Theon
I walked into the ballet studio expecting to find the girls still rehearsing, but it seemed that class had ended early. Sam was standing alone, sideways to me, concentrating on an old song that was beginning to play.
She was dressed in an 80's gym outfit. A low-cut black swimsuit, pink gaiters, and her hair was tied up in a high ponytail. She looked beautiful and incredibly sexy dressed like that, even though her body was beginning to change due to the pregnancy.
In fact, I considered her more and more beautiful as the pregnancy progressed, and my affection for the mother of my son increased with every moment beside her, to the point of making me question if this was even a good and healthy thing, given our situation.
She spun around, turning to the mirror, starting a sort of run that she soon interrupted, startled to notice my presence, she turned toward me with wide eyes.
" Apollo, I didn't expect to see you here!”
" Don't stop, I want to see it," I ordered as I approached.
" You can't have a preview of the girls' presentation, wait until tomorrow," she denied, "I'll go change and we can go.”
We had agreed to paint the baby's room together after Sam left work, and I was there to pick her up.
" Come on Margarita, it's not like it's a state secret," I insisted with a smile on my face, feeling even more excited to see her.
" Margarita? Dangerous ground, Apollo," Sam crossed her arms, still smiling.
" You're right, today you don't go with Margarita.”
" No? " she continued to stare at me.
" No, maybe a bloody mary, but not a margarita," I smiled.
Samantha picked up an abandoned sneaker from the floor and threw it in my direction. I had no trouble dodging it, still laughing at her expression.
" I could kill you and blame it on my hormones! " she muttered grumpily, and I stepped closer, putting my arm around her shoulder.
" You wouldn't do that. And you might need an opinion, to know if the presentation is okay.”
" It's my performance, Apollo," she pulled away from me, hiding a smile, "I know it's perfect. You will watch it tomorrow with all the others.”
I gave up trying to convince her, content to wait until she changed to take her home. It took her a few minutes and then she came back to me, walking me to my car.
" I think it's going to rain," I commented, looking up at the dark sky.
" That's what it looks like. Is Harper going to meet us there? " Sam asked.
" Yes, she's working some things out with her nephew. She said she's bringing us dinner," I explained.
I had been trying to ease Harper into the situation since our last conversation on Friday, and everything seemed to be working out fine at this point. Both Sam and Harper seemed more at ease in each other's presence.
" Thank God I'm hungry," Sam laughed.
" When aren't you? " I teased.
" That's because I have a baby inside me, Apollo. You should know that, since you were largely responsible for putting it here," she returned.
A few minutes later her cell phone started ringing when I parked in front of her house, and she answered it as soon as she got out of the car, going to the porch, leaving me behind. I followed her closely, being greeted by the excited beagle as soon as I entered the house.
" I'll call you later," she answered the person on the other end of the line with a silly smile on her face, making me uncomfortable.
Who is she talking to to use that tone?
" We can hang out again when you get back, no problem," she assured me, "see you later Mike.”
That feeling only worsened when I found out who it was. I knew that the two of them had gone out on a date, I heard Harper commenting, but are they going out again?
Is this really necessary?
Sam ended the call, turning toward me with a natural expression before pointing to the paint cans in the corner of the room.
" You can take them up, the trays and rollers are already in the room," she explained.
I nodded in understanding, doing as she asked, but that feeling didn't leave me for a second.
What is this? I can't be jealous of her, right? What right do I have to be jealous, being in another relationship?
" I've already covered the floor here, we can start with this wall, what do you think? " Sam pointed, snapping me out of my reverie.
" Sure," I forced a smile, trying in vain to forget the subject.
She went to change while I prepared the paint to start painting, and when she returned, she was wearing an old Vegas Golden Knights field hockey jersey and black leggings. She picked up her brush and sat down on the floor, dipping it into the paint.
" I'll take care of the baseboards," she smiled, looking up.
I watched her sit there, looking satisfied, and once again, I found myself wondering what that feeling inside me meant.
" So, you and Laffay, is it serious? " I asked nonchalantly after a few minutes of silence, deciding to satisfy my curiosity on the subject.
" We're still getting to know each other, we've only been out a couple of times," she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before turning her attention back to her work, "but he's a great guy, we're getting along well.”
" Really? Have you told him about our situation? " I stopped painting, giving her my full attention.
" Yes, on the first date. That's something I've been thinking about lately. I can't be the old Samantha I used to be," she stared at me, "you know, the girl who met random guys in bars, and spent days having fun. That's over for me.”
I looked away when I heard that. A random guy in a bar, is that what I meant to her in the end?
" What do you mean?”
" If I'm going to go out with someone, it has to be something concrete," she also looked away, putting her hand on her stomach, "it's something I have to do, he has to be my priority now. But at the same time, I don't know if it's the right time.”
I absorbed her words. She is right, I have Harper and she should have the chance to meet someone, but... I didn't want this to happen.
Am I really jealous of her?
" So, what do you want? " I looked at her again.
" I don't know, sometimes I think about talking to him, putting all my cards on the table. But what if that scares him away? " She sighed, forcing a smile as she watched me, "Despite what he says, I'm not sure he wants to take on such a responsibility. I know that at the moment, I could walk around with "trouble" written on my forehead. You're lucky to have Harper.”
I sighed, sitting down beside her. I didn't like the idea of her going out with Mike, but she deserved to have someone who made her feel good. She was right, I am lucky to have Harper by my side.
" Sam, don't be silly. Any man would be lucky in the world to have a woman like you by his side," I assured her, "you are beautiful, successful, already an incredible mother.”
I brought my hand up to her belly. Yes, I faithfully believed every single one of those words. Sam was amazing, and this new realization tormented me every second.
" You know, I read that he can already hear our voice," she spoke again as I caressed her belly, "I've been talking to him a lot, if you want to try.”
" The baby? " I frowned.
It was strange the idea of talking to someone's belly, but if he could really hear.
" Yes, the baby," his smile became more spontaneous, "why don't you try it?”
" It's strange," I admitted.
" You don't have to if you don't want to," she put her hand on mine.
Her touch was gentle and it felt so right, for a moment I caught myself wondering what it would have been like if my relationship with Harper hadn't started, if it had just been the two of us there from the beginning. Would we have come to this?
" Hi... hmm baby... " I leaned over, getting a little closer to her belly, feeling guilty for the previous thought " I am your father.”
" Great start," she laughed, "we can call him Luke.”
That relaxed me, I smiled at the reference and felt a little more at ease with the situation.
" You can already see who the jokester in the family is," I looked in her direction. Yes, no matter what, Sam, he and I are going to be a family, you know, you're coming into a family unlike any other, but you can be sure that we'll do our best for you, and I interrupted myself when I felt a small movement just below my hand, my gaze immediately caught Sam's, and from the expression on her face, I wasn't the only one.
" Did you feel that? " she babbled.
" Was that him moving? " I tried to confirm, feeling my heart race.
" I don't know. It was the first time I ever felt anything like that," she blinked, her eyes starting to mist up, "keep talking.”
" Um, well... I hope you know my voice, I'll talk to you both ways," I began, speaking in Greek, "you were a surprise to me, but I'm starting to think you were the most amazing thing that ever happened.”
Again that little wave passed under my hand, and was followed by a little push, which I assumed was a kick. I looked back at Sam with a silly smile on my face, and saw tears streaming down her face.
" He's really doing this, I can't believe it," she smiled through her tears, "you need to talk to him more often.”
I straightened, bringing my hand up to her face, wiping her tears away before stepping closer. My first impulse was to kiss her, Sam closed her eyes as I approached, but came to my senses and diverted her lips at the last moment, reaching for her cheek.
The caress didn't last long, but it seemed like an eternity to me, and when I pulled away, she opened her eyes, holding my gaze.
" For the first time I'm sure I don't regret what happened," she declared, bringing her hand to mine, "I can't wait to meet him.”
I smiled in response, kissing her cheek again. I didn't know how to put into words everything I wanted to say, I also felt the same way as she did, but my biggest discovery was that if it was possible to go back in time and choose, I wouldn't choose anyone else to be the mother of my son.
I liked Sam, I liked her more than a simple friend, I could no longer deny that. But the big issue is that I also liked Harper, and it was that feeling that kept me from having anything to do with her.
I was not the kind of person who creates feelings for others easily, but Harper won me over first with her friendship and then with her companionship, while Samantha... She won me over somehow. She had a free spirit, she made me laugh and made me feel more and more alive, and whenever I allowed myself to know a little more of her character, I fell more in love with her.
But the old love for Harper was still there, that was the hardest thing.
A loud thunderclap interrupted that moment, bringing me back to reality. Yes, a feeling was starting to come between us, but I still loved Harper and I couldn't hurt her. I had to do my best in my relationship, and forget about that feeling once and for all. I looked out the bedroom window and noticed a heavy thunderstorm brewing outside, making me worry about my girlfriend.
" Would she drive here? " Sam asked, seeming to guess my thoughts.
" Patrick and Lilly would bring her, but the rain looks pretty heavy," I muttered, looking back to the window.
" You'd better call and see if she's okay," she commented, getting back to work.
" I'll do that," I assured her, walking away.
I left the room, walking down the hallway, while I dialed Harper's number. She answered on the second ring in a tired voice.
" Honey, I'm sorry," she began, "I was just leaving when it started to rain.”
" Are you okay? Are you still with Patrick? “
" Yes. I won't be able to bring dinner, I'm sorry," she sighed.
" Don't worry about dinner, I just want you to be safe," I assured her.
" Have you and Sam started yet? " she asked.
" Yes, I'll try to finish quickly and go home," I explained.
" Don't leave if the storm doesn't let up," she ordered, "it's not the perfect solution, but I'd rather you stay there safely than risk it on the way. A tree fell nearby!”
" Don't worry, I'll warn you," I assured her, "I hope you'll also follow that advice.”
" I love you " she then said goodbye with a bit of regret in her voice.
" Σε αγαπώ¹ " I answered before ending the call.