Chapter 3 Stay With Me

A few months pass and our friendship has grown.

She's goofy and always tries to spoil me any chance she can even though were just friends.

We spend every moment we can together and I don't think I've ever been happier with anyone else.

There were a couple more times when we messed around but both decided it would be best to stay platonic.

That decision was a bit hard for me, but I know its for the best. I really care for Sam and I don't want to risk losing her.

I release a deep breath as I lock the back door of the bar.

"Another busy night."

I round the corner to the back parking lot and notice someone leaned up against my car in the fetal position.

My first reaction is to reach for my pepper spray that Sam insists I carry everywhere, when I slowly start to recognize who it is.

"Sam?"

I rush over and crouch beside her, checking to make sure she isnt injured or anything.

She looks up at me, her eyes red and swollen, and gives me a soft, sad smile.

"Oh hey ash. Fancy meeting you here."

Her arms tighten around her knees as a cold breeze blows between us. Someone must have hurt her again.

She does get around sometimes, I won't deny that,But she does genuinely care about everyone she sleeps with.

She actually pours her heart into everyone she meets and if she likes you, she does her best to show you how much.

Her and this girl have been messing around for a couple of weeks and things seemed to be going well.

She took her out to dinner a couple of nights ago and it seemed like everything went fine.

Seeing the state she's in now though, I don't think things worked out.

I sigh and take off my jacket to wrap around her shivering shoulders.

"Sweetie why didn't you just come inside? It's freezing out here."

I stand her up and wrap her up a little more before she starts to protest.

"I'm fine ash, you need this more than me."

She tries to take it off but Im persistent. Its thirty five degrees out here and there's no telling how long she's been waiting.

"Sam your nose is red. You're going to be sick."

She shakes her head and we go back and forth for a moment as she continues to push against me.

"You're the one with the weak immune system."

I roll my eyes and try my best to reason with her but before I know it, she has me backed up against my car.

Her hands are on either side of my body and it doesn't feel as cold anymore.

I look up at her face and a her lips turn up into a faint smile.

"I'm okay ash. I didn't want to bother you at work, I just needed to be near you is all."

I blush a little at her words and gently stroke her cheek with my thumb.

"You're never a bother hon. I don't mind you coming to see me but what I do mind is you sitting out in the cold for god knows how long."

She rolls her eyes and turns her head away from me but I quickly reach up and pull her in a little more.

Our eyes meet as her hands rest on my hips and i begin to wonder why I let her walk away from me so many times before.

The chemistry between us is so strong, it drives me crazy.

"Now are you really okay?"

She looks down at my lips for a second and nods.

Her eyes have darkened and I can feel her hunger for me seeping out of every pore.

I shift back a bit to try and keep my composure, but its not any easy feat. The only reason she gets like this is when she's hurting.

She gets really touchy after a break up and I normally don't mind the extra attention,but this time seems different.

She's not as rushed and her eyes are filled with something more than just lust.

I clear my throat and place my hands on her chest to keep a little distance.

"Umm...How about we go to my place and talk?"

She nods and opens the door for me to get in before walking over to the passenger seat.

As Im driving home, I realize that I didn't see her bike in the parking lot, nor did she mention anything about it before we left.

"Hey how did you get to the bar?"

I ask as I pull into the driveway and kill the engine.

She shrugs.

"I walked."

Without another word, she gets out of the car and walks around the get my door for me.

I give her a small frown as I exit the vehicle, causing her to slump her shoulder at my disapproval. She follows me inside and after I close the front door behind us, she starts searching the fridge for some booze.

"Sam you can't just drink your problems away."

I say grabbing the beer bottle out of her hands before she can even take a sip.

She gives a dramatic groan before going over to the couch and plopping down on one end of it.

"You're no fun."

I sit beside her and I'm about to make fun of her for pouting when I see her eyes begin to well.

"Why do I care so much ash?"

She turns to face me as a tear streams down her face.

"Why do I give my all for people to just use me and toss me to the side? Am I not doing something right? Am-am I a bad person?"

I gently shush her as I pull her to my chest.

"Everyone I care about leaves me..."

Light sobs escape her lips as she wraps her arms around me and buries her face in my neck.

"Please promise to stay with me...I couldn't bear to lose you too.."

I gently caress her back as I lean into the corner of the couch.

I feel the same way. Even though we've only been in each others lives for a short time, i can't imagine going on without her.

"I'd never leave you sweetie. No matter how annoying you get,you're stuck with me."

She squeezes me a little tighter so I gently pinch her cheeks in order to make her smile.

"I promise love. You'll always have me, no matter what."

She nods her head and places a kiss on my shoulder as I play in her hair.

"Good. No boys allowed either."

I shake my head because even though I am bisexual, she knows I prefer women.

"Oh really? So girls are fair game?"

She shrugs and cuddles up to my stomach while I turn on the tv.

"Depends on if I approve."

I scoff and playfully smack her on the shoulder.

"Excuse you! Last time I checked, im a grown woman."

She laughs a little and I watch as her eyes start to get heavy.

She must be exhausted from everything that happened today.

I still have no idea how long she was waiting by my car, but I know there is a four hour gap between my last break and when I got off so if she was out there that whole time, I'll be surprised if she doesn't catch a cold.

"As long as you're happy, that's all I care about."

My heart warms at her words.

She is always like this.

Always making sure I'm happy even if she is suffering.

I softly kiss her cheek as she drifts off to sleep and pull a throw blanket over us to help warm her up some more.

I probably should've got her to go to the guest bedroom, but I kind of want to stay like this.

Just a little bit longer.