I burst through the doors of the bar and instantly see Sam's welcoming smile. He sees the state I'm in and quickly leaps over the bar to wrap me in his arms.

I collapse into him and completely lose any ounce of self-control I've ever had. Tears start plummeting from my eyes and unnatural sounds come out of my mouth that I didn't even know I could make but Sam doesn't question me. He simply holds me and lets me cry.

I don't have any strength left in me to even care if people are watching this humiliating scene.

"Hey, everything's going to be alright." He whispers into my ear before he kisses my temple. But he doesn't even know what happened. My world is crashing to my feet and it feels like nothing could ever be alright again.

After a few minutes of heart-wrenching tears, Sam seems to mouth something to one of the waitresses and lifts me into his arms. I don't have the strength to hold on so my body is limp and my hands are folded onto my stomach.

I tuck my head into his chest to hide my tearstained face from onlookers and I inhale his citrusy aroma. My mind wanders and I wonder if it's his soap that always makes him smell good or if it's just from making cocktails at the bar.

"Let's go home." Sam says in a calming tone.

"Not my apartment." I manage between tears and start to panic. Jackson didn't seem to care enough to chase after me, but if he does try to find me my apartment will be the first place he looks. I just can't see him right now. I'm so emotional and confused, I just need my Sam.

"Mine?" He offers and I nod before leaning my head back on his chest and breathing in his scent.

He effortlessly carries me all the way to his brand new Dodge Ram and skillfully places me in the passenger seat without breaking a sweat.

I never realized how prominent the muscles in his arms were before. His shirt bends and stretches under his muscles and I find the sight momentarily makes me forget my pain and my tears dry up. I watch his muscles flex as he reaches across me and buckles me in.

My phone starts ringing almost immediately after entering the truck. My heart jumps with excitement the second I see his name flash across my screen, another involuntary reaction. I'm going to have to retrain my heart to forget every feeling Jackson's ever given me. I decline the call and another tear makes it down my cheek.

Down the road, my phone rings again and I once again decline.

This happens twice more before I decide to stop torturing myself and turn my phone off. Sam glances at me and the corners of his mouth offer a sad smile. I'm sure he can guess at my tears, but he doesn't intrude by asking, another reason I love him. 

The drive is made in a comfortable silence and I concentrate on the scenery outside my windows. I feel like if I were to think of anything else I might break down again.

Palm trees fly by my window and I start to wonder how they got here. Palm trees are just as prevalent as saguaro cacti in Arizona. They line the highways, litter peoples yards, they're majestic, yet they don't belong here. Just like I don't belong in Jackson's world.

Damn it.

I kick myself for thinking of him again. It's as if every thought revolves around him or relates to him in some way. I'll never be able to look at another sunset without thinking of him or climb another mountain and every man I ever date will always be compared to him.

It kills me that he didn't come after me. I didn't run away, I walked away and he didn't care enough to stop me. I want to speak to him and to find out why he did this to me. I want him to know how much this hurts, but I don't want him to know I'm weak. I would have followed him to the ends of the earth until this morning.

I close my eyes, lean my head back and let the sun warm my face.  I focus on the noises of Sam's truck on the freeway and before I know it I've fallen asleep.

I WAKE UP as we're pulling into the driveway of a decent-sized home in a quiet cookie-cutter neighborhood of Scottsdale. The entire street is lined with the same design houses and they look identical like something out of a Tim Burton film.

Sam's house looks brand new with a perfectly manicured lawn, and a massive window looking into his living room. I'm curious if the insides look just as pristine as the exterior but I don't ask because I'm afraid if I open my mouth I'll start crying again.

Sam unlocks the giant doors that lead directly to his living room and my question is answered. The interior is in fact just as pristine, however, it's welcoming and warm.

Even though the last person I should be thinking about is Jackson, I can't help but compare Sam's house to his. In Jackson's house, everything is modern and his color scheme was mostly shades of grey. Here, bright light streams through open windows and the walls are a light cream color.

While Jack's penthouse had hardly any furniture, Sam has filled his, making it warm and inviting. This would be a great place to raise a family, unlike Jack's penthouse.

"Are you renting?" I ask meekly and then clear my throat.

"No, I just officially made the last payment, you are now looking at a homeowner." Sam says proudly as he places his keys neatly on a rack hanging by the front door.

I feel a smile cross my face and although it feels foreign, I'm genuinely happy for Sam. "Congratulations!"

"Thanks, Mags. Do you want something to eat?" He says as he walks towards the newly remodeled kitchen.

"Actually Sam, do you mind if I take a nap?" I say quietly, hoping I don't offend him. It's the first time I've seen his house, despite the fact that he's one of my best friends and even though he's been to mine more times than I can count.

His house truly is beautiful and I love spending time with him, but now I've got to work on getting over the fact that the love of my life has shattered my heart. I just don't have the strength to be the cheerful and energetic person I usually am.

I can see his eyes examining me with concern and I sigh slightly embarrassed, "I know it's only noon but-"

He cuts me off, "Of course Maggie. Let me get you something comfortable to wear and you can take my bed."

A blush warms my cheeks and I'm thankful for his kindness. He leads me to his bedroom to his king-sized bed and draws the wood shutters closed to make it dark.

He then hands me one of his large t-shirts and just when I think he's leaving, he brings me into a tight bear hug. I instinctively wrap my arms around his waist and take deep breaths to keep from spilling tears.

"Maggie, it will get easier." He whispers before he plants a kiss on my head.

Then before I can object he walks out of his bedroom and I'm left alone. I put on his white t-shirt which is enormous on me. It lands just above my knees which is perfect because I didn't want to wear jeans to bed.

I climb into his bed and curl up with his pillows. They have his familiar scent of citrus which calms my breathing. Sam has such a pure heart. If I didn't have him, I don't know where I would have gone.

Just before I fall asleep I hear Sam's phone ring in the living room.

"It's okay calm down, she's here with me." Sam says trying to calm down whoever his caller is.

"She's okay I think, she just went to bed." Sam says unable to hide the worry in his voice.

Who could he be talking to?

"Tell him to get the fuck out of there." He says in a growl and now I'm really wondering who he's talking to.

"Bethany I swear to fucking god, if you give that prick my address I'll fucking kill you both."

I sit straight up in bed, partly in shock to hear Sam being so aggressive but also because there's only one person who Sam could be so upset about.

"Thank you." I hear him say just before I hear his phone go smashing into a wall.

I cringe at the sound of his clearly now broken phone.

Jack's there, at my apartment, looking for me. He did just what I hoped- my face contorts as I rethink my words in my head. He did just what I thought he might do. I correct myself and lay my head back down. Briefly, a few butterflies are set loose in my stomach until I remind myself that I shouldn't care.

Sleep comes surprisingly easy, but nightmares come easier.

"Maggie! Maggie wake up!"

I gasp for air and sit straight up in bed. I'm momentarily disoriented and feel my breathing speed up as I look at walls I'm not familiar with.

That is until I feel Sam's hand caress my cheek that's soaked with sweat. I turn my head to look him in the eyes and see concern blanketing his face.

"You were having a nightmare." Sam says gently as if he's afraid to break me.

"I'm sorry." My cheeks light up in embarrassment as I wipe the sweat from my brow.

"You're apologizing for bad dreams?" He asks and I notice him attempting to hide a slight smile.

"Sorry." I cringe but he laughs and stands up off the bed, seemingly satisfied that I'm okay.

It's dark in his bedroom but when my eyes finally adjust my breath catches. I can't stop my eyes from raking down his body and I notice he's not wearing a shirt. His abs are out clear to see and just below the deep v shape in his pelvis are red plaid pajama bottoms that match my favorite plaid leggings.

I've never seen him without a shirt on. I always knew he was strong but I didn't know his body was so defined. Without thinking I reach out and graze one of his abs. His breath catches at my touch. I suddenly realize what I'm doing and jerk my hand back to my chest. I feel my entire face heat up in embarrassment.

"I'm sorry. My mind isn't quite right." I blurt, covering my face to hide my blush.

"Hey it's okay, do you want to talk about it?" He asks with an encouraging expression.

"No, not yet." I say as my eyes travel to the cotton sheets on his bed.

"Well, do you want anything to eat? You've been sleeping since noon and it's two in the morning now." He asks with a brow raised.

My stomach growls but the idea of food makes me nauseous. "No thank you, Sam. Do you want your room back?"

"Nope, the couch is actually really comfortable. This is my first time sleeping on it, gotta get my money's worth." He says and gives me a cocky smile and I half-smile back.

"Goodnight." He says softly before turning to leave.

"Stay with me?" I ask in a high pitched voice, suddenly panicking. I don't want to be alone and I hate to use him like this, but that's what friends are for right?

My favorite smile spreads across his face and my heart begins to thaw.

"Sure." He says still grinning.

He climbs into bed behind me and I scoot back until my back is flush against him. I lift my head and he stretches his arm out under my neck and despite the thick muscles on his arms, he's quite comfortable.

His body is warm and comforting, but I feel an ache roll through me as I realize I desperately wish he was Jackson.