I blinked rather rapidly at that pronouncement, rather surprised

"She's not happy with you for telling me you loved me, either.”

I grimaced. "It doesn't mean I didn't Love her."

"I tried to remind her of that. But it's still a bit of a kick in the tits for her to have this big dream of making you fall in Love with her again, come to an agreement to just be friends, and believe that the seven of us would stay one big happy BTC until the end of summer..."

“And then have you and me hook up together instead."

Sam grimaced. "I failed to factor her into my calculations with Zofi last night."

I arched an eyebrow. "Really? I thought the whole point was to make me official in order to get me off the market. At least, that's what I seemed to get from Zofi. Just keep things status quo except for the title."

Sam frowned. "She said that?"

I shrugged. "-I- said that and watched the way her expression gave her away."

Sam pursed her Lips and furrowed her eyebrows.

“I DO love you. I've always Loved you. Please believe that.”

"I do believe that. But I also believe you're not a hundred percent certain a romantic relationship is what you really want."

Sam gave me a curious look. "But isn't a romantic relationship what YOU want?"

I made a face. "Not really.”

Sam Looked genuinely surprised.

“Really?”

I spread my hands out.

“I thought I made that part pretty clear when I first told you I loved you. I want you to be a permanent part of my life long-term, but I wasn't asking you to be my girlfriend or in any way change the way you were going about your life.”

“But I thought..." Sam frowned.

“I mean, especially after you complained about the lack of emotional intimacy in your relationship with Neevie..."

“What, you thought I wanted emotional intimacy with you?"

“Don't you?"

“Well in general, yeah. Waking up with you in my arms and getting laid every morning was pretty dang nice."

"That's physical intimacy."

I took a deep breath.