A/N: I need a distraction. Writing every day is going well. I have done more writing, so maybe something else soon.

Chapter 17

Sookie took a deep breath before walking through the employee entrance at Merlotte's. Things were going to be awkward with Sam. He wasn't in his office when she hung her coat up on the rack and put her purse in the deep drawer in his desk.

She checked the schedule that was hung up in the hallway and saw she already had the following Wednesday and Thursday off — the day of the full moon and the one after — just over a week away. She only needed someone to take her Friday shift and she'd be all set. It was a load off her mind.

Sookie went into the bar and started on her prep work. Danielle showed up a few minutes before opening and they got their first customer just a few minutes after that.

It was unusual for Sam to be absent but, of course, the rest of them could easily hold down the fort. Sookie was relieved. She was sure she'd see Sam eventually, but she was going to enjoy not having to have the talk as long as she could. She was dreading it. At the same time, she wanted to get it over with. She just didn't really know what to say. She really did like Sam. She'd enjoyed their dates. She loved to talk to him. She just wasn't sure if he'd be able to stop metaphorically pissing all down her leg and she didn't know if she could put up with it much longer if it didn't stop.

Was this just her subconscious picking Eric? She didn't think so. She hoped not. She wasn't sure she did want Eric, anyway. Not if he wasn't interested in a relationship. She was really going to have to pin him down, too.

Sam arrived when the lunch rush was well underway. He said hello but then retreated to his office. Sookie wondered if he wasn't ignoring her the way she kind of wanted to ignore him.

When the crowd died off, she walked back to the storeroom with a case of empties. He followed her in.

"Hey, Chère."

"Hey Sam. You've been quiet today."

He sighed.

"Yeah. I had some errands to run and a lot of work to get caught up on. Is it busy?"

She shrugged.

"No. Not any longer."

She set the box down and blew out a deep breath. She didn't want to have this conversation at work, but she didn't want to have it at all.

"Sam, I-"

He cut her off.

"Sookie, I just wanted to tell you I'm sorry. I know I've been overbearing. I just… I just really like you."

She sighed.

"I like you, too. I really do. But I don't like the way you've been behaving. When it's just us, it's great, but you just won't get out of my business. I'm not ready to make any decisions, but you're pushing me away."

He swallowed.

"If you don't choose me, just know your job is safe. Okay? I'll still want to be your friend, regardless."

"I'll want to be friends, too, no matter what happens. Thank you, Sam."

He went back into his office and closed the door.

She was glad he'd preemptively caught her for that talk but it had kind of kicked the can down the road. But she was grateful she didn't have to make a decision right yet. She would see what happened later that night on her date with Eric.

The rest of her shift was uneventful. Sam came out to the bar when the after work crowd started pouring in. She was happy when it was time to hand everything over to Arlene and go home.

Eric wasn't due to arrive for a few more hours, so she had lots of time to waste before he showed up. She decided to take a short nap to try to make up for the broken sleep she'd had the past two nights. Add to that the late night she was bound to have after Eric picked her up. And she had work in the morning. She was very glad Merlotte's didn't open until eleven.

When Eric knocked on her door a few hours later, she was showered and dressed and ready to go. She opened the door and smiled at him and her heart skipped a beat.

He heard it and smiled a little wider.

"Hi, Eric."

"Good evening. Are you ready to go? You might want to bring a jacket. There's a bit of a chill in the air."

She grabbed a sweater and he took her hand and led her to his Corvette. He opened the door for her and she liked how much of a gentleman he was. When he wasn't pushing her against her door or begging her to let him come inside, anyway. They held hands on the drive to Shreveport.

"So, where are we going tonight? Another night club?"

He smiled over at her.

"It's more of a bar than a night club. There is a band playing that is very good. I think you will enjoy it."

It was a hole in the wall in downtown Shreveport. They sat down at one of the only empty tables and he took her hand across it right away. Unlike the last two times, it took several minutes before the barmaid came to their table. Eric nodded at her.

"A red wine and…"

He looked at Sookie.

"A gin and tonic, please."

Sookie smiled at the waitress. She didn't smile back. Sookie noticed she was hard to read, with a snarly mind like Sam's and Alcide's. At any rate, she didn't seem to care much for Sookie.

The drinks arrived quickly and Sookie took a sip. Eric kissed her hand and then began to rub it with his thumb. Her heart skipped a beat again.

Soon, the band stepped out onto the stage to polite applause.

The drummer counted them off and they began to play. It was jazz and zydeco and Sookie had never heard anyone sound as good. Not even close. She squeezed Eric's hand a little back. Every note sounded just right.

When the music slowed they got up on the dance floor and danced together. It was different from the nights before. There was an electricity between them. She pushed away the anxiety and doubt and just let herself live in the moment. He kissed her softly, cupping the back of her head with his hand.

On the walk back to the table after the music picked back up, she realized that there were several other blank spots in the room — like Eric's — including all the members of the band. There were also several tangled brains like Sam's. There were only a handful of what she thought of as normal brains around her. She wondered what in the hell the difference was. She was thankful hers was one of the regular ones.

After the second set, Sookie stood to applaud the band. A few others did, as well. She sat back down and squeezed Eric's hand again.

"Thank you so much. It was just wonderful."

He kissed her fingers.

"Yes. They are very good. Shall we?"

They kept contact on the short walk back to the car. He kissed her hand again before helping her into her seat.

The sexual tension thickened slowly at first but then it started to grow. She felt like she needed to break it before it became stifling. And she really needed to know.

"So… What is it that you're interested in? I mean, are you looking for a relationship, or…?"

He looked over at her. It was a question he hadn't considered, but he knew exactly what to say.

"Of course, Sookie."

He didn't really know what he did want, but he wasn't interested in moving on anytime soon. Besides her scent and his attraction to her and their obvious chemistry, he enjoyed spending time with her. He supposed a relationship was as good a description as any.

And he would enjoy rubbing it in the face of the dog.

She smiled. They were at least partially on the same page.

She decided not to ask about long-term. Not yet.

Soon, the sexual tension was back. She wanted to say something to break it again but then got sucked back in. He kept looking at her and she didn't even worry about him keeping his eyes on the road. By the time they made it back to Bon Temps, she was almost ready to jump him herself. She couldn't wait to kiss him again.

He parked out front and escorted her up onto her porch. She turned around and he kissed her, hard. She kissed him back like she never wanted to stop.

He fisted her hair and pulled her tighter against him. She felt his hardness against her lower abdomen. It made her even hotter. He kissed down her neck to her throat and his cool mouth made her shiver.

She pulled away, gasping for breath. His mouth followed her at first but then let her go. He was disappointed until she started to rummage through her purse for her keys. They skittered away from her grip, but then she grabbed them and unlocked the door.

She bit her lip and hesitated just a moment.

"So… Would you like to come in?"

His wide smile made her weak in the knees.

"Absolutely."