Sam thought about it for a minute. Maybe they could do this, maybe they could make it work. If Alex felt the same way about her as Sam did, then they could figure out the logistics. Right?
“And if you don’t figure it out.” Jordan pointed another fry at her. “Now you know that both NadineandEmily will be after you.” He popped the fry in his mouth and chewed. “If that’s not an incentive to get it right this time, then I don’t know what is.”
“Funny, Jordan. I can always rely on you to make me feel better.” Sam looked up from where she was pushing her food around her plate. “Actually, Nadine still wants to see you. To make amends.”
Jordan shook his head. “No way in hell.”
“Come on, Jordan.” Dallis leaned in from the seat next to him and nudged him with her shoulder. “Why not give her a chance?”
Jordan scowled and stole another fry. He chewed thoughtfully for a moment before answering. “Fine,” he said grudgingly. “I’ll do it. But only if she makesmea pie.”
He reached out for another fry, but Sam slapped his hand away. “Really?”
He tried for the fry again. “Anything for you, Sam. Well, you and pie.” He grinned. “And not necessarily in that order.”
Sam reached out and captured the hand trying to poach her food. “Thank you, Jordan.” She met his eyes from across the booth. “That means the world to me.”
He squeezed her hand, then quickly reached his other hand out to grab a whole fistful of her fries this time. “But at the first sign of the old Nadine, I cannot be held responsible for my actions.”
“Okay, so back to the real issue.” Dallis was again keeping them on track. She pushed her plate back and leaned forward, rubbing her hands gleefully. “Tell us about this date you’re having.”
“Thank you, Dallis.” Sam dropped her fork and pushed her plate away, glaring at Jordan. “At least someone here knows how to stay on track.”
Jordan just shrugged at the criticism and pulled Sam’s plate closer to him so he could dig into the fries.
“What are the details?” Dallis asked.
“Alex is planning the date this time.” Sam grimaced. “And all I know is it won’t be at Easton’s. Every single interaction we’ve had there has ended badly.”
“Well, there was that one kiss…” Jordan pointed at her with a fry.
“You know what I mean.” Sam rolled her eyes.
“So, you have no idea where you’re going?” Dallis tried again.
Sam shook her head.
“What?” Jordan tilted his head at her. “I know that look. What’s going on in that big brain of yours, Samantha Martin?”
Sam took several deep breaths, trying to gather her thoughts. She looked helplessly around the diner, anywhere but at Jordan and Dallis. She knew that once she voiced what she was thinking out loud, it would feel all too real. She didn’t even understand her own thoughts on the subject. What was she trying to accomplish by listening to the others?
“Sam?” Dallis gently prompted. “It’s okay. We’re here to help you.”
Sam looked from Dallis to Jordan, and then back again. “Fine!” She burst out. “So, after this date…then what? I already know how I feel about Alex—that she’s the one that got away. Or, rather, the one who went away, so she could live some life that was mostly a lie. But now she’s back. And it feels like we never left. And I feel like I never want her to leave again, or for me to leave her. What if this date goes well? Because I know it will. And I know that everything after the date will go well, because”—she paused briefly for air—“because the kisses…God, the kisses…and her skin…and the way her body feels.” Sam looked dreamily into the distance and shook her head. “I can’t stop thinking about it. And about her. And about how perfect and right it feels. But I don’t know what’s next. What do I—”
“Stop!” Jordan interrupted. “Sam. You’re spiraling…again.”
“Totally,” Dallis agreed. “Don’t overthink it. No one ever knows what’s going to happen next.”
“Just take it one day at a time,” Jordan suggested.
“One day at a time?” Sam nearly screeched. “But I’m almost done with the house! The clock is ticking. I don’t have time for—”
“Stop!” Dallis and Jordan said simultaneously.
Sam stilled, caught off guard by the two of them interrupting.
Dallis and Jordan shared a look before Dallis gestured for him to speak.
