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“That’s what moms do,” she shrugged. “Now, surprise him, make a scene so he never forgets what a force of nature you are, and knock his socks off. I’ll handle your father.”
Samantha put down her plate in her chair and boldly walked over towards the gathering, feeling her heart pound in her chest. Toby’s eyes met hers and she saw the wariness in them… and something else.
It was that ‘something else’ that gave her the courage to keep going.
She wove through the crowd, neatly side-stepping several teenagers, her parents’ friends, and making her way towards where the Saxon family was sitting all together talking in an animated fashion… before growing quiet.
“Hey Samantha,” Mrs. Saxon began politely. “How are you? I’ve been meaning to schedule an appointment for my next cleaning.”
“You are certainly welcome at any time,” Samantha replied immediately, holding Toby’s gaze before looking at his parents.
“What are you doing?” Toby asked bluntly.
“Mr. and Mrs. Saxon — can I borrow your son for a few minutes?”
“No…” Toby retorted, shooting to his feet in alarm. “What is going on, Samantha? Do you need something? Did someone put you up to this?”
“Samantha,” Mr. Saxon said quietly. “Is everything alright? Toby is an adult and can make his own decisions. Ask him, not us.”
Samantha took a deep breath and turned to Toby – her breath catching as she saw his look and realized he was skittish, and she didn’t blame him in the slightest.
“Can we talk for a moment?”
“We are talking…”
“Alone?”
“No, thanks. I like my nose where it’s at – firmly attached to my face.”
“Son, I told you not to worry…” Mr. Saxon began.
“Toby…” she began nervously, realizing that it had gotten quiet around them as everyone was listening to what she was saying – and she suddenly smiled, remembering his words to her that had changed things between them back then. “You have the most beautiful eyes…”
“Sam…”
“Will you go with me to the bonfire tonight?” she repeated his words, having heard them a million times in her mind, that embarrassingly awkward high school scene that she wished she could do over again differently.
This was her chance.
“We’re here already,” Caspar announced, rolling his eyes.
“Shut up, Caspar,” Nicolette elbowed her brother, smiling.
She ignored Toby’s siblings and stared into his bright blue eyes, seeing the recognition and awareness in those depths. Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward, standing on her tiptoes, and gently laid a faint kiss against his lips.
“No braces this time…” she whispered, hearing his intake of breath.
“What are you doing?” he uttered softly, in confusion, and looking around her quickly to see if he was about to get pounded into the dirt by one angry daddy.
“Asking you out and making up for lost time,” she breathed, staring up at him, realizing that it was touchingly sweet that he cared about her family’s reaction.
“Are you sure about this? There’s your dad and…”
“I’m positive. I want to go on a date with my best friend that is severely long overdue,” she whispered, seeing the flare of scared hope in those cerulean depths as he met her eyes.
“Can I pick you up tomorrow?” he asked softly.
There were several whispers in the distance, along with a pop from the fire pit, and a few faint whistles of approval. She didn’t look to see who was acting childishly or egging them on, rather, she couldn’t look away from those beautiful blue eyes that had followed her for years.
