Sam had played a few slots, and lost some money, so he decided to hit the roulette tables. He started out cautiously, playing $50 on odds, when it won, he played $75. After a few more wins on different bets, he was feeling lucky enough to put $100, straight bet on black 13. He held his breath as the ball rolled and dipped around the wheel before it finally came to rest in the black 13 cubby. He smiled coolly as the chips added up in front of him.

"Good play, there, Sam!" He heard Tex's voice behind him. Sam gathered his chips and headed for the cashier's window, he didn't want to press his luck too much.

Sam pocketed his money and turned to Tex. "So what's your plans for tonight?"

"Just hangin' around, seeing the sights. I was losing too much money, so I had to ease up a bit. Want to go get a drink?"

They walked out on the main street, joining the crowd on the sidewalks.

"I hear that Sarah isn't coming back. Sorry to hear that."

"Yeah, well, I guess it was time to move on." Sam tried to sound casual. "What's that saying 'lucky at cards, unlucky at love'? I think that counts for roulette too."

They found a bar on a side street and sat on the only two empty stools that were open. Tex turned to Sam, but his eyes had wandered to the girl sitting to Sam's left. She had long blonde hair and blue eyes, and the most sensuous red lips he had ever seen. She was watching him in the mirror behind the bar, the lips curved into a flirtatious smile.

"There is the fucking sexiest girl, sitting right beside you." He said to Sam, keeping his voice low. "I might just have to talk to that one."

"Yeah?" Sam slid his eyes over to the mirror and saw her looking at Tex. "I think you're gonna get lucky tonight." He said out of the corner of his mouth.

"I'll let it simmer for awhile." Tex met her eyes in the mirror and gave her a slow smile. He turned back to Sam. "Tell me what went on with Sarah."

Sam gulped his whiskey, emptying the glass and motioned to the bartender. "Keep them coming."

"She's moved in with Pete. I was at his apartment, their apartment." He said, dryly. He picked up his full glass and drained it again, and slid it across the bar for a refill.

"Who is this guy, Pete?" Tex asked curiously, as he made eye contact with the blonde again.

"His name is Pete Newsome. They go way back, they have a history, but Sarah was always very vague about it." Sam said.

"A history? You mean like you and Gisette?"

Sam paused with the glass to his mouth. He sat the drink down and thought about it. "Yeah, maybe. How has Gisette been since she came back? With the group, I mean. I know I gave her a hard time."

"She's been concentrating on her job, if that's what you mean." Tex said, shortly.

"You don't like her, do you?" Sam raised an eyebrow and looked quizzically at Tex.

Tex curled his lip in disgust. "No, I think she is a fucking spoiled brat. She was terrible to Sarah." He looked at Sam. "Don't get me wrong. She's doing a great job as our road manager. But as a person, nope, I think she's a fucking bitch."

"She's not a bad person, Tex." Sam said encouragingly. "She gets anything she wants, I'll agree to that. But she really works hard, she wants to prove to her father that she can do this."

"Whatever you say, you know her better than I do." Tex stood up, emptying his glass. He had noticed the blonde was getting ready to leave. "I'm going to meet that gorgeous girl. I can already see those red lips wrapped around my cock."

Tex grinned at Sam. "Drinks were on you, by the way." He slipped through the crowd and Sam saw him step up to the girl and say something. He watched as they walked out of the bar, together.

Sam sat at the bar for another couple hours, drinking whiskey and watching the crowd behind him through the mirror.

He didn't see anyone that interested him, so he paid the tab and stepped outside. The sign across the street caught his attention.

"Custom tattoos." He read. His hand slipped into his pocket and closed around the necklace. He had no idea why he had put it in there. He had seen it out of the corner of his eye, sitting on the table, as he was leaving his room and he had picked it up.

Now, he looked at it closely and the pain in his chest tore through his body, nearly knocking him off his feet. The filigree was smashed in and he saw the small blue stone had been cracked in half.

Sarah was definitely sending him a message.

He crossed the street unsteadily, he had lost track of how much he'd drank.

***

Dave sat back in his chair and looked at the couple that sat across from him.

"Congratulations! So, when do you move in?" He asked. "We can move our stuff in Thursday, July 1st." Pete grinned, putting his arm around Sarah. "We are gonna have a party to celebrate, right, Sarah?"

Sarah smiled at him. "We need to get furniture first, or everyone will be sitting on the floor."

"We're headed to the store next. Why don't you run down to the tent and get the stuff, roll us up a couple. I want to talk to Dave for a minute, then I'll be down."

Sarah closed the door to the office behind her. She knew that Pete was going to tell Dave about Sam's visit that morning. She would rather not be there to hear it.

Pete waited until Sarah was gone, then he leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest.

"That fucking cocksucker was in town today. He found out where I lived and came to see Sarah."

Dave looked surprised. "How did it go? How was Sarah?"

"She did good while he was there. He was being a fucking asshole to her and she told him that it was over. But after he left, she was a basket case. I'm trying to keep her busy today."

"I'll tell Midgie, she's at work right now. Weren't you supposed to work today?"

"Yeah, but I talked to my dad and he gave me time off. I need to be with her, make sure she's alright."

Dave looked over at Pete, sharply. "You know, she still loves that son of a bitch, right?"

"I know she still loves him." Pete paused. "What are you saying?"

"I just think you may be getting in too deep with her."

Pete looked, levelly, at Dave. "I know what I'm doing. Sarah needs a friend, she needs to feel secure. I'm filling that need right now."

"And when she starts needing more?"

Pete smiled, sadly, at his cousin. "I won't get my hopes up too high. I know there's a good chance that it won't be me."

Dave nodded in agreement. "Just remember that." He stood up and opened the door. "I have to go check on some things. You have any plans tonight? Maybe Midgie and I can stop by later."

Sarah looked at the two couches, side by side, one was a floral pattern in bright colors, the other was a plaid, in brown, orange and tan colors. Both were long enough to accommodate Pete's long frame, but she liked the liked the floral one better.

"Sarah, I have to live there all the time. You're going to be going away to school. A guy cannot have a flowered couch!" Pete said, adamantly. "I agreed on the flowered kitchen chairs, but this is a couch. I have to sit on it!"

They had been wandering the large furniture store for a couple hours. First they had decided to look at the kitchen sets, and Pete had reluctantly agreed on a small formica table with a gold and yellow speckled pattern. The chairs, a bright pattern of yellow daisies printed on the vinyl seats and backs, took a lot more fast talking from Sarah, before he finally said okay.

He was getting tired of shopping, and Sarah looked as if she was just getting started. She looked over at his stubborn face and sighed.

"You're right. We'll get the plaid. But.." She looked at him, mischievously, "I want to put down an area rug. A colorful one, and I will pick it out!"

"You got it, baby." Pete agreed, ready to end their shopping trip.

By the time Sarah was ready to call it quits, they had also picked out two end tables, a coffee table, and two lamps. It would all be delivered to their new apartment Thursday afternoon.

Sarah bit her lip, anxiously, as she saw it all being added up. "Maybe we went too far. We should just take the couch."

"No way." Pete pulled his credit card out. "I just got this in the mail yesterday, I think we should break it in."

They knew eventually, they would have to confront their parents. Pete's parents wouldn't be a hard sell, he had already moved out once. They wouldn't mind if Sarah moved in with him. It was Sarah's parents they worried about most .

When they pulled into her drive, Sarah drew in a deep breath. "I'll tell them, you just be there to back me up, ok?"

"Hey you two! We just got home. Grandma's doing good, resting. She will be there a few more days, then she can go home. I'll take her to her therapy." Jane stopped talking when she saw the serious looks on their faces. She sat back in her recliner, and looked across the fireplace at her husband, sitting in his.

"What's up?" She asked, suspiciously.

Pete and Sarah sat together on the couch.

"Pete and I are moving in together. We got an apartment at the Lakeside apartment complex. We move in Thursday." Sarah said in a rush. She sat and waited for their reaction.

Jim Winston narrowed his eyes at Pete, then at Sarah. "You just got home from what I can only say was a bad idea, made impulsively. And now you've just made another impulsive move! What the hell are you thinking, Sarah?"

Jane nodded her head, looking worried. "I have to agree with your dad. I know that we've encouraged you to stay with Pete these past few days, but there were extenuating circumstances. I never thought you would want to move in together."

"The 'extenuating circumstances' you mentioned are over. Sam came to see me today."

"He was here! What happened?" Jane was astonished.

"He showed up at Pete's apartment, completely surprised us. And it's done, he won't call anymore." Sarah gave the shortened version. "I want to move on. Pete is helping me do that."

She saw the look that passed between her parents. "We are just friends!" She said in frustration. "It's a two bedroom apartment. There is nothing going on between us. My god! I just came out of a bad relationship, I am not looking for anything, except some help from a friend."

Jane nodded, thoughtfully. "I understand that. You know we have always hoped you two would get together....."

"And that has got to stop!" Sarah exclaimed, drawing surprised looks from her parents and Pete. "You have to back off and accept the fact that we are just friends. We have felt that pressure from both sets of parents all of our lives and it doesn't help. Pete and I are going to live our lives as we decide."

Jane sighed. "I can see that."

Silence fell as they all sat there, uncomfortably. Sarah looked at Pete, she hadn't planned on that outburst. They both looked uneasy, waiting to hear what else would be said.

"I agree with Sarah." Pete spoke up, quietly. "We have felt that pressure, it may have affected our friendship, I don't know. I want all of you to stop it, also. Just let us be friends."

Jim finally spoke up, his face solemn as he looked at the pair on the couch. "I wasn't happy when you left us last time. I was worried that you would get hurt, and you did. It broke my heart to see you cry over that son of a bitch......." He caught himself. "Pete, you're like a son to me, you know that. I trust my daughter with you. I know you will never harm her. I'm just a little leery of letting my baby girl go again. Maybe it's like Jane keeps telling me, I don't want to see her grow up so fast. And Sarah, honey, that's just what you're doing. You're growing up and I can't stop it." He paused, gaining control of his emotions.

"Daddy." Sarah bent forward, her own eyes glistening with tears. "I'm sorry, for every hurt I've caused you. I know you love me and only want what's best. Please, let me do this. This isn't like before, we both know that Pete won't hurt me."

Jane and Jim Winston looked at each other, no words were necessary. They had been married long enough to know what the other was thinking. They nodded their heads, then Jane looked at Sarah. "I'm sorry we pushed you two together all the time. We'll let you two do this, on one condition. You still have to go back to school and get your degree."

Sarah agreed, readily. "Yes, I am still planning on that. Pete will stay in the apartment and I will live there when I come back."

Later that night at Pete's, Midgie pulled Sarah into the kitchen, leaving the guys to stay in the living room. "Dave told me that Sam was here. How are you doing?"

Sarah leaned her elbows on the counter, and covered her face with her hands. "It was awful. Just plain fucking awful. He accused me of coming back and getting right in bed with Pete. I know I wanted him to believe that, but it still hurts to think that he would....but he did...and it's over, he won't call or bother me anymore."

Midgie put her arm around her friends shoulders. "Now you can get on with your life, Sarah."

"Yeah, I know. It's one thing that I know for sure. My heart can be broken, but my life still goes on. I still have to wake up and go on each day." Sarah stopped as she felt her throat tighten up. "When will I ever just find love, without all the heartbreak and complications? Just love, you know, Midgie? Why does it always have to hurt so bad?"

Midgie pulled Sarah up in her arms and let her cry against her shoulder, patting her back. "I know, someday you will."