Lose Control (The Jewel Project #5)

21.2|| Fall back in the arms of someone

"Maybe, but I would've never betrayed Harry like that."

She hesitated and it was very annoying. "Okay, I'll give you that one. You have a sense of honor Harry never had. Or doesn't value as much. Anyway, that was the end of that as far as I was concerned. Harry was with Christine who actually caught his interest for more than two dates and you were..."

"I was what? None the wiser that the girl I was crushing on was dating my best friend?" Because that was true. And even if Lisa had something more to say on the subject, he didn't want to hear it. "When did they brake up?"

"A few days before she came over and I introduced you. I'm sure you've noticed when since Harry's mood took a dive into a dumpster."

Lisa wasn't wrong. Sam had noticed at the end of their junior year how Harry's mood had suddenly plummeted and it seemed like all the fun had been pulled from the world. Sam had been so busy with Christine, the Agency and Snitch Gravel that he hadn't fully appreciated how his best friend had never bounced back. A twinge of guilt had his muscles tensing.

"I was so shocked when I found out you two were going out," Lisa whispered. "I miss one summer and everything goes to hell. I couldn't tell you when I came back. It would have felt like I was trying to destroy your relationship."

"Better wait until it destroys itself," Sam mumbled.

"Don't be a dick. It's not like you."

"There's no like me anymore, Lisa. That's what no one understands. They all expect me to go back to who I was before this. That person doesn't exist anymore." The familiar sting in his eyes was back and he knew he had to veer away from the subject or he'd start weeping. Again. "Why did you really want to see me?"

"Two reasons. One, to tell you to truth. To let you know that Christine has had her eyes on you and tried to get to you long before you got together. You were a target to her. I'm not sure why. Probably because, just like I thought, you didn't seem like the kind of guy to go for her and she liked the challenge. Maybe it was because you were rich, handsome and naive. Later, she stayed because you were famous and so was she by association."

"Gee, thanks. Good to know that she couldn't have possibly loved me."

Lisa bit her lip. "She didn't, Sam. Not the way that you deserved."

"Really now? And who could've loved me the way that I deserved? You?"

"Like you or not, don't be a dick."

They fell silent and he felt bad for what he'd said. It wasn't Lisa's fault that he was a blind idiot. Even if she'd known and hadn't told him all of this, it was his own damn job to look after himself, not expect others to do it. And as much as he'd tried to deny it over the years, he was sure he would've been much happier with Lisa. Maybe he still could if he'd force himself over the barrier that kept her a friend.

"Okay, sorry. Especially because I think you're right."

She frowned. "Right about what?"

"That I would've been much better off with you."

Lisa winced. "Sam, don't do this."

"I'm not doing anything." Yes, he was. He reached over the table and took her hand. It was a simple gesture, but she knew what it meant. She knew him better than anyone, except maybe Jerry.

She didn't pull back, just stared at their joined hands, worrying on her lower lips. He wondered what it would feel like to kiss her again. He'd liked it the last time, but so much time had passed and they were much more experienced now. At least he was.