Chapter Seven

“As much as I love making out with you it’s not going to be an all the time thing, kay?”

“Okay,” Michael replied. “The whole ‘taking it slow thing’?”

“That and all a few of my previous boyfriends ever wanted to do was make out. One of them was a horrible kisser too.” Her wide smile faded slightly at the thought of her ex, all he had ever wanted to do was make out. He was a horrible kisser in general, even when it came to simple pecks so anything more was a nightmare. Sam never said anything; after all she was the poor twenty year old boy’s first girlfriend and she didn’t want to hurt his feelings. He had become too clingy and she ended things. “You’re an amazing kisser,” She brought herself back from her thoughts and the smile back to her face.

“If you say so.”

“I do say so, when it comes to all of the guys I’ve kissed you’re the best.” She wasn’t lying, he was an amazing kisser.

***

After their trip to Dallas Michael knew that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with this girl. There was more than one problem with bringing this up to Sam though; first of all they had only been together for a month and she kept bringing up how she wanted to take things slow, she did mention though that this was because she wanted to make their relationship last. Secondly he was lucky enough to be able to call her his, after all the reason he hadn’t asked her out in the first place was because he knew that she didn’t ever want to be with anyone who was in the military, especially not during tech school, Sam had also mentioned multiple times that she never wanted to marry anyone who was in the military. But why would she want to make their relationship last if there was no hope for things going beyond what they had?

Over the next week Michael thought about this a lot and by Sunday had convinced himself that it was worth bringing it up, he loved her and wanted to show it. Just as every Sunday there was a GI party, so while they were cleaning their rooms Sam and Michael were chatting on AIM. ‘I love you.’

‘I love you too,’ Michael replied. ‘I can see myself being with you for forever.’

Sam smiled. ‘I can too.’

That’s a good sign, right?

‘I don’t want to get married while I’m in the Air Force though.’

Could be worse. They talked a bit longer before coming to the conclusion that in Sam’s last year in the Air Force Michael would propose and just after she got out they would get married. ‘Alright, I promise you that in four years I will ask you to marry me.’

Sam was happy with the outcome, she loved Michael. Michael was glad that things had gone so well.

Just as everyone was released from formation a girl from Sam and Michael’s class gave Sam some bad news; they would be wearing skirts tomorrow. “Fuck.” She turned to Michael before saying, “We have to go to Wal-Mart, I don’t have pantyhose.”

After changing into civilian clothes Sam and Michael met up at the truck and left for Wal-Mart. While there Sam informed both Cassie and Jesse of what had been discussed a few hours earlier. Cassie was happy, Jesse on the other hand was less than thrilled.

***

After a long day of class and changing out of her skirt Sam met Michael in the first floor laundry room with her green bag full of dirty clothes. Once their clothes were in washers they hopped up on the table in the corner to talk and wait. They managed to find themselves talking about the promise from the day before. “I was thinking that since you wear this ring every day,” he said gesturing towards the silver thistle ring that Sam hardly ever took off. “Maybe we could switch it to your left hand as kind of a ‘pre-engagement’ thing.”

“Okay,” Sam smiled and pulled her ring from her finger, placing it in Michael’s hand. He took Sam’s left hand in his and gently slid the ring onto her small finger. As he did a shiver rolled down Sam’s spine, it was just like every time he kissed her. It was meant to be.

“I love you.”

“I love you too Michael,” she gently pressed her lips to his and when she pulled away she rested her forehead against his and looked down at her ring and her fingers laced with Michael’s. It was definitely meant to be.

“I really liked being away from base with you; maybe we could do it again?” Michael asked later that day.

“Sounds good to me.”

Throughout the week Michael found and booked a hotel, they filled out the necessary paperwork and anxiously awaited the arrival of Saturday morning.

***

They awoke early, wanting to leave as soon as they were allowed to so that they could spend as much time together as possible, alone. The drive to Abilene was just over an hour putting them at their hotel at just after seven am. “I’m hungry,” Sam said shortly after they arrived and checked in.

“Let’s take our bags upstairs and then we’ll go to Cracker Barrel, okay?”

Cracker Barrel was a short drive away and when they arrived both Sam and Michael order root beer and one of the big breakfasts; eggs, bacon, biscuits, potatoes and apples. While they waited for their food to arrive Sam grabbed the peg game sitting on their table. “Um… where are all the other pieces?” The game was missing two more pieces than it should have been. After switching it with the one from the table next to theirs she sat and began to play. “Believe it or not once I got it so there was only one left. I have a picture to prove it too.”

Sam and Michael took turns playing until their food arrived and when they were done eating they went into the store part of the restaurant to look around. They ended up buying the peg game as well as a giant chocolate bar. “Checkers?” Sam asked when they walked outside where the giant checker boards were.

“Eh, I’m pretty bad at checkers.”

“Oh come on, please?” She said with a smile.

Michael wasn’t lying; he was a very poor checkers player. He managed to take one of Sam’s pieces while she took twelve of his. “I’m sorry baby,” Sam said with a giggle and pulled her phone out to take a picture.

“It’s really not that funny.”

“You’re right, I’m sorry.” As much as she tried she couldn’t keep from smiling. “I love you.”

“I love you too, ready to go?”

Sam nodded and with that they left and went back to their hotel. Michael popped in The Mighty Ducks and they just hung out for a while until Sam complained of her back hurting. “Lay down,” Michael instructed. Sam rolled so that she was now laying on her stomach and winced when Michael began to work the tense muscles in her shoulders. “You okay?” He asked, not liking the look of pain on her face.

“Mhm, fine.”

A minute more passed before was fed up with Sam’s shirt, it kept bunching up and made what he was doing difficult. “This would be a lot easier if you took your shirt off,” he said hesitantly. Sam sat up, facing away from Michael and pulled her t-shirt over her head before laying back down. He nervously placed his hands back on her shoulders, the softness of her skin under his rough hands adding to his worry – this was definitely not taking things slow.

Soon his hand grew tired and he reluctantly pulled away from her. “Thank you,” she smiled. Sam returned the favor and tried her best to work Michael’s tense muscles, they were nothing compared to hers though. When she finished she lay back down on her stomach and mumbled into the comforter something about being tired and wanting to take a nap. The next thing she knew she was waking up in the safety of Michael’s arms.

“Sleep well my love?” He kissed her.

“Mhm, what did you do while I was asleep?” She rolled towards him; her arm hit the cool sheet reminding her that she was laying there in a bra and shorts. Normal this would be a problem, she hated her body and wanted to hide it was much as possible from everyone. Michael was different though, she was comfortable with him and this definitely proved it.

Michael however didn’t want to push things and knowing that Sam was uncomfortable with her body picked up her shirt and handed it to her. “Pizza for dinner?” He asked as she pulled the white t-shirt over her head.

“Kay.”

Soon they were eating a Pizza Hut Meat Lovers pizza and breadsticks and drinking Pepsi. After a glass of Pepsi Sam couldn’t help but let out a loud burp. “Classy,” Michael smiled.

“Sorry.”

Soon they were trying to outbelch each other, Sam ended up winning. While enjoying their pizza and each other’s company Sam convinced Michael to watch the Pittsburgh Pirates game with her. Baseball was her fourth favorite sport, but she loved her Pittsburgh teams and watched whenever she could.

“Goodnight Michael, I love you.” Sam said when they were under the covers and ready for bed.

“I love you too, goodnight.” He kissed her, pulled her close and soon they were both asleep. That sleep however didn’t last long; they still weren’t used to sleeping together. They sat up talking for about an hour, getting to know each other better than they already did.

“I’m hungry,” Sam said.

“Okay,” Michael got out of bed and got her one of the left over bread sticks. Once she had eaten it she cuddled close to Michael again and soon they were both asleep.

When they woke up the next morning they reluctantly got out of bed; they didn’t want to leave each other’s arms and they didn’t want to go back to base. They took turns using the bathroom to change and Michael started packing their things while Sam brushed her hair. Not wanting to get hair all over her black shirt, she shed like a dog, she kept it off standing in front of the mirror in her jeans and bra. Michael came around the corner to brush his teeth and stopped in his tracks for a second and took in the sight in front of him, she was beautiful. He wrapped his arms around her from behind. “Hello beautiful.”

“Hey,” she leaned back against him. She was definitely comfortable.