Chapter 37

Sami set the box on the floor of an empty room, her empty room. The walls were bare and her steps echoed as she went walked to the window. She had spent three days wondering what had went wrong with her meeting with EJ. What was still holding him back. Sami felt dizzy for just thinking about the kiss they had shared but EJ had been strong enough to end it. Damn that man. A weaker person would have been ready to give up, to throw in the towel and walk away. Someone who wasn't a fighter would have done that. Sami wasn't that person. As baffled as she was, Sami wasn't ready to cut her losses and move on. She had tried dating and she had tried to be on her own but nothing made her feel as alive as EJ did. She heard the steps only moments before she heard the question.

"Where do you want these?" EJ was holding up three boxes in his arms and waiting.

"Those are full of the twins clothes. Just put them down there and I'll sort them out later", Sami said. She watched EJ crouch down and admired the view.

"You should learn to hide that look better", EJ managed to surprise her. Sami quickly flashed a shrewd smirk at the forthcoming man:

"Why? Do you mind my ogling?"

"I'm engaged to another woman", EJ laughed.

"Why is that?" Sami asked furrowing her brows slightly like she was actually pondering the very fact, "Why is it that you still wear that ridiculously expensive platinum band though all you want is right here?" Sami stepped closer to EJ and reached to play with the buttons of his shirt.

"Samantha." Sami tilted her head at the sound of her name.

"How do you know it's ridiculously expensive?" EJ asked behind the smirk he was wearing.

"I read a lot."

"A busy self-employed consultant and a mother of twin babies. How do you find the time?"

"It's all about organizing. Or delegating to someone who knows organizing", Sami revealed her secret. Her fingers were finding their way under the his shirt.

"Samantha." There it was again. That tender tone without a real rebuke.

"Should I stop?" she asked gazing straight into EJs eyes. She stepped even closer clinging to his shirt and balancing on her toes. EJ wrapped his arm around her waist to prevent her from falling but actually just pulling her closer into his arms.

"We should", he exhaled slowly.

"You could always walk through that door, out of this room to the hall, down the stairs across the main entrance and through the front door to her", Sami spoke slowly drawing out every word. Her eyes were almost closed as her nose found his.

"I could. I really should", he replied warming her face with his breath.

"Why don't you?" Sami asked expecting for a real answer.

"You know why", he muttered against her lips and slowly eased his mouth on hers. Sami tasted the tea he had drank earlier and the chocolate she had offered him. He kissed her like an explorer finding an old forgotten path and drawing a new, better map as he proceeded. This time Sami had prepared herself for the abrupt interruption. Again she read the apology in his eyes before he set her feet back down to the floor. She watched him walk out of the room and out of her sight before she opened the first box.

Few hours later Sami had kicked of her shoes as she was getting tired to dance around the house with them. She was trying to find a place where to dump the empty boxes when she heard a voice from a room on her left. Sami didn't even consider walking away without listening. The voice belonged to the twig.

"Are you mad?" Emilia was asking.

"No, I'm not", Sami heard EJ answer.

"You can't do that to a woman!" Sami flinched. So Emilia had found out about their kisses.

"I know that", was his bitter reply.

"Then why did you do it? Oh wait, you don't need to answer that. I know, I know all too well." Sami could hear her walking around the room.

"Thank you", EJ said, "I know you understand."

"Actually I don't think you do", Emilia was protesting.

"What? Of course I do. I was there wasn't I?" EJ asked indignantly.

"Yes you were, but EJ, the situation was different, we were different."

"Emilia, please, don't. I gave my word and I intend to keep it."

"That's just it EJ. You gave your word, you made a promise I shouldn't have ask you to make. I know that it's nothing compared to what she did to you but-"

"Don't bring Samantha in this."

"She already is in this. EJ, can't you see it?" Emilia pleaded, "She hurt you, she hurt you bad and I helped you to pick up the pieces and put them back together again. But now, she's changed- or not changed then- but she has grown. She now is the woman you always knew she could be and she still wants you. You are a damn fool if you don't go to her and claim her as your own!"

"I've committed myself to you", EJ said flatly.

"Yes you have, but that commitment was made when we both were hurt and recovering from broken hearts caused by our separate true loves."

"I did it to save your life."

"And you have done that but my life isn't in danger any more. Bjarni is no longer a threat. I release you from your oath. Now, go to her, go to Sami. She loves you, you love her and she's the mother of your twins", Emilia was shouting now.

"You don't have to do that."

"I don't have to but I want to. EJ, we need to end this charade before it's too late."

"It's not a charade to me."

"And I love you too", Sami heard Emilia say and felt a little sting touch her heart, "but it's nothing compared to the love I felt for Bjarni, still do. And the love you have for me is nothing compared to the love you have for Samantha."

"I can't", Sami heard the familiar phrase again.

"Yes you can. I've been watching her, Sami will understand and even if she doesn't, she wont complain because she'll have you", Emilia was using softer, soothing tones as she spoke. It was enough to make EJ open up:

"Walking away from Samantha was the most difficult thing I've ever have to do. Keeping her at arm's length has proven to be, nearly impossible. If I could go back, if I could trust in her not to break me again, maybe I could try again. But I wont survive losing her again."

"Love is losing and finding. Love is breaking into pieces and fixing what was broken. Love is pain and suffering and it's much more than that. The good moments will overcome those dark ones and you will built a life together. If this situation was reversed and I had a another chance with Bjarni, one like you have with Sami, I would take it. I wouldn't hesitate for a second", Emilia snorted, "And we are talking about a man who tried to kill me." Sami had to bite her tongue to keep silent. She had to bite hard. With blood dripping into his mouth, she retreated outside. Sami glanced back at the window of the room, she knew EJ and Emilia were discussing in. What the hell was going on?