Chapter 4: Sam

She screeches to a halt, refusing to budge any further. Her dark brows lower over eyes that spark with anger. Her hands bunch at her sides like she's contemplating whether or not to throw a punch.

Like I said-goddamn sexy.

She grits between clenched teeth, "He was not a drunken idiot! He was actually a nice guy and you chased him off."

Fine. Maybe he was.

But still...

I give her a considering look before stating the obvious, "He didn't seem to mind that I stole you right from beneath his nose, now did he?"

Violet makes that growling noise deep in her throat again. Damn, but she's adorable when she's all riled up. It makes me want to wrap her up in my arms and carry her out of here. But I don't. She's liable to cause even more physical damage to my person if I were to attempt something along those lines.

"Sam!" My name explodes from her lips in frustration. "That's only because you let him think we were a couple!" She throws her arms wide. "Of course, he was going to back down."

Maybe.

Then again, maybe not.

I shrug. "Listen, if I was interested in a chick, I'd pursue her until she told me herself that she wasn't into it."

FYI-Violet has never come out and said that she wasn't interested or into it.

What? I'm just saying...

She rolls her dark brown eyes at my guy logic. "I think you do this just to mess with me."

I'm tempted to shake my head, but don't bother. Violet's a really smart girl but there are times when she can be totally clueless. Especially where I'm concerned. She doesn't get that I have feelings for her. That I've always had feelings for her. It's like she's put me in some little box marked with big bright colors- just a friend and refuses to let me out. After eight long years, it's driving me crazy. Something has got to give. And I don't want it to be my sanity. Because I'm precariously close to snapping.

Short of spelling it out for her, I don't know what else to do. I want this girl so damn bad and yet, here she is trying to hookup with some random dude rather than consider for one moment that the friendship we have could be a solid basis to something more, something deeper, something infinitely more meaningful.

It's on the tip of my tongue to tell her why I'm constantly cock blocking her, but I rein it in at the last second. Instead, I say in my best cajoling tone, attempting to placate her, "I don't want to see you get tangled up with the wrong kind of guy."

For instance-one whose name is not Sam Harper.

Exasperation bleeds through her voice as she huffs, "I wasn't exactly looking for a long-term commitment." She raises her brows before adding, "If you know what I mean."

Fuck yeah, I know exactly what she means. Hence my sudden arrival on the scene.

Like I said before-totally clueless. It would be cute if I weren't so sexually frustrated by the situation.

With those thoughts circling around in my head, I pull her into a darkened hallway off the living room where the flow of people is a little lighter and spin her toward me. "So, you're just on the prowl, looking to get laid?" My teeth are clenched. The idea of her doing that pisses me off.

Her dark brows knit together as she stares up at me like I'm stupid. "Well, duh!"

My eyes narrow in response.

Unfortunately, those words are enough to have my junk stirring with the notion that she wants to have sex. There's only one dude who should be buried deep within her tight heat and that's me, goddamn it.

Before I can spit one single word out, she snaps, "What? You're allowed to sleep around, but I'm not?" Her hands settle on the soft curve of her hips as she glares.

Violet would be shocked to know that I haven't hooked up with a chick since the end of second semester last year. And that was only because I was completely shitfaced and trying to fuck Violet out of my system once and for all. Clearly, that didn't work since my main mission in life is to foil any and all of her attempts to get laid.

I found a chick who looked exactly like her-long blonde hair, deep brown eyes, nice soft tits, and I fucked her about six different ways before throwing in the condom and admitting that a paper-thin carbon copy wasn't ever going to diminish the need I have for Violet Winterfield.

And I haven't bothered to hookup since that little unwelcome revelation.

What's the point?

If I have the need to release the poison, as Dylan so charmingly put it, then my hand is as good as anything else. If I can't have her, I don't want anyone else.

And that's just fucking sad, man.

I plow a hand through my hair before admitting, "No, of course you can." Unless I'm willing to nut up, my hands are tied. I can't say one word about what she does. Over the last couple of years, I've tried numerous times to clue her in to what I'm feeling. I've dropped hints, given her little touches here and there, held her in my arms, and invaded her personal space. I've even tried kissing her, which is exquisite torture. But it's always the same-absolutely nothing.

Nada.

She's completely oblivious to all my attempts.

A slim brow rises across her forehead. "Then why are you always getting in my way? Is this a joke or something?"

A fucking joke?

Seriously?

I'm ready to go off like a damn shot over here and she thinks this is a joke?

I want to laugh.

Hysterically.

All the while tearing my hair out.

When I finally open my mouth, it's on the tip of my tongue to push out the words once and for all. To let the chips fall where they may. But...if she's not into it, where the hell does that leave us? Would my feelings make her uncomfortable? Would she then avoid me?

I don't think I could stand that.

Instead of purging myself of the truth, I slam my mouth shut before shaking my head.

Yeah, yeah...You don't have to say it.

I already know.

Biggest.

Pussy.

Ever.

Got it.

As if sensing my agitation-but clearly not understanding where it stems from-Violet lays a hand on my forearm before squeezing it. "Look, Sam, I really appreciate you watching out for me, but I can handle myself. If I want to go home with someone at the end of the night, I'm going to do it." As she releases the words into the atmosphere, all of the pent-up anger that had been vibrating within her slowly dissipates.

My hands tighten as I think about Violet getting it on with some asshole that isn't going to treat her right.

"I'm a big girl," she continues. "I can take care of myself. You're so used to looking out for me that sometimes you take it too far." She steps closer before twining her arms around my neck. The soft curves of her body press against all my hard lines. "But you don't have to do that anymore. I'll be careful, I promise."

I have to remind myself to unlock my tightened muscles before snaking my arms around her and hauling her close.

"I love you, Sam. You're my best friend."

Her earnest words have my heart sinking like a heavy stone. Not because I don't want to be her best friend, of course I do. I love that we're friends. That we've stayed close over the years, and nothing has managed to separate us. I love that I'm the first person she turns to when something is going on in her life. But it's not enough anymore. If I'm being honest, it hasn't been enough for a while.

I want more.

I want to be Violet's everything.

This conversation has me wondering if that's even possible. Maybe I've been fooling myself all these years by holding out hope that she'll wake up one day and realize what's been sitting in front of her the entire time.

Me.

Unaware of the thoughts churning in my head, she leans up on her tiptoes before pressing her mouth against mine. Since I have absolutely zero self-control where Violet Winterfield is concerned, I sweep my lips across hers until she hesitantly opens. Even though it's not much, it's more than enough for my tongue to slip inside her mouth and mingle with hers.

For just one moment.

One fucking moment.

Reluctantly, I draw away before it can get weird. Maybe I need to accept that Violet will never feel the same way about me. I'm doomed to be a friend and nothing more.

As she holds my gaze, there's a hint of confusion shadowed within her dark eyes. Like I've thrown her for a loop by slipping her a bit of tongue. The truth is that whenever she presses her lips against mine, I have a hard time resisting the urge to deepen it. So, for a fleeting moment or two, our tongues will touch. Maybe I'm hoping to spark something within her. Or maybe I'm completely masochistic.

At this point, it's anyone's guess.

All I can say is that it hasn't done one damn bit of good.

Those thoughts crash through my head as Violet unwinds her arms from around my body. Uncertainty flickers across her face as she takes a hesitant step away. Her fingers lift, slowly buzzing her lips before her gaze locks on mine.

"I should find Mia. I think we're going to head out soon."

Since there's nothing more for me to say, I murmur a quick, "Sure, okay."

She takes a few steps away before throwing one last glance over her shoulder. "I'll see you later, Sam."

I jerk my head in response and watch her melt into the crowd of rowdy students blowing off steam on a Thursday night. If she plans on leaving this party with another dude, I hope to hell I don't see her do it.