Carla was a hothead. There was no doubt about that. Today he'd put himself on the line for her, and if it were anyone else he might not have bothered. But if anything, Sam was loyal to his friends, who returned the courtesy. So he had to try to overlook some flaws in his friends, but Carla was making that difficult. He was facing a lawsuit for crying out loud.
Diane startled him by taking him aside. "Sam, I think what you did was wonderful."
"What are you talking about?"
"Standing by Carla the way you did. It showed remarkable strength of character on your part, and you were there when your friend needed you the most. I know it couldn't have been easy on you to put your reputation and livelihood on the line the way that you did."
"I would have done it for anyone," he professed modestly. Secretly it pleased him to earn such praise from Diane, but he would never admit it to her.
"Would you have done that for me?"
"Ha!" he scoffed. "If it were you you'd be out on your pretty little butt by now."
Diane smiled. "Be serious. I think it's a fair question."
What wasn't fair was her putting him on the spot the way she had. "I don't know. You seem to handle yourself pretty well with the customers."
"Is that before or after your claim that even the most sober of individuals need a designated driver after listening to me speak, for they would so easily fall asleep at the wheel?"
"Well…you've come a long way," he admitted. "Don't get me wrong, your stories are major snoozefests, but you're gaining some loyal customers. You don't blow up at them the way Carla does."
"Comparing me positively to Carla is hardly a stretch, Sam. Come on. You can do better than that."
"I don't know, what do you want me to say?"
"I want to hear you tell me that I'm good."
"How would I know if you're good? I've never had you!"
She laughed. "Is that really all you think about?"
"What else is there?"
"World peace, the economy, literature, religion…"
"I'm sorry, can you wake me up when you're done?"
She looked at him with a certain spark in her eyes. She'd never admit it to Sam, but she got a certain kick out of his teasing. Behind that man lay layers which most people would never get to see. And she would discover them, if it were the last thing she did.
TBC