At Steph's house….
Steph and Sam sat in the dining room as Sam told her about the conversations she had with her ex and how he had been threatening her for months. He had been stalking her and, she was scared of him. Brad always found her or some way to contact her. Sam also told Steph she didn't have any friends except Steph and she thought Hunter. How her parents were gone and she had no family. That she spent Thanksgiving alone in a hotel.
"But, Hunter said you talk with him about personal stuff. Why didn't you talk to him? I know you both like each other. I just wish you would admit it," Steph asked.
She told Steph about what Hunter said about her abusive ex wanting to talk to her. It seemed like Hunter words were meant to hurt her feelings. "I don't know what I did to make him be rude to me. He….has a woman at the house. Some girl. I didn't want to be there why they...you know. I saw her on the show before. Mora, mia.."
Steph huffed, "Maria. That bitch! Hunter and those damn ring rats." Steph got up and went for her coat. "Stay here. I'll be back." Before Sam could stop her Steph was out the door.
"Chris. Stop her!" Sam yelled.
"Heck no. I have to sleep with her. When she's mad like this, I stay clear. They don't call her billion dollar bitch for nothing."
Sam shook her head.
At Hunter's house….
Hunter had already sent Maria home after he realized Sam left with Chris. He knew he hurt her feelings. The front door flew open and Hunter jumped up from his chair expecting Sam. Going into the foyer, "Steph?" ((SLAP!)) She hit him hard across the face.
"You son of a bitch! You realize Sam is at my house right now crying her eyes out! Why did you bring that bimbo here? Her ex has been threatening her for weeks now and she is terrified. She tried to be nice to him thinking he would stop or at least backoff. Now she is scared he is going to find her and hurt her. She waited up for you to talk about it," Steph scolded. "She bought you a gift today cause she said you were being so nice and, she wanted to thank you. Also, did you know she spent Thanksgiving all alone in that shady hotel in town? I think she likes you. She won't admit it cause your stupid rules. I asked a hundred times. But, I can tell," Steph was furious. "Why can't you just stop with these stupid whores and, be a decent guy again?"
"What do you care? You fucked around on me. Do you think it's easy seeing you and your husband throw it in my face every damn day? You know damn well I wanted kids and, now you flaunt that in front of me too. I am glad we didn't work out. We were bad for each other. But, we are friends and, I respect you. But, this is none of your damn business. Some days I feel like I'm being punished. It's not fair that you get to be happy, and, I'm miserable. I did nothing wrong back then. But, I suffer for it." Hunter turned away from her leaning over the back of the couch. "You're right about one thing though, I made a rule for her that I have been regretting ever since I said it. I care about Samantha. I didn't do anything with Maria, Steph. I brought her here cause I was upset. I saw Sam's ex send her a dick pic and, I got jealous. She was still talking to him. I didn't know he was threatening her. I didn't see those text."
"So you do like her? I was right?" Steph calmed down.
"Yes of course. She's amazing. She's funny, we like the same things, we get along. We talk about everything. I just feel like she doesn't feel anything for me. She said she doesn't date. But, every once in a while, I think she wants me to make a move. I'm confused and, I don't know what to do? To top it off, you think I sleep with all those women. Now she thinks it too. I don't. I did mess around a little after we broke up. I was mad. But, I'm not some man whore. You think you know me. Steph you don't. All I want is to find someone I can be happy with. All I ever do is screw things up. I did with Chyna and then you. Just go home. Don't tell her how I feel about her. I need to do this on my own."
"Hunter she's hurting. She needs to hear it. She feels like she is all alone and has no one to turn to."
"Did she tell you she wants to be with me?"
"No," Steph confessed.
"Then nothing has changed. I'll apologize for tonight and talk to her about the messages but, that's it. She doesn't want me and I have to be ok with that. But, she has become my friend. I didn't know she was alone on Thanksgiving. I wish I did. I would have loved to have her with me and my family. I don't want to hurt her. I feel awful for doing that to her tonight." Hunter looked over at Steph.
"I'll send her back over. Just talk to her. I won't say anything. No more matchmaking." Steph left him standing alone in the living room.
An hour later, Sam walked in the front door. Hunter heard her come in. Sam tried to sneak off to her room. "Samantha, sweety, please wait. Can we talk?"
"Nothing to talk about. You're a grown man. You can have whoever you want here. I just…"
"I know about the messages. I shouldn't have opened them. I saw the photo and, I was mad you were still talking to him. I was a jerk tonight. You deserve better than that." Hunter walked over to her.
"He threatened me when I called to tell him not to send those pictures. I was waiting up to talk to you about everything. I didn't know what to do." Sam said sad and terrified. "I can fight but, doesn't matter one bit when someone is on drugs."
"I know. Steph told me. I'm sorry I spoke to you that way. I should have not brought Maria here. I was mad and just needed to get out of here." He felt embarrassed.
"So just booty calls? That's what you like? I'm sorry but, I thought you were different. I never thought you were one of those guys."
"I'm not really. I dated a lot after Steph. But, I don't sleep around as she says. Sorry I gave you that impression." He tried to console her.
"Well, you can do with you want. You don't have to answer to me. I was just upset cause I needed to talk to you. Me living here affects you too and, I don't want that." She knew that was a lie. She was going to tell him she had feelings for him and he came home with that woman. "I had something for you too." She pulled out an envelope and handed it to him. "Take whoever you want. Thought you would enjoy it. I'm going to bed. We have a long workout tomorrow."
Hunter opened the envelope. Inside were two tickets to Metallica. His favorite band and, Sam's too. He looked up the stairs seeing her door closed. He walked up and stood by the door hearing her cry on the other side. Hunter sat down in the floor leaning against the door looking down at the gift she gave him. He knew he messed up. All she wanted was to have someone to talk to. She felt safe with Hunter and he made her regret trusting him and, he knew it. Hunter sat by her door until Sam's crying stopped. He wanted to console her but, didn't know how.
Making his way down to his room on the main floor he grabbed his phone. "Palumbo. Hey man. I need to talk to you about Samantha."
"Hey, Trip. Is everything ok? Is she working out alright? I know she has some crazy ideas but, she tells me you are getting back to 100%." Dave hoped there was no problem.
"No not that. She's great. She does have crazy ideas but, I feel great. She's a lot of fun to be around. She sure as hell doesn't take any shit from me either. I need to ask you something. Do you know her ex?" Hunter sat on his bed. Dave was silent for a second.
"Oh no. That bastard Brad found her again," Dave sighed.
"No. I just...humm? Is he something to worry about?" Hunter asked.
"He's a creep. Always has been. I tried to warn her. He has been making brags about getting her back. Sam told me he keeps harassing her."
Hunter sighed, "Why did you send her to me?"
"What? Why? She's the best trainer on my team," Dave said confused.
"Never mind. If you hear anything about him, let me know. I'll talk to you later." Hunter hung up. He slipped out of his suit and into bed. Staring up at the ceiling. Memories of the first time he met her, the yoga studio, the ballet class, the day in the ring, the party. Sam filled his mind making him laugh inside. She was so sassy and funny. He loved how she laughed, how shy and vulnerable she was at times. Other times she was confident and tried to prove how strong she was.
"I'm falling in love with her," Hunter confessed to himself. "Broke my own stupid rules I guess. Fell for the most amazing woman I've ever known and, I don't even know how she feels about me." Hunter covered his face with the pillow trying to block out the thought. A few minutes passed and he heard a creak of the bedroom door. Hunter moved the pillow putting it behind his head. He could see Sams tiny frame standing in the doorway. "Sam, that you?"
"Yes. I know being in here is off limits." Sam said in a sad small voice.
Hunter got up and went over to her. Just wearing boxers. He could see her tear stained face from the light from the window. "I'm sorry Sam. I..."
"I'm scared, Hunter." She handed her phone to him and Hunter read the messages.
"He knows where you are?" Sam shook her head yes. "How?"
"Just knows I'm in Stamford. Not where exactly. Steph posted a picture of me and her together at her party and shopping. He doesn't know where you live. I'm sorry. I'll leave first thing tomorrow. I don't want you to have to deal with my drama. I'm going to leave and go back to New York."
"Sam you can't go back there. He will hurt you and, I can't let that happen. You are staying with me. I can keep you safe. I know you're tough but, this is different. He doesn't know you're working for me. You need to tell him you are not working with Steph. Just that you two are friends. So he doesn't show up there," Hunter insisted.
"He thinks...he..thinks...you and I…." Sam looked away. "He knows Polumbo is your client. He thinks you are the guy that he suspects I'm seeing. Crazy right. Like you would ever want me. I'm no Maria, Chyna, those other girls, or Stephanie. I'm just your trainer." She fidgeted with her fingers.
"Who the hell cares what he thinks. It wouldn't be so bad if that were true, would it? I'm not that bad of a guy. Even though you probably think Steph was right about me being a man whore." He joked.
"Don't make me laugh. I'm still mad at you. You hurt my feelings. I trusted you." She frowned at him touching her crossed hands bumping against on his abs.
He took her hands and kissed them. "I'm sorry I hurt your feelings. You can always trust me. Even though sometimes I can be a total jerk. Why were you still talking to that jackass anyway?"
"Why do you care?" Sam looked up to him hoping for a real answer.
"Because I think you deserve to have someone in your life that cares about you. That would never hurt you." Hunter looked at her with caring eyes.
"I just kept talking to him cause I was scared. I thought I could get him to stop. He gets so mad and the drugs make him violent. I thought I could end it on a good note. But, all it did was make him think I still wanted him. I should have never answered his calls." Sam looked down at Hunter's hands holding hers. He was so tender. Someone so strong yet so gentle.
"I'm not going to let you go back. I'm going to Birmingham this week to see my doctor. You can go with me. You'll be safe there. I would hate myself if I let you go and something happened to you. We can figure this thing out together, ok. I'll help you." He pulled her into his arms. Sam fell into his embrace and agreed.
Hunter walked Sam back to her room. She looked down realizing he was just in his boxers and blushed trying to look away. She slightly giggled embarrassed covering her face. He noticed her looking at his chest as he flexed them making them dance. She bit her lip and looked away trying not to smile. He laughed, "Take it all in. Triple H in all his glory." He spun around showing off and flexing. Sam smacked his arm.
"Ehh. I've seen bigger." She smiled a half smile and laughed. He grabbed her and pulled her against him. She felt his member pressed against her.
"I doubt that. These guns aren't the only big thing about me. Too bad we have those rules. I'd show you how big I really am," He smirked. Sam looked up holding her breath. He felt her tense up and he let her go. "See you in the morning. We can leave tomorrow. Be ready around nine."
Hunter started to walk out of the room and Sam went to the door watching him walk away. As he reached the steps she yelled to him, "Hunter, rules are made to be broken." He looked back seeing her sly grin. He smiled his sexy smile and winked at her. Sam shut the door and, went to sleep with a huge grin on her face.
