This was the first time I had to get prepared like this. I dolled myself up in the little makeup I had and put on my best dress. And when I said best, I meant, the dress I rarely wore because it was fancy and I didn’t want to ever get tired of it by wearing it too much.
I stopped in the mirror and looked at myself.
Yeah, I was seriously overthinking this. This was Sam Reign, my high school sweet heart.
Sure, things didn’t turn out the way I had wanted them to. But this was like a fresh restart. In more ways than one.
My phone buzzed on the counter and I picked it up to see what all the buzzing was about.
It was a text from Sam.
Sam: I’m here outside waiting in the car. Ready?
My fingers were a bit shaky and I managed to text back saying that I’d be right out in a second.
Grabbing my purse, I left my room and peaked in on my father. He was reading a book.
“Dad?” I asked.
He looked up and his eyes brightened a little when he saw me all dolled up.
“Going somewhere fancy?” he croaked out.
“Just out to lunch. I’ll be back soon. I just wanted to check in on you,” I said. He wasn’t usually awake. And if he was, he wasn’t usually reading.
“Be safe. You look lovely.”
A weak smile crawled onto his face and I returned it with a smile of my own.
“Call me if you need anything, Dad.”
I closed his door and sauntered out to the parking lot where Sam was waiting.
Before I opened the door, I smoothed out my little black dress.
Okay, Wendy, here goes nothing.
I opened the door and the first thing my eyes fell on was a Gold Lamborghini Aventador.
Holy shit.
“Hey, come on. We’re gonna be late!” Sam called out, waiting by his car with the doors open. He wore a brilliant smile on his face and his outfit was sexy. He donned a white dress shirt with tan slacks. His leather shoes were buffed nicely and he looked like a million bucks.
According to our little agreement we hashed out, I was sure that he was worth more than a million bucks. After all, anyone who could afford all this…
Damn.
“Hey, nice wrap!” I said, my eyes dancing on the golden reflections on the car.
“Thanks. Gold. Our favorite color for car wraps.”
Clearly he hadn’t forgotten much about our past relationship. I stayed silent, not wanting to say the wrong thing.
It was awkward getting in the car since it was so low, but I managed. And Sam slid in as well, having less of a problem than I did.
“So, where are we going today?” I asked him. Sam wanted to keep this a secret. He mentioned that we needed to talk more about this deal.
“A restaurant called Dovoir. It’s a nice place. Not too flashy, but they have good food.”
I sighed. “Please, Dovoir is every bit as flashy as your car. How about Gonzo’s? The diner?”
Sam stopped at the stop sign. That was an old diner we’d frequent when we were younger. Before all the shit hit the fan. I immediately felt stupid for suggesting it.
“Sorry, Dovoir’s fine—” I started to say.
“No, no. I think you’re right,” he interrupted. “It’s been a long time since I had a good cheesesteak. Let’s go.”
Sam turned his car around and in no time we hit the freeway. The speed of this car was amazing. Invisible hands pushed me back in the seat as the car gained speed as if it were sliding on butter.
I glanced over at his speedometer— we were barely pushing fifty. But the way the suspension and everything worked together in this car… it was truly like we thought it’d be when Sam and I would talk all day about these things…
“How does fifty feel like a hundred?” I asked him.
“Italian sports cars for the win, huh?”
That smile again. And I made the mistake of looking at his eyes. A lump lodged in my throat and a small tingle ran down to my core.
The entire car smelled like him. Like pine and fresh air mixed with expensive cologne.
Even though I knew this car was small, it was really suffocating me now.
***
We finally pulled up to Gonzo’s Diner and got out after we parked. Many people had their eyes on the car and took their phones out to take pictures. The familiar scent of Gonzo’s Philly cheesesteaks emanated out of the diner and smacked me with a moment of nostalgia.
“Let’s sit over here,” Sam suggested once we were inside, walking with his cane to a booth to the far right, in the corner, with a nice window view. It used to be our favorite booth and I was sure that fact wasn’t lost on him although he appeared to be innocently suggesting it.
I scooted into the seat and Sam sat across from me.
Okay, Wendy, don’t stare into his eyes, don’t do it…
I did it. What an idiot I was.
The waitress who came over to take our orders served as a mild distraction and I was grateful for that.
Now that she was gone, that heavy feeling was creeping back in again.
“So, you’re going to marry me,” Sam said, without wasting any time.
“Huh?” I rubbed my forehead and sighed. “Oh, that. Sorry, I was in another world for a second.”
“I can tell.”
The waitress came back with our drinks and then Sam kept talking.
“So, in less than two weeks, an important man, John Gallock, will be coming to meet both of us. He needs to invest in my company and I need to show him that I’m a married man. For now.” Sam took a sip of his drink. Seeing him in business man mode was very sexy.
Yeah sure, he was the same old Sam I used to know and love, but this Sam was more refined, mature and smart. My cheeks flushed with heat and I struggled to follow his words.
“So, I guess we have to go to the court to get married,” I said, trying to get my mind off Sam’s good looks.
“Yes. But more than that. We need a wedding and all.”
I choked on my drink. “Wedding?”
“Gotta make it real as possible. Plus, I want to have you move in—”
“Absolutely not.” That’d be going way too far. I still remembered what happened between us. And even though we were young, it was the biggest betrayal of my life.
I folded my arms and leaned back in my booth seat.
“Wendy, I really need your cooperation.”
I was so annoyed that he would ask this of me. I had my own life, damn it. Plus, I had my father to take care of. I couldn’t just leave him behind or flaunt Sam’s wealth in his face.
Not after he lost so damn much.
“Sam, I… it’s complicated. I can’t just leap like that.”
“But it’s part of our agreement,” he said.
The waitress came back with our food and set it down in front of us. Sam didn’t even glance down. He just stared at me.
I hadn’t known it was all part of the deal. I wasn’t even sure that it was. But I had little power in this situation. Eliza’s reminder swept through my mind. I couldn’t say no to Sam and risk one point two million dollars.
“I just… my father, Sam. I don’t want to leave him alone. He’s had a rough time.”
Sam finally broke his gaze and looked down at his food.
“We’ll find a way. I want you with me.”
Maybe I was misinterpreting the words that came out of his mouth, but that sounded like more than a plea that I uphold my end of the agreement. It sounded like he wanted me… really wanted me to be with him.
“Do you have a boyfriend, Wendy?” he asked, the seriousness in his voice dialed up a notch.
“No!” I squeaked.
“Oh…”
Okay. This was all just reinforcing my theory that he actually wanted to be with me for real. He dug into his Philly cheesesteak and ate it with a fork and knife. I giggled and caught his attention.
“What? Eat this with my hands like I used to, and ruin my shirt? I like eating like this.” We both laughed and ate our food.
God, I remembered the times when Sam and I would huddle up in booths like these— including this very same booth we were in now— and have a good time.
It was all coming back again.
But still…
If there ever were real feelings on his end, then why did he have to take Alice Banks to Prom?
I almost got up the courage to ask him. But I ended up keeping my mouth shut anyways, telling myself to be smart. To think with my head and not my heart. And to not let him get close enough to my heart again, to break it like he did last time.
We were no longer high school kids going out on dates. I had to remember that and keep reminding myself of it. This was just a business arrangement. That was all it was, no matter what. And even if he sometimes seemed as if he wanted more, I’d have to keep it that way, for my good and his.