Chapter 42

Two hours and thirty-seven minutes went by. Dominik counted them all. He could not keep track of all the times he tried reaching out to Samanta, but it went straight to voice mail.

“Damn it! She is not answering, Friedrich. God knows what could be happening to her” Dominik was starting to freak out.

“Drop it already. She'll come back around…” said Friedrich.

“No. I am going to find her. I know I will not get any sleep if I cannot settle this with her tonight. Besides, We will be off to Santa Clara tomorrow, I would like to say goodbye and tell her I will be back by the end of this month” Dominik stood up from the table and made a sign to the waitress. “Check, please.”

“Sit down, Dominik! Stop acting like a fool. If you go after her right now, you will only be proving that she has you right in the palm of her hand and she will do with you whatever she wants. Keep some dignity, dammit!”

“I must see her, Friedrich, touch her, kiss her… Shit! What is wrong with me?” He grabbed his head with both hands.

Friedrich rolled his eyes. He did not like one bit hearing Dom say those words.

“Your check, gentlemen” said the waitress.

Dominik looked at it, pulled out some bills and put them in the leather bound case.

“Let's go” said Dom, tapping on his friend's knee.

They both got into Friedrich's rental car. Dominik asked to drive and his friend agreed, without a problem, thinking they would go straight to the hotel, but, a few miles ahead, the publicist realized this was not the way to the JW Marriott.

“Where are we going?” asked Treadaway.

“Samanta's.”

*****

“Thanks for dropping me off, Alan” said Samanta, sounding a little drunk.

“You're welcome. It's the least I could do.”

Sam looked back at her house, hoping her sister Teresa was not looking out the window. If she saw her with Alan, she could have a stroke.

“I can't deny it was really nice seeing you again.”

Alan smiled and leaned in for a hug.

“I wanted to see you” he said.

“Sleep well, Alan. Maybe we could hang out some other time.”

She brought her lips close to his cheek, but her heart unleashed itself and he felt it, too. Alan leaned in a little closer, held her tight and aimed for Samanta's lips. He did it.

Samanta opened her eyes wide, overwhelmed by this strange feeling.

Alcohol played it's part. Samanta was uninhibited and just let herself go.

Whatever the case was, she understood, in that moment, Alan owned a small part of her heart.

For a fraction of a second, she let him kiss her, but the thought of Dominik came to her. That radiant smile and those blue eyes struck her subconscious.

She pushed Alan away, shaking her head …

“No, no, no…” she mumbled.

Alan looked at her in confusion.

“Sorry, Samanta. I…”

“Go.”

“Samanta, seriously, I…”

“Goodbye, Alan.”

Samanta's heart was racing, it could only slow down when her house door was shut behind her. Alan stood there, outside her house. He was in shock after what had just happened.

*****

Across the street from them, a heart was breaking. The eyes watching that scene got fogged in tears. Dominik clenched his fists and took a deep breath. No. This would not be the first time he ever cried in public. No. He wouldn't. Although his heart had just been ripped apart, it was not the time to vent.

He could not believe his eyes.

Samanta kissing another man.

His suspicion had been confirmed.

That man was more than a friend.

He turned to Friedrich, who had a terrified look on his face.

“Let's go back to the Hotel” said Dominik in a broken voice.

And so they did, they both turned around, got into the car and left.