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Although, Mike had grown closer to Jason and Chris over the last three months. They had their own guys-only text thread and weekly online video game nights.
Two years ago, he never would have imagined his life like this, but he wouldn’t want it any other way. Moving to Texas to be with Sam was the best decision he’d ever made. He still wasn’t making a huge amount of money, but it was enough to stash some away for the future and take Sam out for Wednesday night dinners. Those were the nights she cut out of the office early, when they got to explore their new city together, just the two of them. Because the weekends were for sleeping in late after lazy and long nights in bed together. Then Farid usually came over, because, yes, he was their third wheel, but he was a good guy. And a damn determined client. Since he’d started training with Mike, he’d put on a few pounds of muscle and started dating again.
“So, how are you two lovebirds doing down in Austin?” Laney asked before anyone could question her more about Bobby.
“Great,” Sam and Mike answered at the same time.
“Finishing each other’s sentences and everything,” Chris said, his arm draped over Bronte. They both wore matching pajamas.
“Seems like yesterday Sammy was going on about how she loved sleeping alone,” Gem said wistfully.
When Sam couldn’t uncork the champagne bottle, she passed it to Mike. He wrapped the bottom of his T-shirt around the cork and turned until it released with a soft pop. He angled the bottle toward the screen. “Wasn’t it yesterdayyoutexted everyone that you couldn’t wait to go to California to get away from Jay and sleep alone in a bed?”
Gem moved closer to the screen, wrinkling her nose. “Michael, I really don’t appreciate you using my own words against me.”
Jason yanked Gem backward, his arm stretching across the front of her shoulders.
“Do you see?” she said to no one in particular. “He’s a human octopus, tentacles everywhere, all the time.”
He kissed her neck, mumbling something about doing good work with those tentacles.
“Yes, you seem so distraught,” Sam deadpanned as she held up two coffee mugs for Mike to pour the champagne into.
“What are you going to do by yourself, Jason?” Bronte asked.
“I don’t know,” he said, settling Gem down against him. “Eat a lot of animal products, probably.” When she elbowed him, he glanced down at her with a grin before facing the screen again. “Willow’s starting swim lessons. She’s got her first one while Gem’s away.”
Bronte cooed. “Aww, are you sad you’re going to miss it?”
“A little,” Gem said, and Laney lifted her glass of red wine.
“That’s all right. We’re going to have lots of fun. But it’s a bummer Sam and Bronte can’t come.”
The girls all nodded. Laney’s birthday was coming up, and since Gem was attending a yoga conference in San Francisco, they’d all tried to work out a weekend together, though Bronte had some kind of commitment at her school, and Sam couldn’t take off.
“When are we all going to be in the same room again?” Bronte asked, and Chris held up his hand.
“Was that a question for the entire group or just the girls?”
“Group at large.”
Sam leaned back against Mike, curling her hand around his thigh. “Maybe over the summer? I doubt I’ll be going anywhere until I’m finished with my hours.”
Mike had been hoping to whisk her away somewhere once she graduated. A weekend at the ocean, maybe, a swim with his mermaid, but he kept that suggestion to himself.
“We should go to Vegas,” Laney said as Jason offered, “A cabin in the woods.”
Sam ticked her index finger in the air. “It’s, like, eight hundred degrees in Las Vegas in the summer. You know I don’t do well in heat.”
Mike muffled a chuckle against Sam’s shoulder. As much as they both really loved Austin, Sam was a cold weather woman, and while they hadn’t discussed it yet, he didn’t think she would want to stay in the South.
Laney wagged her head side to side. “Well, there are these things called pools. The casinos are air-conditioned. And if you two decide you want to make it official, we can get Elvis to perform the ceremony.”
Beside Mike, Sam tensed almost imperceptibly. She still hadn’t completely thawed on the idea of marriage, but Mike was nothing if not patient. He would wait forever, be by her side for all time, whether there was a white dress and rings or not. He dropped his arm around her shoulders, changing the subject. “There’re too many people in Vegas.”
Chris pointed at his screen, nodding in silent agreement.
“Before we decide where, we should decide when,” Sam said.
