Past Regrets Excerpt #1

 Zogone Book 2- Past Regrets-

  Excerpt 1-
  Sam curled up in a borrowed bunk in one of the guest quarters, with his hands crossed under his head and his long legs stretched out to where they crossed at the ankles.  For the last hour, since he had plopped down on the bunk his thoughts had led him a merry chase, forcing him to stare at the wall as if lost in space.
Not only had Ginger paid him the least bit of recognition when he entered Daimlar’s office, but she had gotten the heck out of Dodge the second she was able to.  Instead of being offended by Ginger’s actions, they had given Sam hope.

  If Ginger had shaken his hand and acted like an old acquaintance, he would have been worried, but no, not his Ginger!  No, Ginger acted as if he didn’t exist, then when she was forced to face up to knowing him, she ignored him.  Then she had excused herself formally without directly communicating with him.

  Obviously Ginger was totally pissed off to find out he was going to be her partner for this mission.  People who didn’t care didn’t get pissed.  Girls who still had feelings for a man, definitely did get more than a little upset. That had to mean Ginger still felt something for him. Something was better than nothing.

  Four years ago, Sam had blamed himself for all the world’s problems just because of his own violent birth.  It took four hard, lonely years for him to realize he had always helped more than he had harmed the world.
It also took those same four years for him to realize what a damn fool he had been to walk away from the one woman who had ever looked at him as more than a monster.  She had looked at him like a man, one she cared about and he had lost her, because of stupid pride.

  When Josh had told him about this mission, Sam jumped at the chance to be the appointed Warrior Delegate.  Josh had even worked it to look like the Delegates had come to him, forcing him to prove himself, when everyone there knew he had nothing to prove.  Every Warrior Delegate that knew him, knew they could count on him in any situation.  Sam had busted his butt to gain the Delegates’ respect and his position among them.

  Screw the military, Sam had volunteered for this mission for one reason, to use the time alone with Ginger to win her back.  No, that wasn’t right.  They had never made it to the point of actually being together, but by the time their mission was finished, they would be together if he had anything to say about it.

  Over the last four years, Sam had made a life for himself with the Zogones.  Not only had he thoroughly became a soldier for the Warrior Delegates, but a well-known one.  All four years were spent working under Josh, whom had been the one to find him on Earth and bring him into their group.  Josh had become closer to Sam than best friends.  It almost seemed like Josh was the brother Sam had never had, but always wanted.

  Being stationed on Adrivar with Josh meant that at any free period of time they had, they could spend it together or on Space Station Swanson with Brian and Arlene.  Considering they looked so young, it surprised Sam that he felt just like one of their grandchildren, just like Josh. Unsurprisingly though they had always treated Sam like family, like one of their own. Arlene worried about him and Brian was always handy with advice, just like good grandparents should be.

  Being an Earthling like Arlene made them closer than some of the others, though.  So, when Josh had suggested this mission, Sam had talked it over with Arlene first.  Arlene had been his confident where Ginger was concerned for quite a while now.  Arlene didn’t want to give away too much of Ginger’s personal feelings, but did give Sam hope. She didn’t tell of Ginger’s lost hope or constant love, but she did give Sam hope that he might be able to win Ginger over. She reassured him that it was the right thing to do.

  With Arlene’s blessing to push her granddaughter as hard as necessary, Sam had boarded the ship to the Galactic Security Headquarters space station. After checking in, he had showered, shaved and dressed in a clean dress uniform before showing up at Colonel Diamlar’s office, all for the sake of catching Ginger’s attention. He thought he might have done that and more, even angering her by looking too good to her.
He could tell he had gotten her attention, even getting under her skin. Now all he had to do was keep her focused on him.  They would do their mission, but they would also spend that time getting to really know each other all over again.

  With a grin, Sam decided to give Ginger a wide girth until they left for their mission, but once they were on a ship alone, that was a different story.  From that moment on, he promised himself to be relentless in his pursuit of Ginger.