you were coming,” exclaimed Toby with a smile. “I don't
know if Jordan, told you but it's pretty hard work. I needed a break. Marvin
said you were going to be here a week or so?”

“Yeah, I'm working on some stuff and I want to use Jett's
studio,” explained Sam.

“I think Jett might be taking a break to come see you.” Toby
glanced at Sam's eye. “You see, he's not real happy about what happened to you
with Drew.”

“I wasn't crazy about it, either,” said Sam. “This last week
has been a real trip. First Ian's ex-girlfriend goes crazy on me and then Drew.”

“Where was Ian?” asked Toby as he blatantly stared at Sam in
the rearview mirror.

“When Jennifer pulled what she did, Ian bailed me out. Right
now he's in Seattle so he couldn't help me with Drew. Fortunately, Ian's friend
had been keeping an eye on me so he helped out.”

“Do you think Drew knew Ian was out of town?” asked Toby.

“Yes, he knew Ian wasn't home. I mean they think Drew did
the damage to Jett's house, but they can't prove it. He knows where we all live,
which is kind of scary.”

“You're safe here with me. I'm not going to let anything
happen to you,” swore Toby.

“Thanks, Toby. After the week I had, it's good to know.” Sam
sat back and felt almost normal. She pushed the last couple of days from her
mind.

Toby had her all set for the week and told her to call him
for anything. He had, once again, done the shopping for her and agreed to meet
tomorrow morning. Settling down on the couch, Sam picked up her phone and
called Jordan.

“Where are you?” asked Jordan. “Heard from Ian, he doesn't
know where you are.”

“Hello to you, too,” said Sam crossly. “I've just had the
week from hell and decided to take a break from Maui.”

“Ian told me you were attacked by Drew,” began Jordan.

“I figured you would find out eventually,” said Sam as she
put her head in hand.

“He has friends who are watching out for you, you know.”
Jordan sounded angry. “What happened?”

“It's kind of a long story. Mom said something to Ian, and,
of course, he balked. She is bound and determined to get me back to Chicago. To
make a long story short, Ian freaked out and went out of town. Drew attacked me
while Mom and Dad were here and I had to lie, telling them I had a surfboard
accident. Then Bryce came along with us for dinner and Bunny starts on the
Chicago theme again.”

“Sam, I'm going to say something to Mom. This is totally out
of line.”

“When I dropped her off at the airport, she barely spoke to
me,” said Sam as she played with her wine glass.

“Why aren't you calling Ian?” asked Jordan.

“I don't know what to say to him,” said Sam truthfully. “I
don't blame him for not wanting a relationship with me after Bunny acted the
way she did. I'm afraid to talk to him.”

“Sam, what did I always tell you? You two need to work
things out,” said Jordan gently.

“I know, but I think it's good to spend a little time apart.”
Sam hoped she sounded convincing.

“To be honest with you, he's pretty upset. I mean for him to
call me, it's not like him.” Jordan waited for this to sink in.

“I'll text him,” said Sam haltingly.

“No, you're going to call him,” said Jordan firmly. “Now,
where are you?”

“I'm at Jett's. I'm recording my songs in his studio,”
explained Sam. “I'm in the blues mood.”

“Cool, I'm in Los Angeles, too. Hold on, and I'll help you
out with the recordings. But there's one piece of news I have to tell you.”
Jordan sounded excited.

“What?”

“I asked Deb to marry me,” shouted Jordan.

“You what?” shrieked Sam. “You and Deb are getting married?
Where? Las Vegas? Isn't this too soon?”

“Not really. She quit her job and has been with me ever
since. I've known her my whole life. Now that she is back in my life, I know
it's the right thing to do. We decided on Chicago,” explained Jordan. “You know
how Deb's family is and they want a big wedding for her.”

“I can't believe this? Why didn't she tell me?”

“She wanted me to tell you first, Now, call Ian and then
call Deb,” demanded Jordan.

“Have you told Mom and Dad?” asked Sam. “When's the date? Am
I in the wedding?”

“Slow down,” laughed Jordan. “No, I haven't told the parents
yet, but I think they're going to be pretty happy. They always liked Deb. I'll
let Deb tell you all about it. I might leave out some important details.”

“Just wait to you tell them you're not going to be living in
Chicago,” warned Sam.

“They won't be upset about that. They want you living in
Chicago and you're not going to, right?” Jordan waited for Sam's answer.

“I do miss the food,” said Sam. “But I'm proud of myself and
will continue with this until it ends.”

“That's my girl,” said Jordan proudly. “Now, call Ian.”

Sam stared at the phone for the longest time. She just
couldn't do it. She had no idea what to say to Ian. God, she missed him so
much. Not to mention, she did feel a smidgeon of jealousy about Deb and Jordan.
She stared at the phone a little longer and took a deep breath.

“Doing okay. Talk soon,”
texted
Sam and she
sighed with resignation. She then called Deb.

“Okay, Deb. Fess up.” Sam settled comfortably while she
listened to Deb's fantasy dream come true.

“Sam?” Ian rang the doorbell and looked around the house in
Maui. It appeared empty and when he put his ear to the door, he didn't hear
Cracker inside at all. He checked his phone and found Sam's text. He called
only to be forwarded to her voice mail. Frustrated, he left her another text.
“Sam,
please. Where are u?”

Thinking maybe she could be at his house, he jumped into the
car and drove like a maniac to his house only to find it deserted. Thoroughly
dejected, he sat at his bar and poured a hefty tumbler of whiskey. His phone
went off and he eagerly grabbed it.

“Jordan, what gives?” asked Ian.

“Sam didn't call you?”

“Nope, but I did get a text. She said she's okay, but she's
not answering.” Ian nursed his drink. “I really blew it with her, Jordan. Here
I promised you I wouldn't hurt, her but I did.”

“Personally, I think it's all a misunderstanding, Ian. Bunny
is Bunny. You have to let what she says go in one ear and out the other. Sam,
on the other hand, is pure gold. After the week she's had with Jennifer and
Drew, she left for a bit. She's here in Los Angeles hanging out at Jett's,”
explained Jordan. “I just got off the phone with her.”

“I feel terrible that I couldn't protect her. Who knew that
Drew would pull something like that?” Ian shook his head.

“Can you make it to Los Angeles? She's going to be here for
about a week.”

“Of course I can, but the question is, will she even talk to
me?” asked Ian feeling miserable.

“Yeah, I think she will.” Jordan smiled. “Catch you later.”

****

Sam sat at the keyboard in Jett's studio waiting for Jordan.
She looked up as she heard an unexpected noise.

Cracker started to howl and pawed at the door.

“What, boy? Do you have to go out?” asked Sam as she got up
from the piano.

“No, he knows I'm here,” said Ian as he stepped into the
room. He took one look at Sam's astonished expression, her black eye and
bruised face. “Honey, look at your face. I'm going to kill that son of a bitch.”

“Wait, wait, WAIT!” screamed Sam, not believing her eyes. Ian
had come home to her. He left his job because he had been worried about her.

“Sam,” began Ian. “I'm sorry about the way I've been acting.”
Ian didn't realize this would be so hard. He felt afraid to touch her, sensing
her reluctance. He had broken his trust with her and had to make it up.

“Go on.” Sam waited for Ian to finish.

“Here it goes.” Ian sighed heavily. “I felt really
comfortable with our relationship.”

“Until you met my parents,” finished Sam.

“It seemed like they were pushing me to ask you to marry me,”
said Ian frustrated, running his hands through his hair. “I don't know if I'm
ready for that. I know I've never felt this way about someone before, but I got
scared.”

“I know how you felt, Ian. I still do. I would never ask you
to do something you didn't want to do. Hell, I don't know what I want to do
when this gig is over,” explained Sam. “Do I go back to Los Angeles? Do I stay
here? How can I ask you to do something, when I don't know what I want?”

“Oh, honey.” Ian put his hands on Sam's shoulders. “When I
heard you were hurt and I hadn't been there to protect you. It made me realize
how much you mean to me, how much I love you. I don't need time away from you. I
know I want you and only you. I don't care where is it as long as it's with
you.”

“Really? You love me?” asked Sam, shaking her head to clear
out the fog.

“Yes, I do. Sam, come here.” Ian opened his arms and Sam
rushed in. How she had missed the perfect fit of their bodies, his scent. She
breathed deeply not wanting this moment to end.

“Hey,” said Jordan as he stepped into the room and stopped
short when he saw Sam and Ian in a tight embrace. “Sorry,” he mumbled and
closed the door.

“No,” said Sam through her tears. “It's fine. Ian and I were
just making up.”

“Whew. Don't like it when you two fight. I can't handle it.”
Jordan shook his head. “We ready to play some music?”

“Is that okay with you, Ian?” Sam looked at him longingly.

“Yeah, it's okay with me. You don't mind if I stay?” asked
Ian as Cracker sat down beside him.

“No, not at all,” said both Jordan and Sam at the same time.
Jordan went to the bar and poured a beer for both Ian and himself, while Sam
ran through some scales to loosen up. Ian settled down comfortably to listen to
the music.

Sam and Jordan worked nonstop, and Ian found himself
mesmerized about the process of making a recording. Some of the songs, he knew Sam
had written about him, which made him wince. He hadn't realized how badly he
had hurt her. By God, he would make it up to her. After about three hours,
Ian's cell phone went off and when he looked at the number he knew he had to
answer it. Neither Sam or Jordan were aware of his leaving.

“Rock, what's up?” asked Ian sensing bad news.

“Garcia's again. We're wanted back on Honolulu el pronto.”
Rock's voice sounded hard.

“Now what?” Ian looked over at the Stevens and groaned. “Man,
I just made up with Sam about Drew. I can't leave her now.”

“Yes, you can. Remember, you're under oath,” reminded Rock. “Where
are you?”

“I'm in Los Angeles. I'll see you in a few.” Ian ended the
call and shook his head in frustration. He walked back into the studio and got
Sam's attention.

“What's up, Ian?” asked Sam and saw the look on his face. “Business?”

“Yup. I have to go.” Ian walked up to Sam and gave her a big
hug and lingering kiss. “I'll let you know what's up.” He kissed her again. “Remember,
I love you, Sam.”

“Oh, Ian. I love you, too,” said Sam softly with tears in
her eyes as she watched him walk off.