Escape

Chapter Fourteen

I walk towards the door and begin to put on my shoes.

"Oh, um, you're leaving?" Samuels asks and I turn to him.

"I guess I was just trying not to overstay my welcome." I laugh nervously. He walks over to me. He's left the top half of his shirt unbuttoned and I can't help but scan his chest.

"I doubt you could do that," he laughs. "I mean, if you want to leave, that's totally fine. But don't leave because you think I want you to. Because I don't." He offers a small smile as he runs his hand through his now very messy hair.

I glance at the clock, it's only 3:00 pm and it's not like I have any other plans this evening. Even if I did, I'd definitely miss them for him.

"You don't have to go back downstairs?" I ask.

"No, Sarah's got it handled. I'm just gonna go let her know that I'll be busy today." He answers, "Just give me a minute," he says as he kisses my forehead and walks down the metal staircase. I could get used to this.

He returns just moments later and walks into the apartment. I'm standing over by the window when I feel him walk up behind me. I turn towards him.

"Well," he shrugs, "You've got me for the whole day." He smiles, "Anything you'd like to do?"

"Hm," I put my finger to my chin pretending I'm deep in thought, "How about... ice cream." I smile.

He laughs, "Ice cream? Yeah, I guess I could go for some ice cream." He grabs my hand and pulls me towards him. He wraps his arms around my shoulders, and I wrap mine around his waist. He looks down at me and smiles. He plants a small kiss on my forehead then leans down and kisses my lips.

We walk down the spiral stairs together with my hand is his. Once we reach the bottom my cheeks flush as I look up and see Sarah carrying a box full of books.

"Oh, so this is the very important business meeting you have that's taking you away all day?" she teases her brother.

"Most definitely. Very important stuff." He teases back as he nudges my arm.

"Well, try not to get into too much trouble." She winks as she walks towards the front of the store.

With my hand still in his he walks me out of the back door of the bookstore. It takes us into a small alleyway. He leads me to the left until we walk into another cobblestone street full of shops. I don't think I've been down this one yet.

"Are you sure it's okay to leave Sarah to man the bookstore all by herself?" I feel bad for 'stealing' Samuel away.

He laughs, "Yes. We probably get less than 30 customers a day, and the day is already almost over. There's not much to it." He gently squeezes my hand in his.

"There's an ice cream place, there." He says as he points across the street. I nod and allow him to lead the way.

We walk up to the window and I order a small chocolate cone with sprinkles. He orders a vanilla milkshake. We take our orders and find a small round table to sit at.

"Vanilla milkshake, huh?" I ask.

"Yeah, what's wrong with that?" He smiles as he takes a sip.

"Just a little boring." I tease him.

"Oh, you think so? Well, there's nothing wrong with a little vanilla," he winks as he nudges my arm and I blush, "Plus, you just ordered the world's smallest chocolate cone with regular... what did you call them? Sprinkles?" He laughs.

"Hey, sprinkles are amazing, okay?" I laugh as I take a bite of my ice cream.

"So, is that where you get it then?" He asks. I pause and smile, unsure of how to answer.

"There's no way you were born this amazing," he continues, "That's just not possible." He takes a sip from his shake.

I roll my eyes at him and continue eating my ice cream.

"So," I take a deep breath, "Um, how often does that happen?" I can't believe I'm asking him this.

"How often does what happen?" He asks, unsure of where I'm going with this.

"Ya know, hot guy plays guitar, girl throws herself at him. It's pretty cliché." I smile as my cheeks flush as I attempt to make a joke at my own expense.

He laughs, a big laugh, "Are you asking me if I sleep with a lot of girls?" He teases me.

I roll my eyes and bump my shoulder into his.

"Or did you just want an excuse to call me hot?" His one eyebrow raises as he smiles.

"Samuel," I beg, as I'm now really embarrassed by my question.

"Okay okay," He replies, "Well, to answer your very invasive question," my cheeks flush even more, "I already told you, I haven't dated since Allison."

"I know but dating someone and sleeping with someone aren't the same." I reply.

"Yeah, true, I guess. But no, I haven't been with anyone, in that way, or any way. Not since her." He fidgets with his straw, "So wait a minute, are we dating? Or are you just sleeping with me?" He asks as he pretends to be offended.

I pop the last bit on ice cream cone into my mouth and give him a sarcastic shrug.

"Ugh, you women are all the same." He smiles as he teases me. I begin to laugh with him.

We finish our desserts and sit in silence for just a moment.

"So, um, my band is playing at the pub tonight." He starts spinning his rings around his fingers. He's nervous.

"Oh?" I reply.

"I'd really love for you to come. You could bring your friend, from the coffee house, and his girlfriend." He studies my face trying to guess my reply.

I think about how I do have to work tomorrow, but my shift doesn't start until noon, and I wouldn't mind meeting up with Noah and Olivia. They are my only friends here, well, besides Samuel now.

"Yeah, sure." I shake my head yes and his eyes light up.

"Okay, awesome." He lets out a sigh of relief.

We get up from the table and walk down the cobblestone street. He grabs my hand and holds it in his as we weave though the crowded street. We stop into a few shops here and there, but Samuel never lets my hand leave his for more than a moment. As we stroll, he occasionally brings the back of my hand up to his lips and plants small kisses across my knuckles. I begin to notice how people look at him as we walk. I get it, from the outside he looks a little intimidating. Okay, very intimidating. But they don't know the Samuel that I know, the kind sweet person that I know. I don't care about his dark past, because that's just what it is, the past. I may not have known him back then, but I know he's different now. I think he's different now. Well, I hope.