Finally, getting some time off, he decides to head down to Colorado Springs and surprise her. He�s heard about her boss retiring and knows she has some downtime so he arrives just before dawn peeks over the horizon, complete with flowers in one hand and wine in the other. He knows it�s a little too early in the day for wine, but they�ll have plenty of time for that later.
He pauses at her door. Should he knock or use the key she gave him months ago? He decides to knock as it�s been awhile and he doesn�t want to sneak up on her sleeping. He did that once and before he knew it he landed on his back and her shocked expression as he looked up at her was all the apology he needed. He did not feel like a repeat performance.
He raps firmly on the door. Once. Twice. Nothing. He tries a third time and hears her sleepy voice coming from the hallway and he can�t help but smile.
�I�m coming, I�m coming.� Oh, yeah, he smiles again, this time wider and almost predatorily, she�ll be doing that in no time if I have anything to do with it.
The curtains part and he hears a soft gasp, again his grin growing wider as he waits for her to open the door. And he waits some more. He�s slightly taken aback and the smile fades a little; he thought she�d be happy to see him, that she�d fling the door open and launch herself into his arms, but nothing like that happens.
Just as he�s about to try the handle, the door opens slightly, just enough to allow her upper body to lean out. She has on her favorite robe, and if his memory is correct, nothing else.
�Pete!� She stammers. She never stammers unless she�s nervous. Alarms go off in his head, but he quickly squelches them. �What are you doing here?�
It�s a question he�s not expecting. �Uh, I thought I�d come down and visit you.� He notices her mussed hair and slightly wary expression. �Is there something wrong? Did I come at a bad time?�
She sighs. �Um, no. Listen, can we meet at the coffee shop in about half an hour? I need to get some things done.�
Out of nowhere he hears a voice, a man�s voice. A man that�s not him, and the voice is certainly not coming from the kitchen.
�Sam! What�s taking you so long? Are you coming back to bed or do I have to come out there and get you myself? For crying out loud, just tell whoever it is to leave!� He recognizes the voice, a voice that belongs to�
�Pete, please.� Sam interrupts, forcing him to meet her eyes. �Can we just meet somewhere and I can explain?� Her eyes are pleading yet oddly relieved at the same time, her mouth opening and closing in time with her breathing. She tries to reach for him, to keep him from escaping, but he steps back and out of her grasping hands.
He hears a faint sound coming from behind her and immediately recognizes the bedroom door beginning to creak open. Not wanting to know any more, Pete backs away and once again centers his gaze on her face, his eyes suddenly turning cold. He was a fool to think he could just pick up things as he had left them. She�s made her choice, and the choice does not involve him. He refuses to show weakness in front of her so without another word he turns around, never looking back and walks briskly down the path towards his vehicle. Once he reaches his SUV, he jumps in and slams the door. His mind racing he suddenly realizes something�
She never even called his name.
- Fin -