Revised 4.25.18

I got home around 4 o'clock in the afternoon after going shopping for some grocery items and with just enough time to get ready. I pick my outfit for tonight and then rush into the bathroom to take a quick shower. I blow dry my hair and curl it using the curling iron. My hair is naturally wavy but being so long it weighs down so I curl it to add more volume and bounce in my hair.

I walk back into my bedroom to cahnge into the maroon colored blouse I chose to wear. I paired it with a pair of dark skinny blue jeans and some grey wedge boots. It's already 5:00 by the time I'm done so I hurry up and put some makeup on. I decide to go with a dark grey smoky eye shadow and light pink lipstick.

There is still fifteen minutes left till the Timmy gets here so I decide to relax and read a little to pass the time. Right when I'm getting to a good part the doorbell rings. Dang it! I silently chastise the person at my door for interupting me as I twist the doorknob to find Tim holding out bouquet of roses in his hand and extends them to me.

"For me?" I tell him with astonishment.

"Yes of course. For who else would they be for." He says looking at me with a look that says 'duhhhh'.

"Oh, thank you. I've never received flowers before. They are beautiful. Peonies are my favorite."

I say to him while smelling them. "I'll go put them in a vase real quick. Be right back."

As I walk towards the kitchen, Tim yells out "Need any help?" rounding the corner to where I am.

"Nope. I'm good. You can relax and have a seat. I will be ready in a sec." I turn to place the vase of flowers in the middle of my kitchen table and almost drop then in the process. Tim who I did not realise was standing right behind me, catches it before the glass shatters everywhere.

"Great reflexes. I'm sorry I didn't realize that you were right behind me." I tell him, quite embarrassed that I didn't hear him sneak up on me.

He reaches out and caresses my cheek. His hand is soft but rough against my skin. I feel my body lean into his hand as I wrap my arms around his waist and pull him into a hug. He's so warm against me, I relish this moment of peace. This moment of being in his arms is a simple gesture but it means so much to me. I pull back and he whispers, "You look absolutely amazing, beautiful." He grabs a strand of my hair and twirls it around his finger. He chuckles a little, "Nervous habit." when he sees me smile at the action knowing that I usually do that when I'm nervous. He knows me so well. "Thank you, again." I say as I go to put the flowers on the table. The doorbell rings just as I put them down.

"I'll answer it." Tim says as he walks to the door. I don't hear a sound so I wonder if he ever made it to the door. I exit my kitchen and step into the hallway only to find the guy from this morning, Derrick, and Tim all staring at each other. My eyes look over their faces but my eyes stop on the guy from this morning. He looks pissed.

Why is he even here? And why does he look pissed off?

Derrick is sporting a huge grin on his face almost looks like he's trying to hold in a laugh. What's so funny?

All three men are standing at my doorway staring at each other, not saying anything or moving. "Um, what's going on?" I say looking between them. They both look over at me, finally noticing that I'm standing there.

"Hey, Sam! How are you? You look better than you looked last night. So that means you must have had a good time last night." He walks over and hugs me as he makes his way into the apartment. Now I know why I wanted to hang with him, he's the complete opposite of me. Maybe he'll rub off on me.

"Last night?" Tim asks taking his eyes off the other guys to look at me. He raises one eyebrow in question waiting for me to answer. I shrug my shoulders, "Yea. I had a real bad day yesterday. Well, I decided to drown my sorrows with liquor." I look between Derrick and Jacob. "Now it's all coming back to me."

My hands immediately go to my mouth and I gasp "Oh my gosh. I'm so so sorry." I can feel my cheeks warm up in embarrassment. "I treated you terribly this morning and you were only here because I asked you too. I really had know idea who you were, Jake. Oh, I was so rude to you. Please say you'll forgive me." I look at him quickly and then to my feet and nervously start twisting my hair around my finger.

"It's really okay. No worries, okay?" He takes my chin in his hand and gently tilts it up to meet his gaze. He smiles at me and I smile back. I don't know why but as I look it his eyes I feel calm and safe. I simply nod my head as a reply. "Uh, so please come in at sit down for a few minutes. Why don't we get to know each other a little." I suggest as we all awkwardly stare at each other as they follow behind me into the living room.

Derrick is the first to speak up. "Man, nice crib!! I will be coming over more often." He says as e throws himself on the sofa. My apartment is decorated with red and grey accents to go with chic modern look of the apartment. In my living room, there is a floor length window door that leads out to a small balcony.

"Would anyone like something to drink? I have coffee, milk, water, and Apple juice. I'm sorry I don't have any beer... " I speak up still standing at the hallway entrance.

"Yes. I'd like some water please." Jake says.

"Ditto." Derrick says.

"I'm good. Thank you though." Tim says sweetly.

"Okay. I'll be right back." I say before entering the kitchen. "I'll help you." Jake says and follows me out into the kitchen.

I open up the fridge and grab 3 water bottles. "Here you go or would you like one at room temperature." I ask Jake as he comes around the counter and slowly begins to encircle me as if he is trying to take me all in. Capture every detail about me.

Gif provided above of this moment ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

"Why don't you just go ahead and mark me?" I say sarcastically.

He stops dead in his tracks and looks at me with shock. You would think that I just told him that his mother died with the look he's giving me right now.

He clears his throat, "I'm sorry. I don't know what you mean?" He still looks shocked as he awaits an answer.

I start to laugh and his face softens a bit. "You know like a dog. They circle the tree or fire hydrant and mark their territory by peeing on it. I'm sorry I thought it was funny how you were walking around me." I bend down and clutch my stomach in laughter. Jake joins in and looks relieved for some odd reason. "That is funny, I was so confused there for a second. You're laugh is adorable by the way."

As I pass him the water bottle, he reaches out to grab my hand in his and runs his finger over the top of my skin. "You are adorable and the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. You know that right?"

"Thank you." I answer with a smile and excuse myself to finish getting ready.

Unshed tears are threatening to spill over before they can fall, showing my weakness, I shove the other water bottles in his hands. "I'll be right back." I say rushing out of the room.
When J return I find Tim standing in front of Jake, both with angry scowls and both of their fists are clenched.

"What's going on here?" I question looking between the both of them.
"Nothing." They both say simultane-ously as they once again take their seats.

Derrick starts to laugh at that, "Nothing? Timmy here wanted to know what Jakey here did to upset you since you went to your bedroom. This has been your 6 o'clock news update Sponsored by Channel 10." At his response, I laugh out loud and then everyone in room visibly relaxes. Tim and Jake even smile and laugh too. I look at Derrick and mouth a thank you, in response he throws a wink at me.

"So....Obviously ya'll have introduced yourselves. Right?" They all nod in agreement. We talk for next 15 minutes, getting to know each other a little more. I found out again that Jacob is the owner of The Midnight Bar and that Derrick is a part time bartender and full time manager there. They are both single. Derrick is 24 years old and has a younger sister only by a year named Scarlett. Jacob is 28 years old and is an only child but he grew up with Derrick and Scarlett so he considers them family. They are all Hispanic, born here in the United States but of Mexican and Brazilian descent.

It's all going great so far even Tim and Jake have loosened up a bit in the process. We decide to go bowling per my request. I've never been and they all decided I should try it. We are about to walk out the door when a hear a low growl from my right.

I turn my head to look and see Mia, my siberian husky. She's all white with gray fur coating the middle of her back and head. She slowly makes her way to Jake who is staring at Mia but not showing any fear.

"Mia? Come, Mia." I say. She whimpers a little like she's unsure if she should back down. I look to Jake. He looks at me then back at Mia and says "It's okay Mia. I'm Jake. Samantha's friend." He holds out the back of his hand and Mia pads near him to sniff his hand. Suddenly, she jumps up and licks Jake in the face and tilts her head playfully.

She turns and pads her way to me, snuggling on my lap. Jake comes and kneels in front of me to scratch behind Mia's ears. "She is beautiful."

"Thank you. She's my baby. I love her so much. It looks like she really likes you." I tell him. He looks at me with that gorgeous smile of his displaying all of his white teeth.

"Well, Mia I've got to go now . Let's go get you settled before I go. I'll meet you all downstairs in a few." I tell them all and they get up to walk out my front door.

"Alright babygirl. I'll be home soon. Be a good girl. Get into your bed." I lead her to the laundry room to the small dog sized canopy bed. Yes, I spoil her. She lays down and brings her grey tail to cover nose. Lastly, I bend down and kiss her on top her head.

Locking the door behind, I follow the stairs that lead to the parking lot just out front. Jake is standing there holding the door open for me with a panty-melting smile. My legs feel like jelly as I walk towards him.

"Thank you." I say as I climb in to the back seat of an all black jeep. I slide in next to Tim who has a frown and looks uncomfortable at the moment. I grab his hand and rub the top softly. He looks up at me and I silently thank him for coming by smiling. He takes hold of my hand, intertwining our fingers and continues to smile while looking out the window.

I turn to face the front again, only to find Jake looking at us. He looks sad and angry. I can't help the feeling I get when I see him like this. It feels like a part of my heart chipped away. He turns around in his seat and says "Let's go."

Derrick notices Jake's tone and looks back at us as well. When he looks down to see my hand in Tim's, his eyes meet mine again and he says with what sounds like sarcasm, "Well, This is going to be so much fun. Let's get this party started?!"