1 | Almost Happy ▷ Sam Wilson | ✓

13 - MAKING PROGRESS

NEEDLESS TO SAY, NO DINNER WAS MADE. Rhett and Steve, both having been deprived of Girl Scout Cookies growing up, were off to one side, testing the various kinds of cookies, Steve helping Rhett grade his papers and come up with lesson plans. Because the two were off in their own little bubble, Nicky and Sam were left to their own devices, the ice shattered the moment the cookies were thrown into play.

"Sorry if you thought I didn't want you around," Nicky said, taking a sip of his milk, "I didn't mean to make it out like that."

Sam raised an eyebrow, his glass half raised. "How'd you know I thought that?"

Nicky motioned between them, shrugging lamely. "I'm a psychologist. And I had no friends growing up, so..."

Sam laughed at that, throwing his head back, and Nicky watched him with bright eyes, laughing as well. It was nice to see the man laugh, as he had the face of a person who always seemed to be serious.

"What about Kimmy, she liked you," Sam said, reaching out to smack his arm lightly, and Nicky wanted to jump out of his skin in pure joy, goosebumps prickling under his jacket where Sam had touched him.

"Well, yeah, Kim was the best," he said, thinking back to his high school best friend who somehow found him tolerable, even though he was two years younger; it seemed to be a recurring theme with all the friends he had.

"You still talk to her?" Sam asked, setting down his glass and shifting to just face him, tilting his head to the side.

Nicky scoffed, shaking his head. "Do you really think that I, Nicholas Green, am still in touch with Kimberly Trainor, lead actress in three different franchises and star of a hit TV show that's been running for over four years? Because, uh, you'd be right."

Sam laughed, leaning forward. "No way, you still talk to Kimmy? How's she been? Besides, you know, being famous and acting and whatever."

"I don't know," Nicky admitted, shrugging, "It's been a while, but maybe she'll just drop by one day. She has one of the original keys to the loft, actually."

Sam raised an eyebrow. "Do you just make keys for everyone or is it only if they're very close, because I know Steve has a key here and now you're telling me that Kimmy has a key..."

"Do you want a key?" he asked, trying to sound casual, going so far as to prop his ankle on top of his knee, "Because you're always welcome here, whether or not we're home. Please, we're starved for friends."

Sam laughed again, and Nicky wondered if the man just laughed all that time at whatever anyone said, or if he was laughing because he pitied him. But the laugh seemed genuine, so he toyed with the notion that, maybe, Sam found him funny.

"How about I just knock on the door and if no one's home, I'll call and see when I can drop by another time?" he asked, and Nicky shrugged, pouting.

"If that's what you want," he sighed, exaggerating so Sam knew he was fine. Of course, what Sam said next made it so there was no way he was going to be fine.

"Probably can't call without your number," the older man pointed out, gesturing towards Nicky's phone on the coffee table.

He watched with faint amusement as Nicky stammered, scrambling for his phone, hands shaking as he pulled up his number and scanned over it, mumbling apologies for not having it memorized, as he often just carried around his business card.

"You have a business card?" Sam said, taking Nicky's phone and typing in the number into his phone, finding it rather funny to watch the younger man squirm, "You're pretty legit, huh?"