Growing Pains

Chapter 34

"Hey Eli?" Sam calls from inside his dressing room and I sigh, sliding my phone back into my pocket.

"Yeah?" I ask glumly, very aware of just how long we've been in this store. Sam is adamant that he needs new jeans, shirts, trainers, just about anything he can get his hands on. Student loans are a marvellous thing.

"What do you think?" He asks as I glance upwards.

I draw in an unsteady breath as I take in his appearance. His jeans fit his legs perfectly, as well as other places that I try and refrain from staring at. The shirt clings to his torso, accentuating his biceps. The outfit is simple and understated, but it should be illegal to look that good.

He frowns at my expression, looking back in the mirror as he starts to overthink.

I exhale quickly, uncomfortably shifting in the chair I'm sat in as I try and divert my thoughts from the impure path they were happily following. It's all too easy to think about the things I'd like to do to Sam, especially in those jeans.

"You can't buy those." I state, leaning back in the chair as I shake my head.

"Why not?" He demands unhappily. I smile at the idea that maybe he thinks he looks anything other than flawless.

"You just can't." I insist.

"Don't they look good?" He asks, turning to face me again.

"Everything looks good on you." I argue and he raises an expectant eyebrow.

"But?"

"They look great but..."

"Awesome! I'm getting them!" He chirps, interrupting me as he swishes the door closed again. I groan into my hands, laughing slightly at his attitude.

A few minutes later he emerges again and heads over to pay, trailing me behind him as he goes. I frown to myself the entire way out of the store and Sam laughs at me.

"Why are you so frowny? I'm sorry it took so long but we can go now." He insists, glancing at his watch but I shake my head.

"I don't mind." I murmur, catching his hand and intertwining our fingers together. My other hand is clutching the several bags of purchases that Sam deemed necessary.

"Okay." He mumbles but doesn't sound convinced.

_

Waiting outside the lecture theatre for Sam, I impatiently tap my fingers against the wall behind me. I hadn't had the chance to see him this morning because I had an early mock-exam, so I find that I'm extra impatient to see him now.

The door clatters open and the predictable stream of students pours out. I straighten up a little, using my height to peer over the crowd.

I swallow harshly as I notice Sam. He's wearing those damn jeans and a shirt that fits him even better than yesterdays. Where did he even find that? It's like he's trying to drive me crazy.

My gaze is absolutely fixated, I couldn't look away if I tried and when he meets my eyes, I smile widely. He waves towards his friend and makes his way over. He appears happy to see me, and if I didn't know him quite as well as I do, then I wouldn't be suspicious in the slightest.

But I do know him and more importantly, I know that glint in his eye. I know that sly, crooked smile. He's playing me, he wants something from me and he's playing dirty to get it.

I'm not sure if he's aware, but I'd do anything he asks of me in a heartbeat, so why he thinks he needs to trick me into giving him whatever he wants is beyond me. I can't deny him anything.