“Squirrel, I have to go. He’s awake.”

Hanging up before his friend had time to protest, Sam looked over from his chair at Jack. His eyes were wide and bloodshot and his lips parted, then he quickly glanced under the blanket, a look of relief on his face when he saw he was fully clothed.

“What am I doing here?” he asked, scanning Sam’s expressionless face. “I remember drinking, and then talking, and then...”

He stared into his hands, as if they would somehow contain his lost memories. A hint of panic knit into his brow as he tried to think.

“And then your door was locked, so I had to carry you up here.” Putting his phone back in his pocket, Sam stood and stretched his arms. His large body crammed into that small, stiff chair didn't make the most comfortable combination, and every muscle was twisted and tight.

“What?” Jack’s pitch went a little higher, his eyes a little wider. “Did I say anything? Or... do anything?”

Sam shrugged, not moving from the corner. “You told me I smelled good.”

“WHAT?” It came out as more of a hiss than a shout and Jack turned red from his neck to his ears. If Sam was the kind of person to find someone cute, this would probably be one of those times. Instead, he decided it was best to end this and leave Jack with as much dignity as he could.

“You didn’t really say anything,” he said, calmly scratching at his scruff. “That was the only clear thing. Then you were just mumbling randomly.”

“Ah...” Jack didn’t sound convinced, but he also didn’t seem like he wanted to know more. If Sam wasn’t bothered by it, maybe he didn’t need to be either. Or at least it made it easier to pretend. “So, you slept in that all night?”

After a quick glance at the old, wingback chair, Sam nodded, still showing no expression. “I don’t need much sleep, and I can sleep anywhere.” No need to throw his sore body onto last night’s mess.

“Comes with the job?” Jack asked with a smirk, trying hard to move past the embarrassment.

He pointed to the space next to him. “There wasn’t room on the bed.”

Jack looked to his side and saw Ellie, still curled up close to him and sleeping peacefully. It made him jump, but then a small smile appeared on his face as he watched her. In that moment, the awkwardness and worry faded away. Walking over, Sam sat down gently on the end of the bed.

“She woke up once and saw you, but it didn’t seem to bother her, and she fell back asleep.” He scratched at his scruff again. “She really does like you.”

That was more of a curious statement than a compliment, but Jack didn’t notice. Instead, he nodded, then turned to stare at him, his dark green eyes searching. “So, then, I didn’t...”

“Didn’t what?” Sam knew what he meant, but nothing good would come from that conversation. Best to just avoid it.

“Nothing.”

With a light shake, Sam woke Ellie, and she let out a breath, reaching her hands up to him. He lifted her to his lap, her arms wrapping tight around his neck as always, then stood.

“There’s water next to you,” he said, gesturing toward the end table as he checked his watch. “I have to feed her and get ready for work.”

Without waiting for a reply, he carried Ellie out of the room and shut the door behind him, leaving Jack to think through last night on his own. For him, it wasn’t important enough to worry over. If Jack wanted to dwell on it, he could do it alone.

After going through his morning routine, including shaving his face smooth for the first time in months, Sam headed out with Ellie trotting obediently behind him. He was glad to have an excuse to leave the house. It seemed like his drinking buddy didn’t remember anything after their conversation and the large chug of vodka. Hopefully it would stay that way. If he was that alarmed from just a normal chat, Jack didn’t want to remember the things he had murmured into his ear.

As expected, the day progressed awkwardly. The few times Sam went back to the house for food or a change of clothes, Jack purposely ducked into another room or dodged him by spinning and hurrying away. Maybe he guessed wrong. Maybe he did remember everything. Either way, it didn’t matter. They couldn’t spend every day like this.

Dinner was quiet and uneasy, with Jade doing most of the talking. It was childish and Sam was done being ignored. Once his sister was out of sight, he grabbed Jack by the front of his collar. Half carrying and half dragging him, he marched through the glass sitting room and out the back door, then pushed him onto a low chair. Ellie had followed and was standing at his side, her big eyes calmly moving between the two.

“What the hell are you doing?” Sam asked, arms folded across his chest. His tone was steady and he didn’t raise his voice. Other than his choice of words, there was no indication he was upset.

Shifting on the chair, Jack rubbed at the back of his neck. “I didn’t know you could actually do that to someone... I thought it was just in movies.” Looking at Sam standing large above him, it was clear he wasn’t in a joking mood, so he shrugged lightly. “I’m embarrassed, so I was avoiding you.” Finally making eye contact for the first time since that morning, he added, “Why? Are you mad?”

“No.”

Jack huffed. “Why would someone who isn’t mad drag someone else outside like that?”

“I’m not mad. I’m annoyed.”

“Well, I’m embarrassed.” He looked away and picked at his jeans, his freckled cheeks a little pink. “I don’t know why. Everyone in this town knows about me. I’m practically famous. But you just called me on it, like it was nothing, and then I got so drunk...” He sighed and looked back up. “I don’t know. It was embarrassing.”

Sam unfolded his arms and lifted Ellie, who had been staring at him with wide eyes, no longer interested in whatever was happening here. “That’s ridiculous. Don’t be embarrassed.”

“Emotions don’t really work that way...”

“They should.”

Jack huffed again and stood, heels rising off the deck to get closer to his face. “Then don’t be annoyed.”

“You’re embarrassed over nothing. My annoyance is justified. I have to live here right now, and you’re making it awkward. Get over it.”

Without saying anything else or letting Jack speak, Sam turned and carried Ellie back into the house. He didn’t know why it aggravated him so much. It wasn’t like they had to interact beyond house business, but being intentionally ignored made him uncomfortable, and he didn’t like it.