Chapter 28

Sam and Mara were out to dinner. It had been a few weeks since Jillian visited and things had been getting better and better. They both went to visit Jillian over the weekend. She moved into an apartment off campus for her spring semester. Sam helped her move her furniture in and Mara helped with decorating. They took her shopping for some necessities and groceries.

It had been a really nice weekend and Sam took Mara around Nashville a bit. Jillian and Sam really seemed to click since they met at dinner the first time. Mara was so relieved. After the drive back they were both too tired to cook, so they went out. They were having a drink at the bar, while their table was being set up.

When the hostess came to get them, Mara got up from the barstool and saw a familiar face.."Jason? What are you doing here?" Mara looked shocked. "My Lily!" Jason yelled, he must have had the biggest smile plastered on his face.

Lily, Sam thought, what the fuck?! Why would he call her that. Jason moved in to give her a hug and she accepted openly. He held onto her a little too long for Sam's liking. "I'm in for a meeting, some doctors here and in Nashville." He said. "God, Mar you look great."

She blushed a little, still in shock that he was there. The Jason she knew from college was a bit of a bad boy. He was hot back then, it was the only way to describe him. Usually he was always clad in a black leather and denim, riding around on his motorcycle.

Now in his mid forties, he was still just as handsome, but more refined. He had calmed down as the years went by, but still had devilish smirk. Time had added some nice salt and pepper color to his once dark brown hair.

It had been a couple years since she last saw him. Sam coughed. "Oh, uh" she laughed nervously. "Sam Howell this is Jason Mancini, we're old friends from home. Sam shook his hand, "Hi Sam, nice to meet you." Are you Jilly's boyfriend?" Is she here too?" Jason asked, looking around for her. "Nope, no Jillian is at school." Mara answered looking a little embarrassed.

Sam put his hand around Mara's waist, "No I think you're confused, and he kissed Mara on the temple." Jason was surprised and straightened it up a bit. For the first time Mara found herself a little embarrassed to be seen with Sam, did he look so young he could pass for Jillian's boyfriend?! Or had she just start looking older. "Gosh, do I look that old." Mara looked down.

"No, no, I'm sorry." Jason felt bad. "Your friend Sam just looks so young, you'll have to tell me your secret sometime," he laughed. Sam was pissed off now. He thought the guy was purposely trying to play up the age difference. "Listen, Mara I would love to catch up and hear about Jillian. It's been too long. I'm staying at the Oliver by Market Square. How about dinner tomorrow night?"

Sam tightened his grip on her waist a little. Mara looked at him and then turned back to Jason. "Yeah I would like that too, but I'll have to let you know. I'll call or text you and we can figure it out." "Great, great, ok well I've got to run. But so good running into you, Sam, so nice to meet you too." Jason waved goodbye and Sam forced a fake smile with his hand up.

The air became thick all of a sudden. Mara excused herself to the ladies room before they sat. She felt a little flustered seeing Jason there out of the blue. It was like the past was coming back to haunt her. While being married to Keith, it was Jason who always seemed to show up when things got difficult. She wondered if Sam picked up on anything. He did squeeze her waist when Jason mentioned dinner.

They returned back to Sam's house. He was quiet in the car the whole way home. It had been almost a month since he asked her to marry him. Mara never brought it up. She had just gotten used to the idea of living with a man again. They hadn't talked about the proposal. Mara wasn't even sure if he was serious. They had only been together for 6 months. But she felt guilty not mentioning anything about it. Sam jumped in the shower.

The water was running down his face and he was shampooing his hair. Suddenly the light bulb went off in his head. Lily, he called her his Lily! She said she got the tattoo with her friend from college. He put it together, that fuck! He saw her ass and Sam was pretty sure that wasn't all he saw.

He dried himself off and walked out naked toward the dresser. He was putting some sweatpants on and turned to face her. Mara was taking her jewelry off by the bed. He leaned over and rested his hands on his bed, staring right at her, "So Lily… did you fuck him?"