Page 61 of Blind Date
“I’ll go grab us a bottle of water,” I said.
As I opened the refrigerator, I heard a key insert and the apartment door flung open.
“Mom, my phone died and I couldn’t—” Zoey stopped dead in her tracks and stared at me.
Barefoot. Shirtless. Holding a bottle of water in her kitchen. Silence filled the space momentarily.
“Well,” she said, dropping her bag by the door. “Looks like I interrupted whatever chapter of your romance novel you two were in.”
I went to open my mouth, and nothing would come out. I could close multi-million dollar deals, but couldn’t survive a surprise encounter with a sixteen-year-old.
Sam walked in, her white robe loosely tied and her hair messy from the sex we’d just had.
“Oh.” She froze when she saw Zoey.
“Oh, indeed.” Zoey folded her arms and cocked her head.
“I didn’t expect you back until later,” Sam said.
“Maya’s mom came down with a bad migraine, so we had to head back early. My phone died before we even got in the car, so I couldn’t text you.” Her eyes went back and forth between Sam and me.
“What?” Sam asked. “Why are you just staring at us like that?”
“Okay.” She nodded. “So, we’re officially at the ‘shirtless in our kitchen’ stage. Noted.”
“Zoey!” Sam exclaimed.
“Hey, I’m just trying to keep up with the relationship timeline. So, Wes. I have a question. Were you planning on telling me you were moving in, or was I supposed to figure it out from the lack of clothing?” she smirked.
“I hate to burst your bubble, kid, but I’m not moving in. We just?—”
“Had sex. You know, most people wait a few months before reaching the shirtless kitchen milestone.”
“Zoey, I swear to God,” Sam said as I stood there speechless.
“Just making a statement. Relax, Mom. Try to keep the noise down if you two decide to go at it again. I have homework to do for school tomorrow.” She grabbed her bag from the floor. “Oh, and Wes, make sure to put a shirt on before I come back out here.” She smiled and went to her room.
Sam looked at me. “I can’t believe that just happened. I’m sorry.”
“For what? I think it went pretty well.” A smirk crossed my lips.
“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
“Maybe a little.” I smiled. “I’m going to get dressed and head home.” I kissed her lips.
“You don’t have to leave just because Zoey came home.”
“I know. But I do have some work to catch up on. Besides, I’m sure she’ll want to tell you about her day.”
After I got dressed, I kissed her goodbye and went home. Pouring myself a drink, I sat in my office and stared out the window. I thought about how easily Samantha fit into my life, and I already knew how this would end. It wouldn’t end because Sam would hurt me. I didn’t think she’d have it in her. She wasn’t selfish or dishonest. She was kind, patient, and a good person. Those qualities made her dangerous. Because loving someone like her would destroy me.
I watched my parents leave one morning and never come home. I’d spent years watching my grandfather betray my grandmother. Forever wasn’t real. It was temporary. One phone call. One betrayal. One tragic accident from disappearing forever. Sam deserved more in life than a man who was waiting for the other shoe to drop. She deserved to be with someone who believed in forever as she did. She deserved a man who wouldn’t look at happiness and immediately start calculating how much it would hurt when it ended.
The more I thought about it, the more I knew I needed to quietly pull back before things went any further. She was slowly changing me, distracting me from the only life I’d ever known. I saw the way she looked at me, seeing me as something permanent in her and Zoey’s life. The thought made my heart ache. Because for the first time in my life, walking away was something I didn’t want. It was what I needed to do.
I took another sip of my scotch while I stared out the window. If I continued to see her, it would make mattersworse. It had to be done, and while I was willing to let her go for my own sake, it scared the hell out of me.
Samantha
