Nine

The next month was a dream, overflowing with such pure happiness I didn't even know it was possible. Probably the happiest I'd been since my dad was here and my family was still one piece. But I finally felt the love of a family again in a way I never expected with people I just met (besides Olivia, obviously).

Josh and I had seen each other almost every day since that day we met for the second time in the woods. We'd spent any spare minute we had hiking, watching movies, cooking dinner together, talking, everything we loved to do and more. He even made me the star of his upcoming film. Apparently I had a knack for acting I had no idea about, or at least he told me I did. He had a way of making me feel special even if I wasn't.

To make things even better, Olivia and Jake started seeing each other after the party, too. I guess the morning after she woke up in his bed alone and confused, they got to talking over a cup of coffee. They decided to go on a date and then many more after that. That meant double dates for us, which we'd been on plenty of. It'd always been a best-friend-dream of ours. The three of them were my people; it really felt like this was supposed to happen to us. It's crazy how the world puts the most perfect people into your life at just the right time, and I couldn't be more thankful. Speaking of thankful, Thanksgiving was in just a couple of days. Josh and Jake invited Olivia and me both to have dinner at their house with their family. We, of course, accepted. Except there was still one thing, or person, on my mind.

Somehow, I'd managed to avoid Sam for the entire month. Josh and I usually hung out at my house since no one was ever there and we could always be alone. The few times I'd gone over to his, Sam was either locked away in his room blasting music or somewhere else with Danny. I feel like there's still something that needs to be said between us. Or maybe I should just leave it alone.

I was sitting at my kitchen table sipping on some hot tea when I heard Olivia's car horn outside. We decided we should go to the mall and get something two respectable young girls would wear to their boyfriends' family's Thanksgiving. It was a first for the both of us. Olivia had never been tied down long enough for something like this. I had the opportunity with my last boyfriend, but Thanksgiving was something I always spent with my mom. However, she agreed to have a second Thanksgiving with me the day after instead. Even she could see how important Josh already was to me, and she'd only seen us together once. He'd eaten dinner at our house one night, and she went on and on about how perfect he was for me the entire week after.

I couldn't remember the last time I'd even been to the mall. It was nostalgic almost, a teenage paradise for thirteen year olds dying to feel older than they are. Alone with their friends trying to budget the twenty their parents gave them before reluctantly dropping them off. I remember the first time my dad dropped Olivia and I off alone for the first time. I smiled to myself.

After what felt like hours of trying on clothes and hating them, we each finally found something we liked. Olivia settled on a plain black long sleeve turtleneck dress that hugged her body in all the right places but was still modest enough for a family Thanksgiving. I ended up with a mid-thigh length burgundy dress with flowing bell sleeves. I was actually quite in love with it, and I planned on spicing it up by layering on a bunch of necklaces. I thought Josh would really like it.

"I vote we get coffee," Olivia offered once we got back to the car. "At our spot."

Our spot was the cafe. I never told Olivia about the incident with Sam. Don't get me wrong, she's my best friend, and I do tell her everything most of the time. I just think some things aren't meant to be shared.

"Maybe Starbucks instead," I attempted. I prayed she wouldn't know something was up. I told her many times I hated Starbucks, but maybe she'd forgotten by now.

"Funny," she rolled her eyes. Apparently she hadn't forgotten. We were on our way to the cafe, and there was nothing I could do without exposing myself.

I bit my lip anxiously and tugged at my seat belt. It was suddenly feeling very tight, like it was restricting my breathing. He probably wasn't even working today. I kept telling myself that until we were in the parking lot, and I was immediately relieved to see the owner's son, Quentin, working the register through the window. I could finally breathe.

The familiar sound of the bell above the door chimed on our way in, earning a smile and a 'hello' from Quentin, who we'd become friends with through coming here religiously.

"It's been too long, ladies, how you been?" he asked us. I used to have a crush on him. All up until about four months ago when we realized he was definitely older than he looked and definitely married. He was still young, just twenty-four, but too old and too unavailable for me. I'd since gotten over the crush.

Olivia answered for the both of us, beaming, "Life couldn't be better for the two of us, my friend." She nudged my arm.

"Really glad to hear that. What's your poison this evening?"

We both ordered vanilla lattes and sat while Quentin made them for us. He always put different designs on top. This time Olivia's was a flower and mine was a feather. We thanked him and sipped on our drinks while reflecting on our mall purchases.

At some point, I caught a glimpse of long brown hair at the back of the cafe. I flicked my eyes up and immediately met with his. He was standing in the doorway of the maintenance closet holding a mop and staring directly at me. I'd been distracted from what Olivia was saying in that moment, but I detected the words 'bathroom' and 'right back'. And then I was sitting alone, and Sam was walking up to me.

"Hey," I croaked when he approached our table. He sat down, which I wasn't expecting.

"Hey," he repeated. Then silence for a moment. "You're coming to our Thanksgiving."

"Yeah. That's okay, right?" I don't know why I even asked him that. It had to be okay. I was dating Josh, and I wasn't going to let anything get in the way of that. Not even him.

"I mean, yeah. It doesn't matter what I think is okay, anyways. Josh loves you, and that's what matters. I want you both to be happy."

"Loves?" We hadn't said that word to each other yet.

He nodded.

That made me all giddy, like a freshman in high school finding out her crush likes her back, but then I snapped back into the situation. "I'm sorry how everything had to turn out with us. And I want to say thank you for what you told Josh about it. You saved my ass."

"Look, I don't want you to be sorry for anything. Yes, I had a crush on you. I handled it the complete wrong way. Actually, there was really nothing that needed to be handled because you were taken by my brother. And while I was drunk I didn't respect that like I should have, but I do now."

"I hope we can be friends, Sam." I touched his hand lightly, and he recoiled.

He avoided eye contact with me. "I said I respect that you're taken, but that doesn't mean I won't have feelings for you. I just want you to know that."

I nodded. "I understand. But I'm willing to try to be friends if you are. We're going to be seeing each other regardless. I don't want to make it weird. It doesn't have to be."

"Okay, friends." He stood up, and so did I for some reason. I went to hug him. It felt like something we both needed. Instead, he pulled back and stuck out his hand for a handshake.

I smirked and took his hand. "Friends."

"Oh, hey, Sam," Olivia said from behind me. "Why are you guys shaking hands?"

"We just bet on who could eat more pumpkin pie on Thursday. She's going down," he said to her without breaking eye contact with me. "See you guys."

He went to mop the floor, and Olivia and I sat to finish our vanilla lattes.