Sami

Five Days Later

Leaning against the side of the shiny black Land Rover she’d rented a week ago, Sami stared into the dark eyes of one of her best friends.  “I mean it, Armando.  No barnyard selfies while trying to drive.  If you must have a photo of you and the cows, pull the SUV over,” she lectured sternly as she tapped her fingers against the hood, her diamond engagement ring winking in the sunlight as it shined from her left ring finger. 

Because, yes.  As of twenty-four hours ago, she’d caved and allowed Ben to slip her engagement ring back on her finger.  Where, according to him, it had always belonged. 

Gazing at the ring, she smiled involuntarily.  She couldn’t help it.  She was engaged. 

Again.

To the man of her dreams.

“Chica, you’re zoning out again,” Mannie accused, waiting patiently for her attention to re-focus on him.  “At least tell me you were daydreaming about your hombre’s foot long polla,” he whined, leaning his chin against the steering wheel as he gazed at her longingly.

“Mannie, you have got to stop gossiping with Miss Orla,” Sami groaned, rolling her eyes as she shook her head at him.  “For the last time, I’m neither going to confirm or deny the size of my fiance’s penis.  All I will say is that his equipment leaves me highly satisfied,” she smirked.

“Greedy witch,” Vivian grumbled from beside her.   “A true friend would share.”

“Agreed,” Mannie agreed, fist bumping Vivian through the open window.

“Hey, you’re lucky that I’ve even forgiven you both, you treacherous ho-bags,” Sami returned, giving Viv the evil eye.

“Oh, please,” Vivian muttered.  “Like I’m gonna grovel for giving you back the love of your life.  I’ll take my gratitude in designer handbags, thank you very much.  What about you, Mannie?,” she snarked, tossing her dark hair over her shoulder.

“I prefer Hermes scarves,” Mannie replied, tugging at the colorful silk around his throat – a gift from Sami.

“Whatever.  You’re lucky I love both of your sneaky asses,” Sami grumbled, silently acknowledging that she owed Vivian and Armando a lot more than a Berkin or Hermes could ever repay.  Thanks to both her besties, she’d been given back the missing piece to her heart and that was priceless.  Leveling Mannie with a serious look, she reached out to grab his hand.  “Jokes aside, thank you for everything, Mannie.  Promise you’ll drive safe and call me and Viv as soon as you get home,” she demanded, holding on tightly to the man’s hand. 

Smiling, Armando nodded.  “You know it, preciosa.  Right after I nail my husband.  Not gonna lie, your Mannie misses getting the dick.”

Grimacing at that degree of friendly honesty, Sami shook her head furiously.  “Too much information, Armando!  Way, way too much!”

“Agreed,” Vivian moaned.  “Especially since I think the last time I had sex, dinosaurs were still roaming the earth,” she complained morosely.

Brightening, Mannie straightened behind the wheel.  “Project for my next trip to Paradise!  Operation Get Viv Laid shall commence,” he pronounced theatrically.

Sami grinned as Vivian winced.  “Now, that sounds like a plan,” she agreed, aiming a devious smile at Viv.  Perhaps she’d enlist the help of everybody’s favorite eighty year old and get Orla on the case.

“Great,” Viv muttered unenthusiastically.

“Until then, both of you be good.  Or at least be very good at being bad,” Mannie ordered dramatically as he started the engine.  “Viv, don’t forget to call me when that realtor gets back to you.  Molly and I have Devil and Nick almost convinced to invest in a vacation cottage here in town.  Especially if our two bestest bitches are gonna relocate here.”

Vivian smiled.  “I love my new job… even if my number one client is determined to cause my heart to break and my uterus to explode, “ she noted crabbily.

Sami made a mental note to find Diego Fuentes and kick his Mexican ass all the way back to the border if he didn’t get his head on straight.  She refused to watch Vivian pine for this asshole much longer.  “And I can’t leave Ben.  Even though he offered to come back to Atlanta, he’s worked too hard to establish himself as a local here.  And honestly, I need a fresh start after modeling for so long.  Now, if I could just convince the Cordova Agency to lose my number…”

“I told you they’d regret cutting you loose,” Mannie chirped. 

“And it’s funny as hell that Anderson Cosmetics pulled their contract after firing you.  They were one of Cordova’s biggest fish,” Viv remarked with a satisfied smirk.

Shrugging, Sami smiled.  “I can’t lie.  It felt good having them grovel to try and get me to come back and sign with their agency.  But I want Ben more than I ever wanted any modeling contract.  And my wedding won’t plan itself,” she added, holding her ring up to the light.

“It’s so romantic that he saved your ring,” Viv sighed, eyeing the gorgeous stone enviously. 

“He said he couldn’t make himself let it go,” Sami shared softly.  “I can’t lie.  I always loved this ring.  Having it back on my finger and being back in Ben’s arms is a dream come true.”

“Well, I’ll be back in two weeks to help you plan the wedding of the year,” Mannie announced.  “Until then, ciao, bitches!” he bid them, tossing his head back as he wagged his fingers at the girls and sped out of the parking lot.

Watching the vehicle disappear down the road, Sami leaned against Vivian, resting her head on the other woman’s shoulder.  “What are the chances that we could convince Devil and Nick to move Molly and Mannie up here to the mountains?””

“Considering Devil’s  an Atlantan wheeler and dealer, slim to none,” Viv replied honestly, “But I definitely think there’s a vacation home up here in their near future.  Especially once I give a couple of realtors Devil’s cell.”

“Good,” Sami declared gleefully, secretly thrilled at anything that made Devil’s life a little more difficult.  Jumping as she heard a deep voice shout, “Vixen!”, she whirled to find her sexy fiance, pacing the I Don’t Care Café’s parking lot and pointing at his watch.  “Oh, shit,” Sami muttered.  “I gotta go,” she told Vivian, shooting her a smile as she began hurrying across the street.

“Where’s the fire?” Viv asked.

“Ben got us a meeting with Violet Huston over at her boutique,” Sami explained.

“Already looking at wedding dresses?’ Viv teased.

Sami shook her head.  “No, not yet.  Ben made an appointment for me to show Violet some of my doodles.”

“Your designs?” Vivian squealed in excitement.

“You say designs; I say doodles,” Sami returned evenly as she reached Ben’s truck, smiling as her man held open the door for her.  “Either way, I’m going to show them to her and see if she’s got any interest in pursuing a partnership.”

“Sami, that’s fabulous,” Vivian praised, hugging her friend.  “Good luck and make sure you call me after, okay?” she ordered sternly, pointing at Sami threateningly as she headed for her own compact sedan.

“I will,’ Sami called as Vivian waved at her before disappearing into her own car.  Turning to Ben, she tilted her head back to stare up into his serene blue-gray gaze.  “Hey,” she breathed, leaning against him as his arms wrapped around her middle, drawing her against his chest.

“Hey, yourself, beautiful,” he greeted her softly, bending his head to capture her lips for a long, slow kiss. 

“Mmmm, I love that,” Sami breathed without opening her eyes.    

“And I love you,” Ben replied, brushing his nose against hers before stealing another quick kiss. 

Happy at last, Sami rested her head against Ben’s chest.  “I might have been lost for a long time, but I finally found Paradise, Ben.  It was right here in your arms all along.”

THE END