New In The Territories (Book 1) COMPLETED

Chapter 40 Sam

Jumping up off the couch, tired of feeling locked up, I blurted, startling Mady, "Get up. Let's go get some pizza." For the past hour, we were on edge. Afraid to talk, I think for the most part. I knew what was happening, Everyone was going to start acting differently around me now. It wasn't much but a pizza run and seeing me act normal might help.

"You're hungry?" She asked. I wasn't sure if she was surprised about the pizza or me jumping off the couch.

Shrugging my shoulders, I told her the truth. "Not really. But I really need to do something, and sitting here is driving me crazy." The longer I sat around the more my brain insisted on working through what I saw today and what I did. A drive and a purpose might be temporary but it was something.

Mady said, "Sure. It might do us both some good." Getting up, grabbing her purse we walked outside.

Opening the car door the roar of engines in the distant turned Mady's focus to the back of the house. Leaving the door open, she quickly changed direction, walking to the side of the house. I knew it was Nate as soon as I seen Mady's face light up. I had to admit that look she had on her face made me little envious but mostly happy that Mady found her one and only true love. Slightly disappointed that our pizza run was going to be cancelled, I closed the car door and then Mady's.

"Where are you ladies heading off to?" The sound of Dmitri's voice wrapped around me like a favourite blanket, the unease, and feeling of being cooped-up, vanished and was replaced with tranquillity. Whipping around to the direction his voice came; meeting those magnificent blue eyes, made things seem a bit better. At least for the moment.

Mady muffled something as she hugged Nate. Words were then exchanged between Dmitri, Nate, and Mady but they were too low for me to make out. Not wanting to intrude I stayed by the car. After a brief conversation he started to head my way. I could feel his eyes on me but I did not have the strength or willpower to look him in the eye. Not after today.

Stopping two feet away, leaning against the car with his hip, giving me space, which I appreciated. "How are you doing?" he asked with some hesitation.

"I'm fine," I replied with my automatic response. I had eye contact for a few moments before lowering my eyes.

"Would you mind if I come with you to pick up the pizza instead of Mady?" he asked, voice still hesitant.

"Sure." Even to my own ears there was too much enthusiasm in my voice. Catching a glimpse of Mason rounding the corner with his hands in his pockets, shoulders slightly slouched. Definitely not the confident Mason I was beginning to know at all. Meeting my stare a diminutive smile lifted the corner of his lips. "Can you give me a minute?" Asking Dmitri, and then giving him a smile of thanks when he nods.

Walking up to Mason, I reached for his hand. "Will you talk to me for a minute?" I asked hesitantly.

"For you, anytime," he entwined our fingers together.

Pulling him back around the house before stopping, not wanting an audience. Taking his other hand as we stood face to face. "First, I want to thank you for today as well as apologize." He started to cut me off but I stopped him by laying two fingers gently over his mouth. "Please let me finish. I lost it pretty bad earlier, and if it wasn't for you...Anyways thank you," taking a deep breath before I continued, "Now about the kiss thing." Meeting his gaze again, "I really hope I didn't screw up our friendship with that. You mean a lot to me and I really don't want to wreck that."

Taking the fingers that still lay against his lips in his hand, kissing my knuckles he said, "Never. Like I said before, a different time I would have been all over that request like pigs in mud." His Casanova smile lit up his face. "I'm glad I was there for you. Don't get me wrong I wish it didn't happen but since it did I'm glad it was me there with you."