Chapter 24 - Graham

The door shut behind him with a quiet click that made him wince.  He didn't want them to know that he had just seen them, didn't want them to feel guilt for something that was meant to happen eventually.  This was what he wanted, Graham reminded himself as he walked further and further away from the room that held his two best friends.  Graham had wanted Scott to find a woman that would treat him right and make him happy.  Sam was that woman.

Acceptance settled in his mind as he stepped outside.  Maybe if it had been a different woman, Graham would have fought for her.  Maybe if it hadn't been Scott who was with that woman, Graham would have fought for her.  He didn't know, didn't even want to think about putting himself in that position.  Would Scott still be his friend if it happened the other way around?  If Graham had won Sam, had wanted to fight for Sam, would Scott bow down? 

With a small laugh, Graham shook his head.  No.  If Scott wanted Sam, he would go after her until he had her.  He would make sure that the woman knew how he felt, knew that Scott was the only one who could make her happy.  And that was what happened.  Scott had shown Sam who she was truly meant to be with.

"Graham," someone snapped in his ear.

Slowly, he glanced over towards a worried Max.  "Yeah?"

"Is she okay?  Did you see her?  Does she need help?"

The questions flew from Max's mouth so quickly that Graham let a genuine smile cross his face.  "She's fine," he said and watched as Max's shoulders dropped in relief.  "Actually, I have a feeling that she is more than fine."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Max snapped, glancing towards the house as if he were contemplating running in after Sam.

"It means," Graham said, pausing until Max glanced back towards him, "that Sam and Scott have finally told each other how they really feel."

Max's eyes widened before dropping back to their normal size.  "You're lying."

"Nope," Graham replied sadly.  "I saw the two of them kissing just a minute ago."

"Good," Max said with a relieved breath.  "You saw them kissing, nothing more than kissing.  You didn't hear what they said before or after the kiss; don't know if everything worked out okay, because you just saw the kiss."

Graham's eyes narrowed at the bright smile Max now wore.  Taking a step towards the man, Graham stared at him. "I think it's time that you answered a question or two that I have."

"I knew this would come eventually," Max admitted, "but I would prefer for you to hurry up and ask.  Sam will be out here in a minute."

"Who do you work for?" Graham asked, not wasting any time.

Max's eyes flickered towards the house.  "Her father.  Since we were younger, I've looked out for her for him."  Max straightened as his eyes drifted from the house and onto Graham.  "That's not the only reason why I watch out for her.  I love her, Graham.  I only want her to be safe and happy."

"Do you think she would be happy knowing that you only hang out with her because your father pays you to?"

"Actually," Max whispered with a small smile, "I don't think she'll mind.  She's suspected before.  I only go on a couple photo shoots a year and only for a couple of days.  I think she knows I get my income from somewhere else too."

Graham nodded, knowing that Max was probably right.  If there was one thing that Graham knew for sure, it was that Sam wasn't stupid.  Hell, the woman was smarter than Max, Scott, and Graham combined.  "So that's why you lie to her."

Max froze, the smile dropping from his face.  "What are you talking about?"

"You not being gay," Graham said with a nonchalant voice that had gotten him out of plenty situations.  "Don't deny it either.  I heard you tell Scott."

"You weren't anywhere near us."

Shrugging, Graham gestured towards the wait staff.  "My family."

"Damn," Max whispered with a laugh.  "You weren't kidding when you said you had a lot of them, were you?"

"Nope," Graham answered as he let a small smile form on his face.  "Now tell me the truth."

Something flashed over Max's face, and Graham knew that the man was trying to come to a decision.  Standing there, Graham didn't say a word.  He wouldn't make this any easier on Max, not when the man had lied to Sam for almost her entire life. He wouldn't ease the uncomfortable position Max now stood in. 

"I'm not gay," Max said, "but you've already heard the story."

"Is it the truth?"

Max shrugged as he glanced behind Graham with a smile.  "You'll never know."

Graham opened his mouth, but another voice cut him off.  "Graham!"  He turned, staring at Sam.  She walked towards him with a small frown on her face.  As she stopped in front of him, she glanced around at the people around them.  "Can I talk to you inside for a minute?"

"Sure," Graham mumbled with a small wave in Max's direction.  This was it, he thought.  Right now, Sam was going to tell him that she wanted to be with Scott.  She was going to look up at him with her wide eyes, apologize, but ultimately tell him it was Scott that she wanted.

She stopped walking, making Graham glance up at his surroundings for the first time.  He smiled when he realized that she had taken him to the kitchen.  Did the woman ever want to go to another room in this house?  Images of Sam in Scott's arms flashed through his mind, reminding him that there was another room that she enjoyed.

"I just want to..." she trailed off.  Biting her lip, she fidgeted with the hem of her dress.  A sigh escaped her mouth.  "Um—"

"I already know," Graham interrupted.

A relieved breath escaped her mouth in a whoosh.  "You do?"

Graham nodded, putting a smile on his face that he did not feel.  "Yeah, and it's okay.  I'm fine with it.  Remember, Sam.  I made a promise.  No matter what happens, I'll always be your friend."

"Okay," she said slowly.  Standing to her full height, she smiled at him.  "Okay, I'm ready."

"Ready for w—"

She reached up, intertwining her hands behind his neck.  Pulling him down, she pressed her lips to his.  Graham froze in surprise.  He had suspected a lot of things when he had followed her into the kitchen.  Tears, anger, hate, defeat, but not a kiss.  He felt her draw back slightly, and he realized that he still hadn't moved. 

With a mumbled curse, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer.  One hand pressed to her lower back while the other drifted up the side of her neck.  Turning her slightly, he deepened the kiss.  When a small noise escaped Sam, he drew back.  Staring at her flushed face, and her lips that were slightly more swollen than before, he dropped his arms.

"Feel anything?" she asked, her breathing coming out in short gasps.

Graham glanced behind her, seeing someone that hadn't been there before.  With a small smile, he shook his head.  "Nothing.  You?"

"No," she blurted her eyes filling with tears before turning away from him.  "I didn't feel anything."  She took a step away from him, but paused before she reached the kitchen door.  "Will you tell Scott that I'm leaving?"

"Yeah," he mumbled, staring at the man in question.  "I'll tell him.

"Thanks," she whispered.  "Bye, Graham."

"Bye," he replied, letting his eyes turn towards her.  She walked away, her head a little lower than it had been when she dragged him in here.  He wanted to go after her, wanted to pull her back into his arms and show her just how much his words were a lie, but he didn't.  He wouldn't risk her happiness by being selfish.

"You're an idiot," Scott snapped as soon as Sam was gone.  "You're the stupidest man I've ever met in my life."

"Then you're just as stupid," Graham threw back.  "She kissed you, dammit.  I saw it."

Scott shook his head with a small laugh.  "No, I kissed her.  What just happened between the two of you, Graham."  Scott paused as if he couldn't think of an appropriate word.  "That's what my parents have, that's what I want so much.  Don't be an idiot; don't let Sam get away from you."

"She loves you," Graham protested.  There was no way that he would let Scott be the martyr.  He wouldn't let the man, who had been his best friend for his entire life, be unhappy for Graham.

"Graham," Scott snapped, slight anger in his voice.  "Graham look at me; really look at me.  I love her; I do, but not like you love her.  I wish it could be different.  I wish that I had stronger feelings towards her, because if I did, both of us know that I wouldn't be encouraging you right now.  I'm a selfish man, Graham.  I always go after what I want, but Sam isn't for me.  We may have started this whole thing to find me a wife, but instead, I found a friend that will always be there for me, just like I'll always be there for her.  Right now, I'm being there for her.  Go after her Graham and hurry up before she gets too far."

Graham stared at Scott, noticing the fierce expression on the man's face.  He searched for any signs of deception, but found none.  Scott was telling the truth.  Graham let out a deep breath as realization struck.  Scott didn't want Sam, not the way that Graham did.  "I have to go," he whispered with a smile.

Scott laughed while walking towards him. Pulling him into a quick hug, Scott pushed him towards the door.  "It's about time you fought for something."  The smile on Scott's face dropped.  "But hurry up.  That goodbye she gave you didn't sound as if she was just leaving the party."

 "I know," Graham said as he walked towards the kitchen door, "but if she believes she's going to get away, she doesn't know me as well as she thinks she does."

Laughter followed him out of the kitchen, making Graham's smile widen.  With a shake of his head, he picked up his pace.  He knew where she would be; he just hoped that he got there in time.