Chapter 12
Sam woke up again and she was still being held by Jake.
"What time is it?" she asked.
She felt him shift as he took out his cellphone to look at the time.
"Twelve thirty," Jake answered.
"Are you planning on being here all night?" she asked softly as she yawned.
"Yes," Jake told her. "They said I could."
"Hmm," Sam murmured. "I guess I'll go back to the hotel when they let me go."
Jake's arms tightened around her for a split second.
"I bet Kit and Cricket would let you stay at their place," Jake told her.
He felt Sam's head shake briefly against his chest.
"I've bothered them enough," Sam said.
"I hardly think you're bothering them," Jake responded.
Sam shook her head again.
"Sam…," Jake broke off.
She lifted her head slightly.
"Stay with us," Jake pleaded.
Sam was surprised. Jake rarely pleaded.
"Why?"
She felt Jake's sigh.
"I'm not good with words," he almost seemed to be talking to himself, so softly were his words.
Tell me, Sam begged silently.
Jake was silent. Sam decided to help him. Help both of them. Maybe it was all wishful thinking on her part?
"Tell me what happened with Dawn," Sam urged.
Jake sighed deeply. Sam could feel just how deeply it was with her head on his chest.
"She found your ring," Jake said.
Sam's head snapped up and caught him under the chin. She felt the tears in her eyes as her stitches connected with his hard chin. Her hand reached up to her head.
"What?" she yelped.
Jake was rubbing his chin.
"Is your head all right?" he asked.
"Fine," Sam's voice was impatient. "You still have my ring?"
"Yeah," Jake admitted. "I kept telling myself I would have the stones taken out and make necklaces for my nieces, but I never did."
"Dawn was staying with me and needed socks." He heard her suck in a breath. "I went to shower and she found the ring in my sock and underwear drawer."
He heard her small whimper and tightened his arms on her. He had just verified that he and Dawn had been intimate. She had foolishly hoped that they hadn't. Of course they had.
"She never told me she had until later," Jake went on reluctantly. "She…she told me…"
"She told you what?" Sam pushed.
Jake took in a deep breath. Sam's head rose on his chest as he did. Her head dropped when he let it out.
"She told me that she couldn't marry me because I still loved you," Jake finished.
Sam froze. Oh my gosh, oh my gosh. She pinched herself. She didn't feel anything. She had to be dreaming. She just had to be dreaming.
"Ow," Jake yelped.
Sam couldn't help it, she giggled.
"I'm sorry, I was pinching myself," she explained. "I knew I had to be dreaming because I didn't feel it."
"Oh trust me, I felt it," Jake chuckled.
"I didn't mean to pinch you," Sam's voice was filled with humor.
Jake smiled in the darkness. He had missed her laughter.
"Do you?" her voice was reluctant in the darkness. She hated taking that chance that all this would end so soon, so quickly.
"Yeah, I do," Jake made Sam's heart sing with his answer.
Instead of telling him this, she burst into tears.