Samantha

                                    

                                          
"Alright, I'm done, and the lawyer has all she needs," Lucas says, suddenly appearing in the doorway. Samantha hadn't even noticed him coming in. "We can go home now."
The word "home" feels like a blow. Samantha winces, her body stiffening. She stands up silently, hiding her shaking hands behind her back.
"Are you okay?" he asks.
"Yes, I am fine," she replies, lifting her head high. She thinks she won't be weak this time, but it backfires as his eyes narrow on hers.
"Why were you crying?"
She shrugs, fighting the urge to lash out. The anger, the hurt—it all simmers just beneath her skin.
"Did someone scare you about the trial?"
"You would hate that, wouldn't you?" she mutters under her breath. "Let's just go."
"What happened, bella?" He almost breaks her resolve with the nickname, but she refuses to in the middle of his workspace.
Lucas steps closer, cupping her face to tilt it upward. The gentleness in his touch, feels like a betrayal. Samantha steps back, her voice hard and unyielding. "Don't touch me." Lucas lets his hand fall, confusion on his face.
"You said you were ready to go, so let's go."
She exits the conference room without looking back, her pace quickening. He catches up, pressing the elevator button. When the doors open into the garage, she darts out, itching to get away from him.
Lucas grabs her arm, stopping her. "Do not walk ahead of me. Garages are never safe."
Samantha says nothing, but she can't help but think of the true reason he is saying that. They are silent the whole car ride, the tension in the car high. By the time they are inside the house, Samantha hopes Lucas will let her pull away and go, and she will be able to just play it through until the trial is over.
Yet, Lucas takes off his jacket and turns to face her, not at all looking like he is going to let it go.
"Are you going to tell me what is wrong?" he asks.
"Nothing, please just leave me alone," Samantha replies.
"Are you not feeling well?"
"My head just hurts a little," she lies.
Lucas crosses the distance to her and puts a hand to her stomach. "Does everything here feel okay?" he peers down on her, looking worried. Samantha tears up again. She truly does hate her messed up hormones giving her away.
"Lucas, please stop it," she steps back. It hurts. It's physically painful to have him touch her as he cares for her.
A dark cloud passes over his eyes. "That's the second time you've pulled away from my touch."
"It's better we just keep things professional between us. I ask we each stay in our corners," she says, her tone steady.
"Is this one of your odd jokes?" Lucas asks.
"No, it's not. I just realized I was wrong to let you make me think you were different," she shrugs.
"Different from whom?"
"All of them," she waves a hand in the air, "liars, men, Micheal."
"How dare you compare me to that bastard?" Lucas looks at her as if she slapped him.
"Why not? You're the same."
"All I have done is protect you."
"Yet, what about after the trial, and I don't mean it as a joke. Where am I going? Where is my new life headed?" she spits the last part out.