Chapter 35
They stepped into the diner, avoiding the obvious gazes of their former significant others. Lucky had the sudden urge to wrap his arm around Sam, but he wondered if that was pure desire or the urge to make Elizabeth jealous. Sometimes those lines blurred. Yeah, he was interested in Sam, but at the same time, watching Elizabeth realize what she'd lost was also high on his priority list. He still loved her. He couldn't deny that. But, she was moving on, and he had to as well.
Sam could feel Jason's eyes burning a hole in the back of her skull. She wanted so badly to turn around and meet his gaze, but that would do nothing but cause her more pain.
"I don't think this was a good idea," Sam said softly.
"Daddy!" Cameron exclaimed, jumping off of Jason's lap and rushing over to Lucky.
"Oh, hey buddy!" Lucky exclaimed, as if surprised to see his son. He picked him up, lifting him in the air. The little boy laughed and kicked, and Elizabeth turned in her seat.
"Lucky," she said with a smile. "How are you?"
"Good. I'm good." He glanced at Sam and smiled, and she gave him a strange glance. Was he trying to use her to make Elizabeth jealous?
"That's great," Elizabeth said softly. "How are you, Sam?"
"Fine," she replied quickly. "I need some air." Sam rushed past them, and her mistake was meeting Jason's gaze. As soon as she was past him, he was getting up and going after her.
"Sam?" She stopped and leaned against one of the outside tables. Closing her eyes, she tried to build up the energy she needed to get through this conversation. Turning, she saw the concern in his eyes.
"Hey," she said weakly.
"How are you?"
"Good," she replied.
"Really?"
"What do you expect me to say, Jason? That I'm miserable without you? That my entire world revolved around you, and I don't know how to live now? Well, it's not true. I'm doing fine."
"Ok," he said slowly. "I didn't mean to upset you."
"Just don't worry about it." She tried to turn away from him, but she couldn't.
"I miss you," he finally stated, swallowing hard. It wasn't easy for him to see her with Lucky. But at the same time, it wasn't easy knowing Elizabeth was in there with him. He knew he couldn't have everything he wanted. He had made his choice, and now he was living with it. He only wished Sam hadn't left. They could have made it work…somehow.
"I miss you too," she whispered. "But it's better this way. I don't want to get in the middle, Jason. Your baby deserves a happy family…not a broken one."
"Elizabeth and I aren't going to live together. It's going to be just like before."
"But I thought…"
"She said she wants to stay with Audrey."
"Oh."
"Sam…"
"Jason, please," she said quietly. Jason realized she was trying to push him away, and maybe that's what she needed. Maybe she needed to completely let him go. Maybe he couldn't make her happy.
"Are you seeing Lucky?"
"What? No!" she snapped quickly. "I'm not seeing anybody."
"Oh, I just thought that maybe…"
"No. Nothing's going on between me and Lucky. I…I kissed him, but…" She felt herself blushing. God, why did she tell him that?
"You…you kissed him?"
"Yeah, Jason, but…" He knew it wasn't his place, but he had to ask.
"Do you have feelings for him?" Sam stared at him, not really sure of how to answer that, especially to him. "You don't have to tell me."
"No, it's ok. Uh, I really…I don't think I'm ready for another relationship. I don't think I could handle that right now."
"I understand," he said softly. When he saw Lucky heading outside, he cleared his throat. "I should go."
"Yeah," she nodded. "I'll see you around." As Jason disappeared into the diner, Lucky walked out, smiling after having seen his son. She wasn't smiling at all.
"You ok?"
"Am I ok?" she asked with a laugh. "No! What you did was completely uncalled for." Lucky wracked his brain, trying to think of what it was he had done.
"I don't follow."
"When Elizabeth asked how you were…you looked at me like there was something going on between us." Lucky couldn't help but smile a little.
"Well, I can't help it if I'm attracted to you." Sam sighed with exasperation.
"Nothing can happen between us, Lucky. How many times do I have to tell you that?"
"Maybe 'til you start believing it yourself. I'll see you later." With that, he walked off, leaving her alone with her thoughts.
Sonny had taken the children to Kelly's to see Mike, so Carly decided to get a little work done at the office. Unlocking her door, she stepped in, flipping the light switch on. She smiled, feeling at home even here. There was a time when the thought of walking into this place was dreadful, because every time she walked in, she thought of Jax. Now, she didn't have to anymore. She had Sonny and her family, and everything was starting to go right for once.
A knock behind her startled her, and she turned, seeing Marty the deskman standing there with flowers in his arms.
"Mrs. Corinthos, these were sent for you." Carly beamed with happiness. Sonny had sent her flowers. God, he was such a romantic.
"Thank you, Marty," she said with a smile. Marty handed the roses over to his lovely boss and left her alone. Carly took one rose from the dozen and placed it to her nose, inhaling the scent. She smiled, brushing the soft petals against her lips, thinking of his kisses.
Finally, she sat down at her desk and placed the flowers in front of her. She found the little card attached and opened it up.
"For the love of my life, no matter what, you'll always be mine." That was all it said. She smiled a little, placing her hand on her stomach.
"You know what, baby? You have the most wonderful daddy in the whole wide world." She leaned back in her chair, unable to concentrate on working now. Now, she just wanted to figure out the perfect way to thank him.
Sonny walked into the house all alone. Mike had wanted to spend more time with the kids, so he had taken all four of them to the movies. Sonny couldn't help but laugh at the thought of Mike corralling all four of those kids and keeping them all happy and quiet during a two-hour movie.
The moment he stepped into the living room, he found his wife standing by the patio doors. She turned at the sound of his footsteps and smiled.
"I thought you were going to the Metro Court."
"I decided to come home instead. Where are the kids?"
"Mike took them to a movie."
"Oh," she said with a smile. "Well, I'm glad it's just the two of us. I wanted to thank you for the beautiful flowers." She stalked toward him, her eyes full of determination and desire.
"The flowers?" he asked slowly.
"The roses you sent to me…with the little card." Sonny paused, as Carly wrapped her arms around his neck. He then pulled her in closer, and she leaned in to kiss him. "Thank you."
"Carly, I don't know what you're talking about," he said slowly.
"Shut up, liar," she laughed.
"I'm serious. I wish I had sent you those flowers. I would have if I knew I'd get a thank you like this, but I didn't Carly." She pulled away from him slowly, a little unsettled.
"You're telling the truth," she decided softly. "Sonny, this is really strange. The card…I just thought…"
"Did you recognize the writing?"
"No," she said. "Maybe the florist wrote it."
"Do you have it?" Carly nodded, and she pulled it out of her pocket.
"Here." Sonny took it and examined it. He didn't recognize the writing either. But the fact that somebody sent these words to his wife made his blood boil. He crumpled up the piece of paper.
"It's Jax."
"What?" Carly asked. "Sonny, nobody's seen Jax or Amelia in weeks. I don't think it's from him."
"Come on, Carly. Jax gave you up a little too easily, don't you think? There's no way in Hell a man would let you go without fighting damned hard first."
"Sonny, I don't think so. I willingly cheated on him. I don't think he'd want me after that."
"Don't be so sure. Jax is willing to do anything to keep me from having what I want." Carly rolled her eyes.
"Let's not make this into Jax trying to one-up you again. Honey, I don't want him. You don't have anything to worry about, ok? That's over with now. You trust me, don't you?"
"I do," he replied, "I just don't trust him."
Author's Note: Thanks again for the great feedback! Keep it coming!