“We can do that,” Brooke agreed immediately. At least she doesn’t expect me to cook. There is a God. Looking up to the heavens, she mouthed the words, ‘Thank you.’

“Well, if I’m doing the dinner, let’s put you in charge of the entertainment.”

“Okay, I think I can manage that.”

“Think you can keep me amused?” Sam asked, the flirtatious tone back in her voice after its absence for the last few moments.

“I’m sure I can think of something,” Brooke replied, flirting just as much as the blonde on the opposite end of the phone line. “It’s a long drive to the house from the campus. Sure you’re up to it? What time should I pick you up?”

Sam stumbled over her words. It had never occurred to her that Brooke’s studio would be at her house. Could she handle being that attracted to Brooke…that close to Brooke’s hidden thoughts and dreams? “Oh, the studio is in your house?”

“Yeah, C.C. didn’t tell you? Is that a problem?” Brooke cleared her throat, thinking of what her invitation sounded like. “We could do something else…go somewhere else, if you’d feel more comfortable.”

“No, it’s perfectly fine, but it puts a whole new spin on dinner then. Pick me up about five in the afternoon or so,” she paused for a moment considering all that her roommate had told her about her siblings. “And no, C.C. isn’t too giving when it comes to you.”

Laughter erupted from deep in Brooke’s throat, “That’s funny. She always seems to be trying to pawn me off on somebody.”

“Oh really?” Sam asked, wondering if there would be a story to hear.

“Oh yeah. I’ll tell you about it sometime.”

“Speaking of C.C., what should I tell her if she asks where I’m going?” Sam felt lucky that she had this much time to talk to Brooke as it was.

“Like I said that night after we kissed, Darlin’…tell her whatever you’d like.”

Sam’s heart skipped a beat at the sound of the endearment that had just passed over Brooke’s lips, landing in her direction. The emotion she felt at this moment made her pause.

“Honestly, Brooke, I think it should be our secret for now. I mean, if that’s okay with you,” the blonde crossed her fingers, shutting her eyes tightly as she made the wish. Oh please, please, please.

“That’s fine. I understand.”

A sigh was heard coming from the phone, giving Brooke an idea. Thinking about it quickly, she decided to run it past Sam and see if she would agree to it. “What time is your first class on Monday, Sam?”

“Why?” Sam drew her eyebrows together at the strange question.

“Just wondering. Do you think my sister will place a curfew on you?”

Brooke took another drink of her water as she adjusted the pillows under her head, waiting for an answer. Upon hearing the dead silence on the other end, her stomach turned and her nervousness began to develop. Damn, she’s going to think I’m up to something. Just when Brooke was ready to apologize for any misconception of what she was asking, she heard Sam clear her throat, then stop before she uttered her first word. “Sam?”

“Well, I think she might miss me if I’m not here on Sunday night. Why?” the younger woman asked, not seeming ill at ease in the least.

“Understandable. I was just wondering what time I should have you back. That way I’d have an idea of what to plan. I mean, I just want to make sure that we’ll actually be able to spend some time together.”

“Plan? Sounds like you’re really putting some thought and effort into this,” Sam pointed out, innately pleased that Brooke was as anxious about their date next week as she was.

“You have no idea,” Brooke stated, wanting their next meeting to be perfect for what little bit of time they would have in each other’s company.

“You know, Brooke, I could always tell C.C. that I was headed home and won’t be coming in till my first class on Monday,” Sam tested the waters. “I mean if you’d like…”

“That would be a great idea,” came back the eager reply. “So, what should we plan on for dinner?” Brooke asked.

“That depends. I mean, will we need something to sustain us or something for a quick energy boost?”

“Mmmm…Good question,” Brooke all but purred into the phone, causing Sam’s eyes to roll at the very sound of it. “Who knows? Tell you what, I’ll pick you up at five next Sunday afternoon and we’ll stop by the store to grab a few things. We’ll see what we’re in the mood for,” the woman could feel her dark eyebrows wiggling in delight, “Or…we can always order in.”

“Oh, no. I have a feeling that I already know what I’ll be in the mood for.”

“Oh yeah? And…ah…what would that be?” Brooke was dying to know what had just popped into the blonde’s head.

“Nuh-uh…Let’s just keep that as my surprise.”

All sorts of images were running through Brooke’s mind at the moment and she once again could only come to the conclusion that Sam really did drive her to distraction.

“Well, bring an overnight bag with you. If you get tired, you can crash here. I have plenty of room. But if you think it’s a bomb and I’m the most horrible date you’ve ever had, I’ll take you home. Either way, you’ll be prepared.”

“Oh, I’ll be prepared. Don’t worry about that.”

“Who say’s I’m worried? I mean, just because I no longer have any fingernails left.”

Sam’s laughter filled the air and warmed Brooke’s heart for what seemed to be the thousandth time that night.

“You are too funny, Brooke.”

“I try,” was Brooke’s simple response but exactly what Sam needed to hear.

“That’s all I’m hoping for,” Sam whispered into the phone as the door to her room opened and C.C. walked in.

“Hey there, Sam.” C.C. crossed to the closet and hung her purse on the doorknob. “So who’s got your ear?” the willowy brunette motioned toward the phone in Sam’s hand.

Sam smiled at her roommate and waved, “Hi, C.C.,” she turned her attention back to the phone in her hand. “Yes, Aunt Sandy. That’s my roommate coming in now. Yes, Auntie, I’ll be home next Sunday for sure.”

Brooke had to hold the phone away from her mouth as she giggled at Sam’s cover up.

“Five then?” Brooke asked behind her giggles.

“Yes, I’ll be careful. About five, yeah, that sounds good.”

“I’ll pick you up out in front of the dorm then.”

“No,” Sam snapped, “that’s okay, Aunt Sandy. I’ve got the key for the back door. Is that okay?”

Brooke wondered how much she could get away with as ‘Auntie’. “That’s fine. Will you have a kiss for Auntie?” she couldn’t help but tease Sam.

“Always,” was her response and Brooke could swear that Sam’s voice dropped about an octave.

There would be no more games tonight Brooke thought as she glanced at the clock, noticing that it was after eleven. I’ll be damned. Where did that time fly to? She amazed even herself knowing that she had never talked to anyone on the phone for longer than ten minutes at a time. What’s happening here? She had no idea. Startled by her unusual behavior, she forced herself to draw the conversation to an end. “Then I can’t wait. Sweet dreams, Sam.”

“Give a big hug and kiss to that teddy bear of mine. Let it know how much I miss it so it won’t get lonely.”

C.C. giggled at her roommate, shaking her head in disbelief. “I don’t know any aunt of mine that would do that for me at eleven at night, much less be on the phone. That Auntie of yours must be some kind of night owl.” She pulled off her outer clothing and lay down on her bed, quickly drifting off to sleep.

“Next Sunday just can’t get here fast enough, Sam,” Brooke spoke softly into the phone.

“Yeah, I know.”

“I’ll meet you at the back door. I’ll be waiting for you, Darlin’.”

There it was again that endearment that Brooke used before and Sam could feel the fluttering sensation once more in her chest as it was said. She regained her composure more quickly this time and whispered, “So will I. Bye,” she hesitantly hit the end button and rested back on her pillow trying to calm her racing heart, hoping that she could sleep.

Gazing down at the phone for a long minute, Brooke hit the disconnect button and placed it on her nightstand. She turned off her lamp and stretched out on the bed, praying that sleep would come swiftly and carry her well into next weekend. It would be a while but Brooke would realize later that her friend, Sleep, would not stop in for a visit with her this night. Instead, her mind raged with thoughts of what this ‘Auntie’ would actually like to being doing.

Chapter 6 Surprises Are All Or Nothing

“…All I need is your pure sunshine; The finest mix, won’t you be my fix?…”

It was going to be a restless night for Brooke, just like the whole last week since she had that evening long conversation with Sam. Her mind still too excited about her upcoming date, she gave up on trying to sleep. She knew that the petite blonde would be in her thoughts all night, making sleep unthinkable. Before she knew it, she was up, pacing around the house, hoping to come up with a plan for their date.

Sometime after three in the morning, Brooke’s nervous energy got the best of her four-legged companion, Mario, who began to follow her around the house. There would be no sleep this night for either of them as the dog kept his mistress company on her journey through the house. Whether it was from the expended energy reserves wearing out or that her mind just finally overloaded itself with planning for a perfect date, sometime around six in the morning, her mind finally gave in and allowed her body to get some much needed rest.

Pulling herself from bed and the sleep that had finally claimed her, Brooke turned on her computer. She sat there staring at the monitor screen as the machine booted itself to life. Good gods, did I sleep that long? It’s nearly three in the afternoon.