Fighting Free

Ch. 9: The Invitation

Sam had a dark cloud hang over her for the rest of the day. Blake's usually cute antics grated on her nerves, Alley’s curiosity felt annoying on the tenth question, but when little Sally Owens’ lunch fell all over Sam’s shoes, milk making her flats soggy, she knew she wasn’t going to shake off her bad mood.

Somehow, by the Goddess’ grace, she made it through the school day and was able to watch the children leave through the school’s front door. She stood on the front step as Laura walked the small group back to the pack house and when she lost sight of them, she turned back into the building to finish her end of the day tasks. 

Sam stopped in the foyer and turned to Thomas working on his computer, head bent down and overly focused with the keyboard. Funny, she thought, he never struggled to type before.

“Thomas, you said I had mail this morning?”

“Mmm-hmm.” His nod was harsh and his eyes never left his computer.

“I totally forgot and haven’t checked it all day.” He said nothing. She sauntered over to the small row of rectangular wooden boxes on top of a long table and grabbed the mail inside one of its slots. “It’s great that the Lambert pack replied so quickly.”

Without warning, Thomas suddenly flipped closed his leather planner, turned off the computer monitor, grabbed his jacket hanging off his chair and rushed out the door. Sam stared wide-eyed at the dust trail Thomas left behind. What the hell had gotten into him, she asked herself. It was so strange to see him run off without a word. Then, she remembered that Metztli had talked to Thomas alone earlier in the day. 

She let out an audible groan. The day felt like it just wouldn’t end; one thing after another slowly wearing her down. Thomas’ reaction was just another thing to add to the pile.

Sam grabbed her correspondence with a huff and stomped to her classroom to clean up for the day. Anything else that had to be done could wait for another day. She was in no mood to worry about stupid trivial stuff.

When she finished, she made up her mind that before going home she would stop by and visit her best friend, DeAnne. A venting session with her would help deal with the dark mood haunting her since Metztli showed up.

She had known Dee since they were little girls, both running through the same rooms in which Sam now taught. Sam was a year younger than Dee and they became close friends when some of the older boys began to pick on Sam. Dee had jumped up to defend Sam from the teasing boys and they were thick as thieves since then. No matter the years or the distance between them, they stayed close. Dee would know what to do, Sam thought. If not, she would at least listen to her talk about her awful day and how Metztli seemed to be ruining her life at the moment.

She turned off all the lights and closed all the windows and doors, making sure to lock the front door behind her. She walked the block and a half briskly, only stopping to avoid traffic. She made her way past the heavy iron door protecting the pack house, past the corner that led to her apartment, up the building’s stairway and to Dee’s door. Before she could knock, she heard Dee’s throaty laugh. She instinctively knew, Metztli was inside.

Sam bit her lip and cursed inwardly for almost a full minute before finally raising her fist to Dee’s door. How was it that this man seemed to be everywhere she was, she asked herself. Every place she went, there he was to torment her with his presence. 

When Dee opened the door with a bright smile, Sam stared back with the exasperated glare of a tortured woman.

“Sam,” Dee called out happily. “Come in. You’ll be surprised to see who I have here.” Sam’s face made it very clear that, no, she would not be surprised. “Metztli is here. From what I understand, you two are very well acquainted.” Sam stared daggers into her friends as she spoke. Metztli stood from his sitting position on Dee’s couch after placing a mug on her coffee table.

“Are you trying to annoy me? Or do you really think me so dumb that I would think this all a coincidence?” Sam’s mood was not shifting being near Metztli like it had in the morning. That must have meant she was very properly angry at him and she felt she had every right to be upset. He teased her, not only with his words like he had done at her doorstep the night before when he whispered about night together, but also with his existence in her near vicinity. She fell to pieces whenever he was near, a puddle of a woman was all that was left. It was no surprise that the constant turmoil he caused inside of her was beginning to rub her raw. She had no patience for him now.

“I am truthful when I say that I am not trying to make you a fool or annoy you. I’m simply-”

“I know, I know. You are just trying to figure out what is going on. You keep saying that, but I think you enjoy this. Enjoy pissing me off. Putting me in weird situations.” He smiled and not just any smile. It was rich and held tones of things unsaid. It gave her goosebumps and made her heart forget to pump.

“Oh, I think you enjoy being put in weird situations,” his voice was buttery and he leaned in quite a bit to make his innuendo stand out. Sam felt a heavy blush streak her face. He was talking to something inside of her begging to be let out, begging to touch him, but she grabbed the hem of her skirt again. Forcing her hands to stop shaking. He took a step away from Sam and she immediately missed his closeness. “Which is why I think I will be visiting your mother next, Sam. Now that you know where I'm going, you can’t say I’m annoying you on purpose or that it's a coincidence.”

“Oh, her mother, though, Metztli,” Dee asked like she was speaking to an old friend. Sam picked up on the friendly tone and glowered at her. Dee ignored it and waited for Metztli to answer.

“I know what you have said and I appreciate your thoughts, but I have to. I have to answer to my sister and the Asher Alpha and Luna want to know as well.”

“Then instead of speaking alone with her, you could join them for dinner tonight. You will get a better picture of the family having them all in the same room,” Dee offered and Sam nearly died. What was she doing inviting him to her home for dinner, she anguished. 

“I don’t-” Sam’s objections were quickly shut down by Dee.

“Nonsense, Sam. It’s a great idea.” Dee beamed at Metztli. He raised an eyebrow like he was contemplating it and Sam could feel her world spinning. She squeezed her hem harder and looked for something, anything that would stop her heart from racing. Any little thought or solace, but her mind had run wild and left her with tattered strings for logic.

“OK,” he finally said. “What time should I arrive?” Oh, dear Goddess, Sam’s brain sputtered.

“Seven, OK,” Dee asked, her smile never failing.

“Sounds perfect. I guess I’ll see at seven, Sam. Dee, thank you so much for the coffee and the pleasant afternoon. I wasn’t expecting to have such a great conversation, but it says a lot about Sam if you are her best friend. My grandmother always said, ‘Tell me who your friends are and I will tell you who you are’.”

“Smart woman,” Dee grinned.

“I like to think so. Well, you ladies have a lovely afternoon. I will see you later, Sam.” He left through the door in a few fluid steps and movements. Sam registered every single one of them, but when the door closed, she let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding.

“Dee, what did you do?” It came out of Sam almost like a cry.

“Helping your sad self. You are such a mess right now. I know ‘cause you’re holding on to your hem like you’re five again. I haven’t seen you do that in years.” Dee was right. She was a mess.

She dropped her stuff on the floor by the door and threw herself onto the couch. Her heart finally began to beat normally and not in that cardiac emergency way it was moments before.

“I can’t keep my brain straight around him.”

“Who can blame you? He flirts shamelessly with you.”

“More like torture... Dee,” she straightened up and looked at her friend still standing at the door. “He really is my Mate.”

“Oh, I got that the minute I saw you blush like you were some little teeny-bopper being kissed for the first time.,” Dee laughed and went to sit next to her best friend. “When Metztli told me what was going on with your mother, I thought she must’ve lost her mind or have begun to go senile because why else would she say that. But seeing your two… I can practically see the air sizzle when you look at each other.”

“Then why,” Sam said nearly wailing. “Why, Dee? Why does he say I’m not his?”

“I dunno. But, at least tonight, you will be able to buffer your mother’s crazy when Metztli talks to her.” Sam leaned over and put her head on Dee’s shoulder.

“I don’t know if I will be able to get through it without falling apart,” Sam sighed.

“You’ll be fine. You’ll see.”