Ali had to ask that question.

The image of Noah putting his arms around Ali flashed before Sam. Usually, he was better at keeping his angst at bay, but right now everything felt so raw. The memory clawed at him like thorns from the blackberry bushes at the beach house. "I was there," he blurted out.

Ali's hand stopped its gentle massage. "I don't understand."

This was not a conversation Sam wanted to have right now. Nor ever. He just got Ali back and even though he was going to fight tooth and nail to keep her, he wanted more time. Time to find a way to make her love him again.

Listening to what Ali had said amazed him. She was jealous of his friends and family. He had never considered such a concept. But once pointed out, it made sense. Of course, all this was overwhelming to Ali, having no real family herself.

Sam had only met her parents once. It was a few days before they left the west coast and was one of the strangest dinners of his life. There was no emotion in the room, no concern for their daughter leaving to move across the country with a practical stranger, no tearful hugs goodbye. They had spent most of the evening talking about the family business.

It was understandable Ali would want him all to herself. When they first met, it was Sam who only had a few friends. He could focus solely on Ali. It had been a blissful bubble. But it was unsustainable.

As she admitted she was lonely, his heart broke. Ali was unhappy. On some level, he knew it. Why had he avoided the subject? If only she had said something. He could have fixed it. Before she was forced to turn to Noah for comfort.

Sam felt her watching him now, waiting for an explanation. She had been honest with him, it was his turn now. He could not avoid Ali's question. Part of him wanted to know the answer as well. It was time to get to the truth. No matter how painful.

"I got to the gallery a little early. I couldn't wait anymore. And I...I saw you," Sam's throat felt dry but he had to get the words out. "You and Noah."

"Ok. I was with Noah. Go on."

This was torture. Ali was going to make him say the words. "You were in his arms..."

Ali stiffened beside Sam. "I was in his arms..."

Sam could hear the tremble in Ali's voice. There was an undercurrent of emotion Sam did not understand. Did she feel guilt? Regret? Or was it something else?

With force, Ali pushed herself away from Sam and leapt out of bed. Turning away from him, she pulled at her bathrobe and fled the room. Like she was the one who was hurt.

Shocked by her actions, Sam kicked off the bedsheets. He was not sure how Ali would react to his admission; he certainly did not expect it to involve more running away. Not after she swore only minutes ago, she would not flee anymore, promising to stay and work things out.

Getting out of bed himself, Sam followed, finding her in the kitchen. Light from the morning sky illuminated the picture before him. Ali was leaning over the sink, head down, shoulders hunched forward. Her long raven locks hung like a curtain over her face, blocking Sam from assessing her expression. She was gripping the counter so tight; her knuckles were white.

Sam attempted to calm her down. "Ali, I know it's my f..."

She held up a hand, stopping him. "You think...," she blew out a puff of air, "... I was with another man." This time there was no mistaking the emotion in her voice. Each word dripped with heated anger as it poured from her. Ali was mad at him.

From time to time Sam had witnessed Ali get annoyed. Seen her chew out a vendor delivering the wrong thing, give death glares to an abusive partner who showed up at the shelter or even yell in frustration as things went awry at work. When she had discovered he had been lying to her about his past last year, Ali had been righteously furious at Sam. But this was different, it was a whole new level. Sam could feel the rage rolling off Ali like the mists off a mountain on a crisp winter morning.

Sam blinked in confusion. Was it not supposed to be the other way around? And what did she mean think?

"What did you see Sam?" Ali slapped the countertop. "Tell me exactly what you saw."

"You were...were in the office upstairs. I saw your reflection in the mirror on the opposite wall from the stairway." Sam did not want to go on, resisting describing what happened next. But Ali remained silent.

"Noah," Sam swallowed hard, "he came up behind you and slid his hands around your waist." Sam closed his eyes as if that could block out the horrid memory and stop the churn in his stomach. But he could not, they needed to talk about this. Exposure was crucial if they had a chance of moving forward. He gulped in air and pushed on. "You turned around, put his hands on his chest and ...and then..."

"...and then?" Ali echoed.

It was just like his conversation with Cruz, he was not sure what happened next. This is where his imagination took over, filling in the blanks. In one version Noah kissed her right away, in another version, Noah nuzzled at her neck first. His mind came up with a swirl of scenarios.

"Well, I left before you actually kissed."

Ali put her hand on her stomach. "Kissed?" the word squeezed out of her like it hurt to say. She was shaking her head.

"But you smiled Ali. I saw it." Sam felt the need to defend himself. "You smiled when Noah put his hands on you." Sam bit out. "My smile."

Pushing away from the counter, Ali turned towards Sam, her face stained with tears. "Because I thought it was you!" she cried.

"What? No...you were with Noah...you..." Sam's voice trailed off.

Ali looked at him expectantly, letting her words sink in. Then she closed her eyes and swallowed hard. "I was waiting for you." Ali wiped blindly at the tears streaming down her face. "I smiled because at last you were there. All morning all I did was watch the clock, waiting for you. I wanted it to be you. It's always you, Sam." Her voice broke on his name and a fresh wave of tears sprung forth.

Sam ran his fingers through his hair, trying to make sense of what she was saying. Relief mixed with guilt. He had it all wrong. Ali had been fighting off Noah. A new sensation tightened in his chest.

"Noah made a move on you?" Anger rising in his throat. Cruz had been right. Sam felt the urge to punch something. Noah's nose would do nicely.

Ali's eyes widened, as if in shock. "That's what you care about here." She was yelling full throttle at him now. "Who gives a damn about Noah!" Stamping her feet, she pushed past Sam. He turned and trailed her like a lost puppy. His mind was a swirl.

When they got to the bedroom, Sam practically bumped into Ali she stopped so suddenly. She spun around and accosted him. "You think I cheated on you. You... you believe... I could even so much as kiss another man." Her whole body was shaking. "How? How can you think that of me?"

Sam felt his cheeks get hot. Ali was beyond upset and it was all his fault. How could he have been so momentously stupid? Jumping to conclusions, the wrong conclusions. Look what it had done to them. 

This was it. Ali would leave him for sure now. Sam felt the familiar stab in his gut. Panic. It threatened to short circuit his brain. He had to do something, something to stop her.

But Ali did not leave. Instead, she stepped towards him. Sam had to fight an instinct to move backwards. Taking his hand in hers, Ali's red-rimmed eyes found his.

"Why Sam?" she pleaded softly. "Why do you doubt me and my love for you?"