A/N: The Next Three Days is loosely based on the movie and also on The Lincoln Lawyer movie. But with a JaSam twist. I won't give away too much information, you just have to sit back, read, and tune in to find out what lies ahead for these two characters.
THE NEXT THREE DAYS
Prologue:
Sam had finally gotten her daughter to go to sleep, when she heard the front door open, and footsteps echo in the living room. She placed a gentle kiss on her daughter's head, quietly tip-toed out of the room and closed the door behind her. When she rounded the corner she bumped into the person that she had been eagerly waiting for, in the hall way.
"Yes, your home, Lila is finally asleep, even though we had a little argument about her staying up and waiting for you, so she could say goodnight." Sam leaned up to give him a peck, but Jason misinterpreted and kissed her forehead. He had been doing that a lot lately. She followed him into their bedroom and watched as he placed his folders on the desk, and briefcase on the chair.
"My two girls fighting over me again?" She gave a half smile in response, in attempt to hide her disappointment as she watched him slip off his jacket and loosen his tie. She tried to remind herself that all that mattered was that he was home, where he was supposed to be.
"Cocky much?" Sam asked as she playfully slapped his arm, before caressing it gently. She couldn't help but miss the feeling of those arms wrapped around her. "Speaking of cocky." She wagged her eyebrows at him before biting her bottom lip flirtatiously. Sam ran her hand down his chest, through the defined hills of his taught abdomen and finally stopped her destination at his buckle.
"As much as I would love to, I can't Sam." Jason said with an apologetic smile as he removed her hands from his buckle. Sam felt a pang of pain puncture her heart. She quickly ignored it and tried to recover.
"Oh, role-playing are we? Cause' usually that's my line." Sam said jokingly. Jason didn't respond for awhile, his eyes were focused on the phone in his hand.
"No, I have to get up really early for work tomorrow."He said distractedly while pressing buttons on the keyboard of his phone. "And I'll need all the sleep I can get." Jason looked up at her finally.
"Yea okay." Sam sighed as she rolled her eyes and climbed into the bed. She turned away from him, and stared at the clock in front of her. She heard him let out an exasperated sigh, and then the sound of his pants along with his belt dropping to the floor. It didn't take long for him to climb on to the bed next to her.
"Sam…if it wasn't important I would be on top of you right now in a second you know I would." Jason whispered into her ear as he pulled her close. A flutter erupted in her heart at the idea, of having him that close, and sharing that intimacy again.
"It never used to be so important before." She mumbled under her breath as she peaked over her shoulder.
"Sam." She knew that voice, he was feeling guilty, and the more he spoke in that voice the harder it would be for her to keep her hands off of him. Sam turned over to look at him.
"No…it's fine, it's just you've been so busy these last few months….and we haven't…been intimate for awhile I just wonder.." Her eyes looked away from his, too afraid to see what possible truths could be reflecting in them.
"Sam…I would never— She quickly cut him off before he could finish. She knew he wouldn't betray her in such a way, but doubt had laid its seeds and she couldn't help but question something that she use to not worry about.
"I know you wouldn't….it's just me Jason." She caressed his cheek, before running her hand through his hair.
"You know I love you right." Yes I would like to still believe that you do. Sam thought to herself. Before nodding her head in response. "And there is no other woman out there...for me, you're the only one I love…well you and Lila, of course." A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
"I know Jason." Sam began tracing her thumb over his bottom lip, it felt just as soft on her hand as it did in her mouth. Her mind was off in another world called ecstasy when she heard Jason's voice interrupt her 30 second fantasy.
"What do you have planned this Saturday? Jason asked as he removed her hand from his mouth and placed a gentle kiss on her palm, before entwining it with his.
"Well my mom is supposed to spend the day with Lila and I at the park. Ever since Kristina got that job at the camp mom has been a bit lonely." Sam said distractedly as she thought of the 5 times Alexis had called her and then the unexpected visits.
"How about, we go on a date this Saturday drop Lila off at Alexis's house, and we have dinner at that favorite restaurant that you like, take a walk on the beach, watch the sunset." Like we did when we were in college. Sam couldn't help but smile at the memoires of their younger years. "It will be just like old times." Jason said as he gazed into her eyes, and ran his hand through her hair. She missed this, nights lying awake, they would speak for hours. But ever since he got promoted their lives changed drastically. To hold a conversation longer than 20 minutes that didn't revolve around Jason's work, felt like heaven. "So is it a date?"
"Yes, it's a date." Jason placed a quick peck to seal the deal. She whimpered when his lips left hers. But she figured they will have a lot more time to reconnect on Saturday. More like she hoped.
"Miss, are you ready to order?" Sam looked up at the waiter beside her. It had been 15 minutes since he had asked her that question, and ten minutes before that since he sat her down. Which meant, that Jason could still make it. He wasn't known for being on time, he was known for being fashionably late. If dinner started at 7:00 pm he would most likely be here at 7:40 pm. Sam glanced down at her phone, he still had time to make it. "Miss?" The man asked impatiently, might as well get an appetizer to shut this man up.
"Yes, um…can I have the garden salad with some more of these, bread sticks. "
"Will that be all?" The waiter asked as he took the menu from her hands
"Yes…thank you." Sam said overly enthusiastic with a fake wide smile to match. It took 20 minutes for her appetizer to show up. She didn't plan on eating the salad, but out of boredom she began picking at it. She scanned the room, hoping that maybe he would surprise her, and that he would just show up. But she knew her husband; he followed rules, schedules, and even her grocery list down to the 'T'. Plus he wasn't one to be all that spontaneous. After eating all of her salad she realized she was hungry. Most likely he would show up, after I finished dinner. Maybe I could convince him for some take home desert. Apart of her wanted to hold on to the belief that he would even show up, she wasn't ready to face the reality of her situation. She was sitting alone at a restaurant all dressed up, for a date that she knew wouldn't happen. Sam felt her phone vibrate in her hand. A gleam of hope filled her chest, and made her heart beat double time. She quickly answered it.
"Hello?"
"Mommie?" The sound of her daughter's voice somehow had calmed her and distracted her in a way.
"Hey sweetie…what are you doing up so late?" Sam smiled as she thought of her little girl giving her mother a hard time, like she has done to her on several occasions.
"Well Nana said if I be good I can call and say goodnight to you and daddy." She had almost forgotten about how her date had gone sour, actually it hadn't 'gone' at all. "You're coming to get me tomorrow?"The sound of Lila's voice filled Sam's ears and brought her back to the conversation.
"Yes, I will little girl, I will be there at 1:00 pm."
"Can you come and get me at 4, Nana is gonna take me to see The Smurfs, and then were gonna have ice cream."
"Well alright, get an extra scoop for me okay?"
"Okay…I love you mommie, goodnight."
"Goodnight my love." She was just about to hang up when she heard her daughter speak again.
"Can I say goodnight to daddy?"
"Daddy's….working late honey, but I will tell him for you." After Sam got off the phone with her daughter, she called the waiter over and ordered some food to pass the time. When the food arrived, she dug right in. But as good as it taste, she couldn't enjoy it. The pain in her chest, and the mixture of emotions swirling in her stomach caused her to lose her appetite. Sam didn't bother waiting another second. She paid the bill, and went home alone, again.
She hadn't gotten much sleep, when he finally arrived home. Sam's eyes immediate glanced over at the clock, 1:45 am. Her mind began to race with endless possibilities, excuses, and even plausible reasons why he hadn't shown up, and why he was coming in so late. She heard the sound of his zipper, and buckle as it hit the floor. There was some shuffling, and then she heard the shower running. It wasn't a long one. Jason climbed in the bed next to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. As much as she was furious at him, her body ached for his warmth, and some form of intimacy that it had been neglected of for the past few months.
"I'm sorry, business…came up." Sam didn't bother responding, the anger that she had felt earlier was rising, and that apology only fueled it even more. "I'll make it up to you somehow." Again Sam lied there silently, her eyes watching the clock in front of her. She knew if she opened her mouth, hurtful words that she couldn't take back, would come out. "I promise." She rolled her eyes, he always made promises he couldn't keep. She could feel the tears of disappointment prickling at the back of her eyes. "I love you, Sam…" He must have forgotten what that word meant, when he started working at ELQ, Sam thought to herself. When she didn't respond he gave a loud sigh of defeat, and then the warmth that she had felt surrounding her body, vanished. The tears that had been welling up in her eyes, broke free and glided down the slopes of her cheeks and chin. What happened to the man I fell in love with?
That question still plagued her mind as she sat impatiently waiting for the jury to read their verdict. Apart of her already knew the answer, but Sam always the optimist held onto the sliver of hope that she had left.
"In the matter of the people of the state of New York…" Sam saw the man's mouth moving but only wanted to hear those two little words. "We find the defendant, Jason Quartermaine guilty of the crime and murder of the first degree." She couldn't hear the rest, of what the man said because the sound of Monica's sobs echoed in her ear. Her heart began to pound painfully in her chest, as what was said finally sunk in. Sam's eyes immediately made contact with Jason's. I will find out who did this Jason, I promise, though he couldn't read her mind, she felt that he understood, by the way that he nodded and gave her a sad smile. She watched silently as the guard cuffed his hands and walked beside him out of the court room.
Three Weeks Prior
Chapter 1: Friday
Jason took a deep breath and let it out slowly as he looked over his presentation speech. He read over the most import lines before closing his eyes in an attempt to cool his nerves. It didn't help one bit, he didn't know why he was so nervous. The research came back with off the charts results, and the experiment answered more questions and would lessen people doubts about medication. Jason glanced down at his watch briefly. He had 10 minutes until the presentation, enough time to relax. He walked over to his black leather chair and sat down leaning back as far as it would allow and closed his eyes. The peace was short lived when he heard the clicking sound of his secretary's heels.
"Mr. Quartermaine, Sam is on line one, and I brought you your water."
"Thank you Margret." His secretary placed the glass on his desk before exiting his office. Jason sighed before sitting up and pressing the button to connect him to Sam.
"Yes, I will be there to see Lila's recital." He answered before she could lecture him.
"I know you will, but I'm more worried about you not being on time. This is really important to Lila."
"Sam this is her fifth recital, what makes it so different from the last four?" Jason asked as he took a long sip from his cup of water.
"She's the Swan in this one, and it's her last recital before soccer starts up. Plus she's the main dancer, well not the main dancer but you get my point."
"No…not really, and I will be there on time, alright."
"Fine…" There was a long pause before he heard her voice enter his ear again. "What's with your voice, you sound more tense than usual."
"Uh…nothing…just this deal I have to close today…it's been putting a lot of stress on me that's all." Jason said as he ran his hand over his forehead and down his face.
"Well maybe this deal will make you slow down, and not over work yourself." He allowed silence to be his reply. "Who am I kidding I've been lecturing you about that for the past 10 years I hardly doubt you'll take that advice now." Jason let out a sarcastic snort in response. "Look I'm sure you'll close it, you're a perfectionist and a hard worker, there is no flaw in any of your work, which is why your client can't say no." A small smile began to form on his face at her way of encouraging him. She always did know what to say to calm him down.
"Thank you." Jason said sincerely before adding. "And I promise to get to the recital on time."
"You're welcome, and I will hold you to it." He hung up the phone as soon as he heard the dial tone.
"You ready?" Jason looked up from his phone and nodded his head before getting up from his seat.
"Ready then I'll ever be." He patted Edward on the back for good measure and walked in front of him towards the board room.
Jason took a good look at the men surrounding the long oval table. He had been working on this proposal for over two months the research had taken up to three years. If they didn't close this deal, he could kiss his career good-bye. Well metaphorically speaking anyway, his grandfather wouldn't fire him for dropping the ball on this deal. But he sure as hell wouldn't let him live it down and neither would the rest of his family. He took a deep breath and glanced at his secretary Margret, signaling her to shut the lights off. Immediately darkness consumed the room for a minor second before the large screen behind him provided them with light bright enough to see the other's faces.
"Good morning gentlemen, many of you may question, how do we know if this pill will actually work, and why should you entrust us with your money?" Jason said making eye contact with vice president of Cohen Brother's Pharmaceuticals. "For starters 95% of the patients who have used Ancalin(Ankl-in) have had remarkable results they have healed faster than any other medication created. Even the FDA strongly agrees that this pill will change medical history." Jason pressed a button on the remote control in his hand, and instantly the screen displayed a slide of graphs from the research on the Ancalin experiment. He watched the expressions on his clients face briefly before turning his attention back to the screen.
"Also it comes with fewer side effects than most and those side effects aren't deadly like other medications are. As for entrusting us with your money for this project, I can guarantee from our previous business partners that have worked with our company that your money is in safe and trustworthy hands. And if that does not clear your doubts I will personally pay you the money you loose on this product. That's how confident I am, I'm betting to pay back money that I don't even have." The men laughed in unison.
"You said 95% of the patients had remarkable results what about the other 5% that didn't?"
"Those 5% all ready had terminally ill disorders, which is why Ancalin could not heal them in time. However Ancalin did prolong their life expectancy, gave the family extra time to let go." Jason signaled to his secretary to turn on the lights. As she did, he pressed a button on his remote control, causing the graphs to disappear and the screen to ascend. "I believe Ancalin, can make a difference in the medical field and more generations to come. If you take this deal you will be saving lives and changing the medical industry as we know it." The next few hours that passed went very quickly, before he knew it the meeting was coming to an end.
"Well Mr. Quartermaine you've presented us with a convincing proposal and a feasible offer, we will run it by Mr. Cohen and we'll get in contact with you when we receive our answer."
"And we will be here, waiting for that call." Edward said with a smirk as he shook the vice president's hand. Jason shook each of the other associates hands and bid them farewells before leaving the board room to head back to his office. Just as he sat down in his leather chair, his grandfather entered the room with a wide smile spread across his wrinkly aged face.
"Excellent job Jase…you nailed it, there is no way Cohen Pharmaceuticals, can say no to us. You answered all of the possible questions they would have and then some. I knew I could count on you to seal the deal. Unlike that no good brother of yours… speaking of AJ, have you spoken to him?"
"No I haven't spoken to my brother since he landed in Europe. And as for Cohen Pharmaceuticals, the deal is not yet sealed grandfather."
"Believe me, son that presentation you just did, scored us big. You should be proud of yourself, I say we celebrate." Edward was enthusiastically, as he placed his hands on Jason's desk and leaned inward.
"Maybe later, Lila has a ballet recital…." Jason glanced down at his watch before adding. "That I am ten minutes late to." He grumbled as he shoved papers into folders quickly. "Sam is going to kill me." Jason mumbled distractedly while he saved the open files on his computer and placed folders into his brief case, completely forgetting Edward's presence.
"I'll see you Sunday for dinner, I presume?" Edward stated more than asked. Jason nodded his head slowly as he mentally checked off his list of things he had to do before he left.
"Yes, grandfather." He said before walking pass the old man and jogging to the elevator. Jason glanced down at his watch again. Sam was definitely going to give him another good lecture about time management. It took him 20 minutes to drive from his job to the Dance Studio. He pulled into Wanda's Dance Studio's parking lot, quickly climbed of the car and ran to back doors of the building. He didn't have to search very hard, through the dark room, Sam always sat in the front, on the left, 2nd row, 5th seat. He said his "excuse me's" and apologies as he shuffled through the small space between the isles. When he finally made it across, his ex didn't give him time to speak.
"You're late." Sam said as she handed Jason the video camera.
"I know." He said, taking a seat beside her before removing the camera from her hands. "What did I miss?"
"Well, thankfully not our daughter." Sam said mockingly with a smirk. "She's up next after Ashley, Josslyn, and Emma."
"And who are they." Sam eyed him firmly before turning her attention back to the stage, choosing to ignore his comment by changing the subject.
"How did the meeting go?" Jason looked at her surprised she even remembered their conversation from this morning.
"It went well grandfather thinks we may have closed the deal."
"But you don't?" Sam continued to keep her eyes focused on the stage before her.
"I do, I just don't want to get my hopes up for nothing."
"If Edward thinks it went well, then there is nothing to worry about, and I'm sure you were…very convincing." Sam looked over at Jason for a second before staring back up at the stage. "Jason…there she is hurry get the video camera ready." Sam tapped Jason's arm and pointed with excitement at their daughter in the baby blue leotard and shimmering white tutu with her hair up in a fancy bun holding a silver wand. He quickly turned his attention back to the camera in his hands. If he missed another recording of Lila's after school and summer activities, Sam was going to do more than just kill him.
"Sam how do you… where is the button to turn it on?" Jason asked confused.
"Really Jason… it's right there." Sam said distractedly, her eyes squinting into the lens of her digital Nokia camera, as she began snapping away. Jason examined the video camera, turning it over numerously in his hands. His eyes could not for the life of him find the power button.
"Right where, this is a new camera, and I can't see the damn power button anywhere, it's too dark in here." Jason groaned in frustration
"Hurry we're missing her." Sam whispered angrily.
"SHHHHHH."The audience around them hissed in unison. Sam glared at Jason before quickly covering her face with her hands in embarrassment.
"Sorry…sorry." Jason whispered his apologies before turning his attention back to the camera.
"Give me the camera." Sam grumbled through clenched teeth before snatching the device from Jason's hands. She quickly pressed the power button and began recording the rest of Lila's dance recital.
A half an hour later the recital was over, the once quiet dark room, was bright and booming with conversations. Jason held onto Sam's hand as they weaved in and out of the crowd of parents, grandparents, siblings, Wanda's Staff and children in the recital. Sam quickly dropped his hand when she spotted their daughter. He watched as she ran towards Lila, drew her into a tight embrace before slowly pulling away.
"Did you see me mom, did you see me?" Lila burst out, excitement evident in her voice.
"Yes I did see you." Sam said with a chuckle before continuing. "And you were amazing, I am so proud of you." She said with a wide smile as she tickled the little girl who in returned answered with giggles. Jason knelt beside her to join in with his family.
"Your mom is right you were great, the best I've ever seen." Jason caressed his daughter cheek before giving it a playful pinch. "Did you have fun?" Lila gushed and nodded in return. "You did…you know what was the best part?" Lila shook her head. "You looked like the princess that I secretly know you are." Jason said with a wink. The moment was short lived when his phone vibrated in his pants. Sam looked over at him and gave a disapproving glare before turning her attention back to their daughter.
"Come on Lila let's go get your things." Sam stood up, and held her hand out for Lila to grab. Jason waited until they were out of earshot to answer the phone.
"Jason Quartermaine speaking, how may I help you?" Jason waited patiently for the caller to respond.
"Mr. Quartermaine, we've located him, he's back at the office…is there anything else you need?" Jason tried to think of what else needed to be done, but before he could his eyes caught Sam and Lila heading in his direction.
"No…just stay with him, I'll call you when I'm on my way to his location." Jason said closing the phone shut just as Sam and Lila returned. His eyes met Sam's, before she could question him, he answered for her.
"Business." She rolled her eyes in response before walking past him, with Lila beside her.
"Isn't it always?" Jason gave a heavy sigh before following her towards the exit.
"What time are you dropping her off on Sunday?" Sam asked as she watched Jason buckle Lila in her seat.
"Is 7:30 okay with you, my grandparents have been asking about Lila." Jason moved aside to allow Sam to pass through the tiny space between the two cars.
"Of course it's okay, and 7:30 is fine. Just make sure she does her homework before you bring her home, so that can be one less thing I'll have to worry about. And absolutely no candy before bed time or nap time, so we do not have a repeat of last weekend." Sam crouched down next to the open car door and stared at her little girl, a warm smile present on her lips. "Behave and listen to daddy okay, I love you." She said as she pulled her daughter into a bear hug.
"I love you too mom." Sam placed a kiss on her daughter's forehead before standing up to look at Jason.
"I'll see you Sunday get home safe… no speeding." She said before handing Jason Lila's Tinkerbell overnight backpack.
"I won't, and you too." Jason said as he climbed into his Black Infiniti SUV and closed the door behind him.
"This is the bar you wanted to take me to?" Sam asked her friend while she quickly climbed out of the passenger seat and followed closely behind the woman. Confusion settled on her features, as she eyed the tall white building with the glowing heading that read 'Velvet'. She could hear the music booming from inside, and the chitter-chatter of the crowd who were on the line. Sam watched as her friend Maxie, walked pass the people on the line, ignoring the cat calls from the men and glares from the females, she swiftly made her way to bouncer. Her friend gave a bright smile towards the larger bouncer decked in black.
"Ladies." The bouncer said simply while he nodded his head slowly before removing the rope and letting them pass.
"She's with me Ted." Maxie said as she grabbed Sam's hand and they walked together inside. Sam could hear the groans of the club goers who were still having trouble getting in.
"How did you..." Sam didn't get a chance to finish.
"I have my ways." Maxie replied with a smirk as she looped her arm with Sam and guided her through the crowd and towards the bar.
Ever since Sam had accidentally come across Maxie and Dr. Steven Webber in the utility closet doing more than looking for utilities. Let's just say their friendship didn't immediately bloom from that incident. But when Epiphany heard about that rumor, Sam was quick to defend and lie for the young girl. She wasn't sure why, maybe because she wanted to wipe that smug look off of the dark woman's face. Either way Maxie had wormed her way into Sam's life, and had been by her side ever since. But because General Hospital were letting a few nurses go, Sam and Maxie had been picking up more shifts than they could handle. Which meant they only had the weekend to relax. So every Friday, they vowed to have their ladies night, to catch up, and gossip.
"Yes ladies night finally." Maxie said as she climbed onto the barstool. Sam let out a laugh before taking a seat next to her.
"What do you mean finally?" Sam playfully slapped Maxie on the arm before adding. "We had one last week."
"What can I get you miss?" The bartender asked as he wiped down the counter of left over peanut shells and spilled beer.
"An apple martini, please." The man nodded and turned his attention to Maxie.
"And you?"
"A gin and tonic." Maxie said as she batted her eyes flirtatiously. The man smiled in return before walking away. "Looks like I have something planned for after hours..." Sam rolled her eyes, picked up the club's menu and began busying herself by twirling it in her hands, in an attempt to ignore her best friend's ogling.
"Maxie… please don't embarrass us like you did at Applebee's." Sam mumbled under her breath. That was another restaurant they could cross of their list. That made two already, well if you wanted to count Chucky Cheese. Either Maxie accidentally hits on underage teenagers or she gets into a heated argument with the young children, which then results in the parent's coming over and then all hell breaks loose. Let's just say when Lila's 5th birthday came up, Chucky Cheese was out of the question.
"How was I supposed to know he was a minor, and while we're still on the topic of last week—"
"We weren't…" Sam paused to say thank you to the waiter who placed her drink on top of a napkin in front of her.
"Well now we are." Maxie said before giving a mocking smile. "Staying at your house and watching movies isn't really considered a girls night out." Maxie grinned widely at the waiter as he placed her drink in front of her also. She mouthed a thank you and watched him as he walked away completely forgetting Sam was sitting beside her.
"Aw come on that was a fun night, we had popcorn and margaritas." Sam's voice brought Maxie back to the present and caused her to roll her eyes, at Sam's attempt to defend their lousy rendition of a girl's night out.
"You were crying during half of the movie."
"It was an emotional movie." Sam mumbled defensively while she ignored Maxie's glares.
"Toy Story 3…is as emotional as me getting a Brazilian Wax." Sam let out a chuckle before bringing the martini glass to her lips. "Need I remind you that when we finally got around to watching something romantic and interesting you fell asleep, leaving me to enjoy the rest of the movie by myself."
"Fine, okay last week was lousy, but see we've finally left the house, were in a bar." Sam said as she waved her hands in different sections of the room. Her eyes caught on a few of the females wardrobe, and she felt horrified for even staring that long. "This is a bar right?" Maxie nodded her head in response as she sipped her gin and tonic.
"Then why are half of these people naked?" Maxie began to look around the room, and realized what triggered Sam's sudden discomfort.
"You've been locked up in your house as a Stepford Wife, so of course you wouldn't understand the new generation's change of fashion." Sam rolled her eyes as she ripped up her napkin into little pieces. She hadn't had time to check up on the latest fashion she was too busy making sure Lila had everything that she never did. Add in her shifts at General Hospital, she hardly had time to think about updating her wardrobe. Not that she'd wanted to anyway, from the looks of it, she wouldn't have much fabric to cover her body. Sam glanced at a woman wearing a lace see through top with tight shorts that barely covered her ass.
"U-huh… I feel like you invited me to a strip club." Maxie's eyes were focused on the bartender that was taking orders from other clubbers at the other end of the bar. Sam ignored her friends ogling and continued her train of thought. "Next time I pick our location." Her eyes widened as she watched a couple dance on the dance floor. If that could even be considered dancing, what they were doing should be illegal.
"Yea not a chance my friend." Maxie said as she winked at the bartender before waving flirtatiously at him. Sam was about to respond when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned her head slightly and was greeted by a warm bright smile. She had to admit the guy was attractive, cleanly shaven, and dark blue eyes, hell he could have been Chris Evan's older twin brother.
"Hey sexy lady… can I buy you a refill." She should have been flattered to be called sexy, by someone as handsome as the stranger. But she knew where this refill would lead to, and at this moment in her life she wasn't ready for a no-strings attached relationship. Truth be told she wasn't ready for any type of relationship.
"No, thank you." Sam replied as nicely as she could, even throwing in a smile for good measure. Sadly it didn't cause the guy to walk away, instead he continued.
"Well if I can't buy you a drink, than can I at least have a dance?" She eyed the man for a second before thinking of something that might cause him to give up and leave.
"Sorry buddy I'm married." Sam said with a fake smile as she quickly shielded her ring finger. The last thing she needed was for the stranger to notice her ring-less finger and attempt another come on. The man nodded slowly while looking around the room. She was thankful for the guy code. Before she could thank her lucky stars, the man leaned in close towards her, invading her personal space without her permission.
"Is your husband here?" He whispered huskily.
"No." Sam said slowly, her eye brows knit together in confusion. The man showed his wide toothy smile again. Sam felt her patience slowly diminishing. Jesus this guy can't take the hint.
"Then I don't see what the problem is." He said with a wink. Sam couldn't believe, actually who was she kidding, after seeing the girls here half dressed and the kind of dancing the clubbers were doing on the dance floor, she shouldn't be surprised that the guy would still continue to hit on her, husband or not.
"Exactly, now move along." Sam said as she shooed him away, the man gave her a confused look before walking towards another girl, who gladly took his offer and headed to the dance floor with him.
"Sam what is wrong with you." Maxie said with disbelief as she hit her friend with her purse before adding. "That guy was hot." Sam rolled her eyes while she picked at the slice of apple that was left from her martini. She forgot how 'young' Maxie is sometimes, she's all about the right now, not the future.
"Ugh, no that guy was a creep with no respect for himself, I can't believe he still tried to hit on me after I said I was a married woman." Sam waved the bartender over, and asked for another apple-martini.
"I thought you were divorced." Maxie asked mockingly. Sam ignored her best friend, and watched as the bartender made her drink for her. She was so distracted that she answered without understanding or hearing what Maxie had asked her.
"No, I mean yes I am…divorced." Sam rambled as she picked up a peanut and began removing the shells.
"It's been two years and you don't know if you're still married to the guy?" She didn't get a chance to answer her. Maxie had gotten the bartender's attention and was asking him to make her a refill as well.
"No, were definitely over, I mean divorced." Sam mumbled as she let out a loud frustrated sigh.
"Clearly you're not over Jason, you still love him don't' you?" Maxie asked quizzically as she turned completely in her chair to face her friend.
"Love….is a strong word. Care best describes it." Sam replied uncomfortably, avoiding Maxie's intense stare. They hadn't been friends long, only two years, since her divorce with Jason, and they knew each other like the back of their hand. And their relationship only grew stronger when Maxie started working at General Hospital. But though Sam trust Maxie, with her life even Lila's, it was hard to let down the walls around her heart, especially when it came to Jason. Talking about her relationship always turned the night sour. Because once she opens up, the hurt that was buried resurfaces and so does the scars.
"Sam…it's me, you're talking to, not your mom okay. I can't be easily convinced. Plus you have 'love' written all over your face." Maxie said as she twirled her index finger in Sam's face.
"I will always love Jason." Sam admitted reluctantly before taking a long sip of her apple martini and then continuing her train of thought. "But love sometimes isn't enough, he's a workaholic. I mean, I know he has worked hard to be where he is now and I admire him for that. But he neglects what should be his first priority, his family. I don't know how many times I've set the table for Christmas and Thanksgiving, and his seat would remain empty for the rest of the night. Or the amount of times he's forgotten our anniversary, and Lila's birthday."
"So you divorced him because he forgot special occasions?" Maxie asked confusion evident in her voice. Sam knew now that once she started, she had to finish. Or else Maxie wouldn't let the conversation sit.
"No… I divorced him because he forgot about us, our relationship, and commitments." Sam replied softly as she continued to play with the peanuts in the wooden serving bowl.
"Oh my god he cheated." Sam's head snapped up and her eyes immediately met Maxie's sympathetic ones.
"No, he didn't cheat, but his job might as well have been his affair." Sam answered glumly, as she de-shelled another peanut and popped it in her mouth. "And it hurts knowing that there was nothing I could've done or said that would've stopped him from allowing his work to come between us. So instead of sitting around in a marriage where we became roommates and he comes and goes when he pleases, I filed for divorce." Sam felt a warm hand enclose on hers. She glanced at Maxie, the woman who she never thought would be friends, mainly because Maxie is brutally honest and never holds her tongue. And some things that she says are hard to swallow.
"I'm sorry Sam." Maxie said with sincerity. Sam shrugged in response before taking another sip of her martini.
"I think what really ended our relationship, is that he didn't fight me on it. He didn't ask why I wanted the divorce or if we could save the marriage. It's like he just gave up."
"But you filed for divorce...so how did he give up when you are the one who threw in the towel?"
"We tried marriage counselors….but he'd never make it to the meetings or he always ended up coming late. We even went away for a vacation…but it turned out it was a business trip….he was busying closing a deal while I sat watching the water. So you see, I exhausted every option I could, and every time I confronted him, he'd say I was overreacting, or he' buy me a gift. Or worse he'd promise…to try. But he never did."
"What an asshole…." Maxie said with disgust. Sam shrugged. She knew her friend didn't know Jason like she did, not many knew what kind of man Jason was because he forever molds himself into what he thinks people want.
"He wasn't like that all the time, working with his family put stress on him, it's like he still has something to prove. And I have no clue what that is." Sam said defending Jason, who wasn't there to defend himself.
"But you still love him…and I've heard love can sometimes fix anything." Maxie said encouragingly. If only life could be that easy, Sam thought to herself.
"Loving someone sometimes means letting them go." Sam gave a weak smile before taking a sip of her drink.
"But you haven't let Jason go—"
"Getting the divorce was the first part, it's the remaining feelings that I need to let go."
"Well I know one way you can do that." A mischievous smirk began to spread across Maxie's full lips. That smile usually meant her friend was up to no good or that she had a plan that would back fire. Either way, someone always ended up hurt.
"Really…how?" Sam asked sarcastically, before adding. "If you suggest a voodoo doll I'll—"
"Not a voodoo doll, that doesn't even work, but dating." Sam eyed her friend curiously before shaking her head.
"Before I even get to dating, I need to get over Jason." As much as she hated admitting it, Jason still had a part of her heart, and until she got it back, no one would be able to have her completely nor would she be able to love another person the way she had loved Jason.
"Sam that's never going to happen, you've been with the guy since you graduated college. You've built a life with him, had a child with him. That love you still feel isn't going to go away, and seeing as how you're not forcing it's process you're gonna have to try some drastic measures."Sam gave Maxie a wry smile before taking a long sip from her apple-martini.
A/N: I hoped you like the first chapter. I will update every three days. So the next update shall be on Friday. Comments, and Opinions are appreciated. =)
