Chapter 3 Samantha and Mr. Shortstuff - Chapter 3

Stan danced near Sam for the next hour. When Sam went to the bar to get another drink he went with. They did a round of shots, and before long Sam found herself making out with Stan at a table in the back of the bar. She didn't usually get like this, but the alcohol seemed to have taken control of her normally good senses. June was instigating an after party.

June grabbed Stan's arm and said, "We are going back to Sammy's, are you coming with?" It was more of a demand than a request.

"Of course!" he said with a grin.

Sam tried, and failed to protest, 'But Stuart will be there, and I have to work in the morning."

June just smiled and said, "It will be ok. It is your apartment too." Sam sighed knowing there was no way June would let this go.

Before long Sam, June and Stan were in a car on their way back to Sam's apartment.

Stuart had just gotten home with his girlfriend, Paula, and another one of her friends. He eyed Sam when she entered with June and an unknown guy. He was a protective big brother after all. She sighed and provided an eyeroll and a look at June to signal this wasn't on her.

Paula's friend Judy was too drunk to drive, so Paula insisted that she stay with them. Stuart grabbed a beer for anyone who wanted one. Judy was soon passed out on the couch and Stuart and Paula excused themselves to their bedroom.

Sam was starting to sober up and kicking herself for having listened to June. Stan seemed like a nice enough guy, but what did he think was going to happen? June said, "I think I better head home." Sam tried to find a reason for her to stay but couldn't. Sam and Stan walked her to her car. "See you later Sammy," June said with a wink.

As she drove away Sam turned to him and said, "Did you need the number for the car service, or did you have someone to call to come get you?" To be honest, all she really wanted to do was go to sleep. It was already almost 3am, and she had to work at 9.

"What if I don't want to leave just yet?" Stan asked.

"Just so you know, you are not getting laid tonight. I am not that drunk and I'm not that kind of girl. If that is what you are after you better just start walking your ass home."

"And if I want to talk," he said with a questioning look.

"I guess you can stay. But know that my brother is bigger than you and is within earshot."

He held his hands like he was swearing on the bible. "On my best behavior."

Sam sighed and thought "What the hell does he want to stay and talk for?" She allowed Stan into her bedroom, so they wouldn't wake up Judy. It was a huge mess after allowing June to play dress-up with her that night. Sam apologized, "I'm sorry it's a mess but June insisted that I had to dress up. Apparently, I have no ability to say no to her."

Stan laughed, "Well, she did a good job, because you look beautiful tonight." That comment just made Sam's eyes roll. She knew a few guys that said she was cute. She always thought, 'Didn't they just have to say that because they were her brother's friends.' "So," he said with a grin, "Can we start that chat?" He sat down on the bed and looked at her saying, "I promise no funny business."

"Fine, but I'm going to change first." Sam said as she eyed her messy room looking for her sweats. She picked them up and started towards the bathroom. "I'll be just a minute." As she closed the door to her bathroom she sighed again. She quickly changed into the sweatpants she brought in and threw on a t-shirt. She washed the make-up off her face and brushed her teeth. Sam usually never wore a sweatshirt to bed, but decided the more clothes she had on the better.

As she walked out, she was surprised that Stan had crawled into her bed and had taken off his shirt. Furiously she stalked over to him. Noticing his jeans were also on the floor, she picked up his clothes and threw them at him. "Get dressed and get out! I do not talk to guys who are naked!"

He sat there with a shy grin on his face. "Well, I am not completely naked. And I just thought I'd get comfortable so it would be easier to fall asleep." He patted the bed and said "Come sit next to me. I promise all we'll do is talk."

She glared at him, then looked at the time. It was already a quarter after 3am. If she continued to try and kick him out, she would never get any sleep. "Fine. You have 30 minutes to talk, then I am going to sleep."

She crawled into the other side of the bed and laid on her back. He reached over her waist and pulled her closer. It was the first time she noticed he was strong for his size. She held out her hand to stop him. Stan pulled her in even closer and asked, "Is this the first time you've had a guy in your bed?"

"No," she replied fastly, "but that doesn't mean you can..."

Stan planted a kiss on her lips to silence her. He whispered in her ear, "Don't worry, I just want to cuddle. I promise I won't hurt you."

Sam felt a little uneasy at first. While she had slept next to her previous boyfriend before, they had never done anything. She met Bob at a house party the week of Halloween. She refused to sleep with him, until she was ready. Hence, it didn't take long for Bob to cheat on her with the first girl who caught his eye that next semester.

Stan kept his promise for the most part. He started asking her questions about her family, where she grew up, what she did, what she was going to school for. She didn't provide too much information at first. Yes, she had 2 brothers, Stuart and Henry. Her parents divorced a while back, and it was her mother who raised them. Yes, she worked at a store in the mall while going to the local college.

She had just turned 21 a few months prior but was not into the whole club scene. She always had the most fun with some of her brother's friends at the local sports bars.

He admitted he was 26, when Sam asked. He shared that he had an older sister, and that she passed away leaving his parents in charge of his 3-year-old nephew. He was working at a local factory and was active in the city's sports teams. The city had a team for almost everything, but he admitted with working full-time he only had time for rugby and baseball.

Sam started to doze off and Stan started to kiss her which woke her up. He then started to ask another question, but Sam was tired and getting grouchy. "I'm tired and it is already 5 in the morning. If you don't stop talking and let me get some sleep, you can just leave."

He quickly agreed to let her sleep and shifted down to lay on his back. He shifted a little to his side so he could look at her. "I really enjoyed talking to you." He pulled her close, and she could still smell a mix of alcohol and mint on his breath. He lightly kissed her forehead and said, "Good night."