Chapter 2
As the day went on, Sam's giddiness faded. Jake hadn't called like he said he would. Once her phone was charged up she kept it in her pocket, not wanting to miss his call. She didn't need to have bothered. It didn't ring.
Sam went up to her room after dinner to sit and listen to her iPod. The first song that came on had her crying.
Then her phone rang. Sam shut off her iPod to look at the caller ID. It was Jake. Just like that, she was smiling again as she answered.
"Hi," her voice was husky and Jake groaned to himself.
"Hey," Jake's voice was caressing and Sam felt the giddiness start up again.
"I wasn't sure you were going to call," Sam confessed.
"Why would you say that?" Jake wondered. "I told you I would."
Sam shrugged even though he couldn't see it.
"Brat, have I ever promised something and then not done it?" Jake's voice was soft.
"No," Sam admitted.
"Then why would I start now?" Jake asked. "Especially now."
Sam felt the flush of warmth. Between his voice and his words, Sam was feeling warm all over.
"You're not doubting me already are you?"
"No," Sam said. "I just wondered if maybe it wasn't real."
"It's real for me," Jake assured her. "I've cared about you for a long time."
Sam sighed. "I have too and it is real for me also."
"Good," Jake said. "Then don't worry so much."
"Okay," Sam responded.
"Are you sick?" Jake teased.
"No, why?" Sam wondered.
"You agreed so quickly," Jake told her with a chuckle.
"I agreed so quickly because it means a lot to me," Sam said.
Jake smiled as he lay on his bed in his dorm room.
"How was your trip?" Sam asked.
"Not bad though I wanted to stay there for some reason," Jake responded.
"Yeah?" Sam was getting giddy again and couldn't help the smile.
"Yeah," Jake was smiling also. "I want to kiss you again."
Sam felt the warmth again. "When are you coming home?"
Jake chuckled. "I just got here."
"Yeah so?"
The two of them laughed softly together.
"As soon as I can," Jake finally said.
"I look forward to it," Sam murmured.
"Not as much as I do," Jake told her.
"Are we taking bets?" Sam asked and Jake could hear the smile in her voice.
"You keep betting and you keep losing," Jake reminded her.
"Yeah but when I lose I get to spend more time with you," Sam laughed and the soft laugh drove Jake crazy. "So who's losing?"
Jake chuckled. "We both win."
"When you come home will you kiss me like that again?" Sam asked.
"Yeah," Jake responded.
"Then hurry home," Sam begged.
"I'll do my best, Brat," Jake promised.
"Your truck did okay on the trip, huh?" Sam asked.
"Yes, why?" Jake wondered.
"I can't help but shiver whenever I hear the name of it," Sam told him.
"Some day I'll tell you why I chose that truck," Jake said.
"Tell me now," Sam pleaded.
"No, not now," Jake responded. "Some day."
"Promise?"
"'Course."
"Why can't you tell me now?"
"Because we're not ready," Jake said.
"We're not ready?" Sam asked.
"No, when we are I'll tell you," Jake replied.
Sam was quiet for a few moments, knowing he wouldn't tell her no matter how much she bugged him.
"Does it have anything to do with that avalanche?" Sam had to ask.
"Sam," Jake admonished her. "When we're ready, I'll tell you, I promise."
"Okay," Sam sighed.
Jake wasn't ready to tell Sam that he loved her. They had just kissed, really kissed, for the first time that day. They had plenty of time to tell each other that they loved the other. As far as Jake was concerned, they had the rest of their lives. He was that serious about her.