#thank you sooo much aj and mari for your encouragement 💕💕💕

[risingsh0t]

WIP DAY 🌹

tagged by @jendoe, thank u aj beloved! i actually wrote something for the first time ever 🥲 here's some sam/arielle

tagging @marivenah, @shellibisshe, @chuckhansen, @indorilnerevarine, @phillipsgraves, @queennymeria, @echo3-1, @jackiesarch, @unholymilf, @confidentandgood, @arklay, @aartyom, @girlbosselrond, @malefiicarum, @denerims, @leviiackrman + anyone else who wants to ❤️

Sam rubs the back of his head before flicking the ash off his cigarette. The water's calm, with only the gentlest waves splashing against the dock. "Where are you headed after all this?"

"Hmm… back to my career, I guess? I hadn't thought about it yet. You know… I really enjoyed being a treasure hunter for a while though", she chuckles.

Sam replayed their conversation from Italy, the one after they'd slept together, over and over. He wasn't ready then...but he'd like to believe he's ready now. After one last deep breath, he takes the plunge. 

"Arielle, listen. What I really wanted to talk about is us." He pauses. "I'm not good at this so be gentle with me."

Her expression softens instantly and she nods for him to continue.

"I take risks. All the time. Hell, it's how we all ended up here," he chuckles awkwardly. "But this… This is one risk I didn't want to take." He pauses again.

Arielle raises her right eyebrow, "okay?"

"Oh shit. Sorry, that didn't come out right." He rubs his forehead, grasping for the right words.

"It's okay, Sam. Italy was fun, but we had this conversation already. I didn't expect us to revisit it," she gives him a reassuring smile. And he knows she means it. She was never giving him an ultimatum, she was being honest; one of the many things he's grown to love about her.

Wait. Love? Shit.

"I wanna get this right." He flicks his cigarette again before deciding to toss it, stamping it out with his boot. "What I mean is… I was afraid to take the risk." He holds her gaze. "I got caught up in the future. Not being good enough for you… and worrying it wouldn't last."

Arielle stays silent, but she holds her hand out to him. He takes it immediately, interlacing his fingers with hers.

"If there's anything I've learned from this whole thing, it's that I don't want to lose you." He rubs his thumb over her knuckles gently. "I want to try. And I actually mean it this time, not my usual half-ass trying."