Theon
" You're squeezing my belly," Sam gasped as she parted her lips a little, causing me to come to my senses.
" I'm sorry," I ordered before releasing her.
She walked away to where she had left her shoes, putting them on while avoiding any kind of eye contact with me.
And as for me, what was I thinking? This kind of thing can't happen, we don't have the right to act this way anymore. Soon we will have a child in the middle of all this and we can't spoil things.
Despite my clear attraction to Samantha, I had no feelings for her, and going down that road would be a mistake.
" I think we'd better go," she asked, "I'm hungry and I wanted to buy some things at the market before going home.”
" Of course, yes," I agreed, feeling a little dazed, "come on, I'll show you where the nearest market is.”
We both walked in an uncomfortable silence, so different from how we were before. It was more than obvious that we needed to talk about this, but I couldn't think of any sensible way to start the conversation.
" Theon, about what happened…”
" I'm sorry, that was... " I began.
" I know, it was completely inappropriate, I'm so sorry," she groaned in disgust.
Inappropriate, yes, I think that's a good definition!
" I said I didn't want to intrude on your relationship, and I meant it," she continued her explanation.
" It was the heat of the moment, that's all," I reassured her, feeling a little better too.
Yes, we let ourselves get involved in that moment. It didn't mean anything special.
" Yes, that was it," she smiled relieved, "It won't happen again.”
" Come on, I'll show you where the market is.”
We both walked in silence, but at least the atmosphere between us seemed a little milder.
" When do you start work? " I asked.
" Ms. Ronald asked me to come back tomorrow to get the class roster and organize myself better until Monday, I'll only work part time," she explained.
" If you need anything, you can call me," I assured her as I crossed the street to the market.
I helped Samantha to get everything she needed, and as we were passing the self checkout a familiar face approached.
" Hi Theon," Harper tucked a strand of hair behind his ear, looking a little dull as she watched us.
Damn, what I didn't need was to introduce Samantha like this, especially after what had happened between us.
“ Hi Samantha” she greeted her, to my surprise.
Does she know who Samantha is?
“Hi Harper” Samantha blushed, looking away.
They know each other!
“ Theon, I wanted to talk to you," Harper continued as I felt a little lost.
“ Sure, I just…”
“ Don't worry about me, I know how to get home," Sam assured, picking up the bags.
" What? Over my dead body!”
" You're not supposed to carry the weight, Samantha," Harper interrupted me, "Theon can do this for you.”
" Of course I can," I promptly snatched the bags from her hands, "Harper and I can talk later.”
" Yes, I'll wait for you at the restaurant," she suggested.
" I'll meet you there in half an hour," I assured her before saying goodbye.
She invited me in for a chat and was kind to Samantha. That sounds like a good sign, right?
We walked side by side, while once again during that day, my mind was divided between these two women.
" You know Harper," I commented as we walked a little away from the market.
" Yes, I met her this morning," she sighed, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but your sister introduced me to her and I didn't know what to do.”
" Callie did what? " I took a deep breath " How did this happen?”
" I was at the cafe, and well, basically she came over to Harper's side, greeted me, and introduced her friend," Samantha sighed, looking uncomfortable with the subject, "and then she left us alone so we could talk.”
That was the complete opposite of what we had agreed, what was Callie thinking? Exposing Samantha to something like this without any warning, especially after everything that happened yesterday? I think I need to have another talk with my sister!
" Samantha, I am so sorry about the whole situation," I took a deep breath as I reached the door of her house, "I didn't mean for it to happen this way.”
" Really, it's fine," she looked away, "I hope you guys hit it off.”
" Thank you. And I'm sorry about my sister's behavior, I'll take care of it, okay?”
Samantha just smiled, taking the bags from my hand, unlocking the front door.
" Your girlfriend is waiting for you, Theon, go sort things out," she advised, entering the house.
Soon after, I went to my mother's restaurant, where Harper assured me that she would wait for me. I found her sitting on a stool in front of the restaurant, absentmindedly fiddling with her cell phone.
I sat down beside her, making her aware of my presence.
" Theon, you came quickly," she smiled.
" I told you I would.”
I watched her for a moment and she looked lost, unsure of what to do next.
" I missed you," I admitted.
" I missed you too," she looked away, "I met Samantha this morning, your sister introduced us.”
" She told me about it while I was walking her home.”
" She seems like a good girl" she insisted, postponing as much as possible the topic we needed to discuss " her belly is already showing.”
" Yes, She’s three months pregnant" I sighed, "Harper, what is all this?”
" I'm sorry I've been gone all this time, I needed some time to assimilate everything " she came closer, looking away " I wanted to tell you that I would always be by your side, and that you would have my support, but I was afraid.”
" Afraid of what? " I brought my hand to her face, stroking it until she looked into my eyes again.
A single look was enough to make me forget all the frustration I had felt in the last few days.
" Afraid of losing you, I was afraid of the kind of woman Samantha could be, and... " she took a deep breath before continuing, "Theon, you know that my feelings for you aren’t new, but I couldn't bear to stay with you if she decided to make our situation more difficult. I mean, you will have a child, she will always be in your life. I don't know if you can understand me.”
I didn't need to hear anything else after that whole speech. Harper's fear was understandable, and she decided to stand by me after all.
I leaned in, bringing our lips together. Harper, unlike Samantha, kept that kiss sober, contained, but all the feelings we felt were there.
That didn't exist with the mother of my son. Physical attraction, that was all I felt for her, and it would be better if we kept it that way.