Around noon, Erin calls.

“What are you up to?” I ask, praying he has a plan in place for us to meet.

“I had back to back meetings. Free for another hour. You?”

“Thinking of our kiss.” I had been looking at job openings in Bern. I decided to make the lie I told him a truth. If I pay off my debts I have no other reason to stay in the States. I can go anywhere, why not to Bern?

“Jacking off?” Erin has gone to husky mode.

“Now that I've you on line, it's a wonderful idea.” I smile and stretch in the bed.

“No Sam, it's not. Do you have formal wear? For tomorrow?” He has gone to all business mode.

Why does he still keep me at arms length? By now, he should have been more receptive. Because I am. I will do anything for him—in bed.

A sigh escapes, way to go Sam.

“I don't have any suit. I'm thinking of a button down and slacks. Is it going to be very grand?” I ask, staring at my suitcase.

“I don't know. This is the first engagement in our family after our parents’. My mom has invited all my cousins. I can ask her or we can go shopping in the evening.”

I smile. “Shopping, on one condition.”

“I'm not buying you silk underwear.” He beats me to it.

If we are together, I could have bitten his ear for his sass. In phone I can only grumble.

“Then no suit for me. What are you wearing?”

“Now? Nothing.” I can hear the smile in his voice.

“You're a tease. I don't want to do anything with you.” I grumble some more.

He laughs. “Aww. Sam, don't you want to see my weenie?”

Laughter erupts like a volcano. "How is it?”

“Lonely.”

“Suffer.”

“You're heartless Sammy.”

I can't contain the chortle. “Don't you dare use it.”

“Yeah? Why is that Sammy?”

“You're a dead man Korksov.”

“How did you know my last.. oh, the invite.”

Good that he solved it himself.

“Yeah. Korkie, no, Sovy, no, I got the perfect nickname.”

“What?”

“Orky.”

“Ewww. Not as adorable as Sammy.”

“Well, you're not adorable. I was going for a bear nickname.”

He chuckles, “You know what Sam? I usually prefer talking on phone. It balances out the field, right? They can't see me, I can't see them. But now, with you, I hate it.”

He can't possibly know how much his admission means to me. I'm all warm from inside out.

“I've finally succeeded in seducing you.” I whisper.

“Don’t you have any shame? Yep! Coming. Sam, I got to go. Shopping, six. Be ready outside your hotel. Bye.”

The line goes dead.

Unable to hold back my grin, I whoop. God, I'm behaving like a teen with a crush.

****

“I don't think, anyone would be ready to fit a suit in such short notice.” Linking our arms together, I steer us to the clothes store.

“Kelly would have something ready made. Don't whine.”

“What are you wearing tomorrow?”

“Lydi picked it. A suit, it was soft and comfy. That's all I care.” He shrugs.

“She picks all your clothes?” He is wearing a vibrant striped sweater and grey scarf. Not even a beanie today.

“Yeah, she likes to dress me up. I grew my hair for her. She wanted to try curling.” He touches his hair and smiles.

“Then?”

“She burnt a chunk of it, mom was so angry. We were in school. She grounded her for a month. It was fun though. I kind of liked the long hair. So kept it.” He leans on my shoulder, his hair blows on my face. I wipe it back behind his ear.

“Not your best feature, but can't complain either.”

He pinches my palm.

“Ouch. Truth hurts Erin. Deal with it.”

He huffs. “Are we there yet?”

“Yep. After you.”

For a small town store, it has decent amount of options.

“How is this?” I hand out a suit to Erin.

“Why me? You're going to wear it.”

I lean and whisper in his ear, “you'll be touching it the whole time.”

A wondrous grin spreads over his face. “Give it.”

Putting the clothe between his fingers, he rubs the material, “Too starchy.”

“This?” I give him a camisole.

“Too slimy.”

I laugh, “you're good. You're holding a camisole.”

He throws it at me.

We spend more than an hour repeating the same exercise, he doesn't like anything.

Tired of standing, I provide an alternate. “I've a blazer. Will that work?”

“You could have told that. Total waste of time.” He grumbles.

“Oh Erin, is it now?” I blow air in his face.

He pushes my face away, “Gross.”

“Come on, since I wasted your time, I'll treat you to dinner. My choice.”

“We're not going to your room.” He wags his finger.

“Spoil sport. I saw a pasta place in the opposite street, is it any good?” We walk out of the store hand in hand. I love it when he is close, it somehow makes me think that he trusts me. Not that I am trustworthy, still... it's good.

“Okay I suppose, if not with the current company, I wouldn't go.”

“Oh my, did you hear that?” I ask leaning on him.

He shakes his head, a smile already forming. I pluck his shades, “That's my heart fluttering.... in joy.”

He blushes.

I don't usually curse, now I want to. Because there's nothing more I need right now than his lips on mine. My arms around him.

“You're a terrible flirt, Sam.”

“So are you. Hey, thanks for the invite.” I change the subject.

The place is empty, I choose a table close to window.

“I was not sure if you'd be okay with it, but if you don't come, I'll miss one day being with you.”

I grip his fingers. “We can't have that.”

“I'm glad you agree.” He grabs mine back.

Every minute with him is precious. I can't afford to lose any. That thought should terrify me, but I've stopped caring.