Theon
Harper and I were walking together through the streets of Aspen, it was Halloween week, and the town was filled with decorations, from the funniest to the ones that were really intended to be scary.
" Look at the pumpkin patch in front of the Dwayne house," Harper pointed ecstatically, wrapping her arm around me and drawing her body closer to mine.
The temperature had dropped a lot in the last two weeks, getting closer to zero degrees every day, and soon we would have snow in Aspen.
" Let's get you some hot chocolate," I suggested as I pulled away from her and put my arm around her.
Harper and I had managed to find a balance in our relationship; despite all the complexity surrounding my situation with Sam, we had overcome any problems that had arisen in the beginning.
" You're spoiling me, Theon," she smiled.
Yes, she was right, in the last few days I had been doing everything to please her, and I believe she deserved every single one of those treats.
We walked over to a stall in the square that sold some hot drinks, waiting for the other people in line to be served, while Harper thought about what to order. My gaze was drawn to a spot to our right where Sam was approaching, returning from another day of school. She was wrapped up in a thick winter coat and seemed to be suffering from the weather. Surely, after a few years of living in the Nevada desert, she was no longer accustomed to cold winter temperatures, let alone a harsh winter like those in Colorado.
I watched her for a moment. Sam was an amazing person, the ballet girls adored her, and she always showed care and concern for everyone around her, especially my grandmother, who always demanded her attention.
I had stepped away from her a bit in the last few days to devote more time to Harper, but I couldn't help admiring her for all her qualities.
" She looks cold," Harper commented, following my gaze.
" I guess that's natural, she's spent the last few years living in a desert," I added, nodding to Sam who had spotted us.
" Her belly is growing every day," she continued, "it's going by fast.”
" Yes, it is," I agreed, still watching Sam who was a few meters away from us.
She walked towards her address, looking distracted as she walked. Everything seemed natural, I returned my attention back to Harper, until a small commotion caused me to look once more in the direction of the mother of my son. A small puppy had gotten rid of its owner and was jumping on her legs, while she tried to get rid of all the attention and go on her way.
Where was the owner of that puppy? The poor animal could hurt her unintentionally, he shouldn't be walking alone like that.
I didn't think twice before leaving the line, where I had the impression that Harper had said something, and went over to her.
" Tell me, who leaves a cute little thing like you alone? " Sam questioned, bending down to play with the beagle puppy that was licking his hands effusively.
" Are you okay? " I approached.
Sam looked up at me, standing up with a smile on his face and holding the puppy in his arms.
" Hi Apollo, Harper," she greeted, making me aware of my girlfriend's presence next to me, "this little cutie here has got a crush on me.”
" Does he have an owner? " Harper stroked the beagle's head, much to the animal's happiness.
" I don't know.”
I frowned as I observed Sam's exposed hands. She must have been wearing gloves, the temperature today is quite low.
" Where are your gloves? " I interrupted her as she spoke to Harper.
" Excuse me?”
" Your hands, aren't you cold? " I indicated.
" Ohh, I didn't need gloves when I lived in Vegas," she clarified, "actually, I think I'm going to need to do some shopping for the winter.”
" I'll get you some," I murmured disgruntled.
She might very well get sick like that, I couldn't be that negligent.
" Theon, you don't have to worry," she alternated her gaze between Harper and me, looking nonplussed.
" It won't be any trouble at all, Theon can get gloves from the store," Harper assured her.
" Sure," she agreed.
" What are you going to do with him? " I indicated the puppy that was still on her lap.
" I don't know," she sighed, "I don't know if I should take him home.”
" You could take him to Mike's Clinic," Harper suggested, "he's the only vet in town, so if he belongs to anyone, he should know.”
I decided to carry the puppy to relieve her of the weight, as I walked her to the clinic alongside Harper, who seemed unwilling to get back in line for the hot chocolate stand. We didn't take long to reach Mike's veterinary clinic, he was about to close it and go home when I caught his attention.
" Good afternoon, Mike," I approached, being closely followed by Sam.
" Good afternoon, is there a problem? " he frowned, alternating his gaze between the three of us.
" Hi, this little guy found me on the street, he must be lost." Sam came forward, attracting the veterinarian's immediate attention, as she took the dog from my arms.
" Sorry, we haven't met. Mike Laffay " he broadened his smile.
" Sam Hurst " she returned the smile immediately.
He picked up the dog, watching him closely before smiling.
" It's a pleasure to meet you, Sam. And you are a mischievous little fellow, aren't you? " he stroked the beagle's head, and it barked in response.
" Do you know him? " Harper questioned the vet as he motioned for us to follow him.
We entered the clinic, following Mike's steps, who went straight to the kennel area of the clinic.
" This wise guy here ran away when Karen took the dogs for a walk earlier," he explained, "we looked everywhere and couldn't find him.”
" Well, he found Sam," Harper commented.
" He knows what he's doing then," Mike smiled before handing the Beagle to my son's mother to hold, while he opened one of the empty cages.
Harper and I exchanged a quick glance at this comment, but before I could say anything, he spoke up again.
" And you, Sam, are you new in town?”
" Yes, I arrived a few weeks ago," she offered him a restrained smile as she played with the dog, although she could not take her eyes off the vet.
What's going on here?
" Did you come with your husband? " he questioned, ignoring Harper and me.
" Ohh, she's not married, and she's not in a relationship, right, Sam? " Harper cut in, causing me to give her a surprised look.
What does Sam's love life matter to him? She already returned the dog, so we can leave!
" Really? How is that possible? " he asked with feigned surprise.
" It's a long story," Sam tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, staring at the man.
" Sam is a ballet teacher. Isn't that incredible? " Harper prodded the man again, much to my displeasure.
" If I had such a pretty teacher in my day, I would have taken ballet classes," he winked at Sam, causing her to giggle.
They're flirting! Why is Harper helping?
" If that had happened, we wouldn't have such a helpful veterinarian now," Sam retorted, making me uneasy.
This is not supposed to be happening, she is pregnant! What does he think he is doing with the mother of my child?
" Shouldn't you put the dog there? The owner must be worried " I decided to remind them of my presence, which seems to have worked.
" This little guy was abandoned here a few days ago," the vet explained, taking the dog from Sam's arms, "he stays here until we can find a home for him.”
The puppy soon started whimpering, rejecting the idea of going back inside that cage.
" Poor baby," Harper sighed, "can we keep him, Theon?”
" I don't know, he would be alone in my house for so long," I watched him, though I was tempted to accept.
It wouldn't hurt to have a four-legged companion, after all.
" If you don't keep him, I will," Sam assured him, picking him up again from the vet's lap.
" It would be great for you, Sam," Harper assured her, "you seem to be alone so much of the time, and that's when Delphine doesn't show up.”
" This is unforgivable," Mike resumed, taking on that annoying flirtatious tone, "you should keep him, I assure you I will provide any assistance you need.”
The two of them engaged in a private conversation, while I discreetly walked away with Harper.
" Someone is interested," she murmured with a satisfied smile on her face.
" What are you doing? " I lowered my tone.
" What's the problem? " she frowned.
Why was it bothering me so much? Sam is pretty, of course she will attract male attention, but...
" Harper, this is none of our business.”
" Exactly, it's none of our business, so why are you giving a damn about it? " She crossed her arms, raising both eyebrows.
Damn, that didn't come out very well. If I keep this up, I might imply that I'm jealous of Sam, which I'm not!
" I don't mind, but she is pregnant," I tried to fix it.
" And what's the problem? She's not dead! " Harper whispered angrily.
" I just don't think we should be meddling," I tried to deflect, "if she wants to find someone else, she can do it without my help!”
" You're not helping, I am!”
" This is ridiculous," I muttered.
" Your attitude? I agree," she rolled her eyes, before walking away to join the two of them, who were still engaged in their own conversation, not even noticing the almost fight that had occurred between Harper and me.
Although it bothered me, I decided to forget about it. I couldn't get involved in Samantha's life like that, and deep down, I doubt that Mike would want to get involved with her, especially when he finds out about our situation. Yes, I was worrying for nothing.