There All Along

Chapter Sixteen

When school ends I invite Sam around to my house. Mum is at home with Emma when we arrive and Emma runs over to me and gives me a hug. "Anna! I missed you!"

"I missed you too, sweetheart. Did you enjoy your day at school?" I ask her.

"Yeah."

"Hello, Anna. Who's this?" Mum asks me.

"Oh he's Sam. Sam's a friend of mine from school. He's in most of my classes," I explain. Mum nods and looks at Sam with a smile on her face. She holds out her hand. "Nice to meet you, Sam."

Sam takes her hand and shakes it. "Nice to meet you too, um......."

"Erika O'Hara. But you can call me Erika," mum says.

"Ok, Erika."

"Josh seems to be more nice!" Emma states, causing everyone else in the room to laugh. "What's so funny?" she asks. I kneel so I'm in level with her. "Emma, this is not Josh. This is Sam." I turn to Sam and smile. "He's much nicer than Josh."

Sam's smile grows wider.

"Hi Sam," Emma greets him. Sam takes her hand and bows in front of her. "Nice to make your acquaintance, Princess Emma."

"I knew it! I knew I was a real princess!" Emma exclaims excitedly.

"Uh oh. Here we go," mum mutters under her breath. Sam stands up and let's go of Emma's hand. Emma bounces up and down and starts dancing around the living room.

"Maybe I shouldn't have done that," Sam mutters to me in my ear.

"It should die down," I explain.

"Ah right," Sam nods happily.

".....in a few hours."

..........

At night Sam is about to leave but Emma cries and begs him to stay. She had so much fun that night because Sam played with her most of the time. He played barbies with her, watched Disney movies and sang along to them too, he helped me bath her and wash her hair. He'd be an amazing father someday.

"Please don't go! Read me a bedtime story! Stay with me forever!" Emma cries, holding onto Sam and pulling him back in the house. Sam laughs and looks at me and mum. I look from Sam to mum, waiting for her answer.

"Well I suppose he could stay tonight," mum says.

Emma lets go and looks at mum. "Really?"

"Yeah."

"Yipeeeeeee!" Emma bounces up and down. I smile at Sam and he smiles back at me.

I watch as Sam reads Emma a bedtime story and tucks her in. He kisses her forehead before leaving.

"Finally!" Sam whispers then sighs. "I'm knackered now!"

"But the night isn't over yet. I was planning to watch a movie with you."

"What did you have in mind?"

"You'll see," I reply. I take his hand in mine then we go through to my bedroom. I look for the dvd and put it on. It's another one of my favourite movies;the nightmare before Christmas. Before it starts I go downstairs and grab popcorn and water for me and orange juice for Sam. I take the snacks upstairs and give Sam his drink and put the popcorn in the middle of us for us to share.

"This is perfect, Anna," Sam says.

"Thank you," I say.

"But why would you do this for me? We've only just started properly talking today and things have escalated quickly."

"I know but it just feels right, you know?"

"Yeah," Sam nods. "I know exactly what you mean."

I smile at him. I felt butterflies in my stomach. Which is not good because I'm in love with Josh. But he's been so distant lately. Could I be catching feelings for Sam?........