“Easy there, Tiger.” Sam’s face hovered just inches from mine filling my vision.

“What happened?” the sound of my own voice sent a searing pain through my skull.

Wincing, I reached for my head, my hands cradling my crown. It was then that I felt the knot at the back of my head.

“You got locked out of the club when you went to get some air. Anthony and I had gone to check on you then I opened the door not realizing you were behind it and knocked you to the ground.” I could see the pain and sorrow in her apologetic eyes through my squinted vision.

“You have a nasty little bump from hitting the ground and a few scrapes and bruises but otherwise you’re fine.” Anthony gave a reassuring smile.

“Can you sit up?” Sam asked, offering me a hand as she wrapped her arm around my shoulders assisting me into a seated position on the couch that magically appeared beneath me.

“Do you have any aspirin?” I asked, this time speaking much softer, afraid of the repercussions my voice would have on my addled brain.

Anthony produced two white pills and a bottle of water; sheepishly he handed them out to me.

“Sorry about tonight. When I had hoped to make an impression on Sam’s best friend I was actually aiming for a good impression.”

Taking the offered medicine and water I let out a light chuckle.

“Yeah, I think you two will do just fine.” I mused.

“Hey, this is only the third time this has happened.” Sam jutted out her hip, her hand propped on her waist.  She was clearly offended.

“Third time?” Anthony asked confused.

I giggled despite the raging headache that had begun to form.

“Yeah, Sam has a thing for knocking me out with doors.” I replied, the corners of my mouth turning up as Sam glowered.

“It was an accident.” She huffed, rolling her eyes dramatically.

“Sam, I would hope that every time was an accident. But now, I just don’t know.” Giving her my best suspicious look, I looked up at her through squinted eyes.

Unable to hold the look long, my lips finally caved, quirking up at the sides.

“You’re an ass.” Sam mused giving my shoulder a light smack.

Anthony looked between the two of us, his brow furrowed in confusion. My only guess to his confused state was that he expected us to begin to fight, or at least share harsh words.

“I may be an ass, but I’m your ass.” I teased back sticking my tongue out at Sam.

Seeing the concerned, confused look on Anthony’s face I decided to put him out of his misery.

“All is good, Anthony. I promise no hard feelings.” I gave him a playful wink.

“If you’re good, I’m going to go finish my rounds and then come and collect the two of you. If you need anything just pick up the phone and let the person at the other end know,” He said, seemingly eager to escape the room, motioning with his head toward the black phone on the desk.

I watched helplessly as Anthony wrapped his arms around Sam’s waist, pulling her in for a searing kiss.

“Gross, get a room.” I teased, pretending to gag.

The flush of color on Anthony’s cheeks was enough to send me into a painful fit of giggles. With his head bowed Anthony left Sam and I alone in his office.

“So, what do you think?” Sam gushed out excitement danced in her eyes.

“Eh.” I teased holding my hand out, tilting it from side to side.

“Seriously?” She shrieked incredulously.

“Fine, Fine, fine. He is dreamy, alright? He is sexy as hell and super sweet and I can see his love for you a mile away.” I giggled as I praised her fiancé.

“Oh my gosh, I know, right?” Sam said excitedly sitting beside me on the couch, her legs pulled up, tucked under her.

I mimicked her position, getting comfortable in the unfamiliar room. It had been a while since the two of us were able to just sit and gossip over more than a cup of coffee in the morning before rushing to the office. The two of us being able to sit here and do it now warmed my heart. I’ve missed this.

“I can’t believe it took me so long to get out here with you. I’m really glad you talked me into it.”  I meant every word I said; I really was glad Sam finally pulled me out of the house.

I loved seeing the happiness that glowed around her like a halo.

“Even though I knocked you on the ass?” She teases good heartedly, a smile tugging at her lips.

“Seriously, how else would I know how much you loved me?” I tease back, giving her a full smile.

“This is true.” She says as though considering it.

“Does your head still hurt?” Reaching my hand back to rub the tender knot on my head I only winced slightly.

“Not so much.” It’s only a partial lie. It still hurt, just not as much as it did in the start. 

Worry lines edge her concerned apologetic eyes. “Hey, seriously, I’m all good.” I tried to reassure her.

“Remember that time you knocked me off the roof?”  I said nudging my shoulder into hers.

“Oh. My. God. I thought you were dead.“ She gasped, her face going pale as she remembers the day.

We were both thirteen; sunbathing on the roof of my grandmother’s house. I had been teasing Sam about her crush on one of our classmates. Sam had shoved me playfully to shut me up, the unexpected momentum sending me toppling over the side of the house. I landed on my back, the wind knocked out of me, leaving me dazed. The whole incident had scared us both to death. Thankfully, we had been on the lower end of the roof, the fall not nearly as bad as it could have been.

“See, this was nowhere near as bad.” I said, giving her shoulder another nudge.

“Yeah, but I still feel bad.” Rolling my eyes, I sighed dramatically.

“Fine, I’m over it.” She relents. “Now tell me about you and Devon.” She said excitedly, wiggling comfortably in her seat.

Now it’s my turn to sigh. I honestly have no idea what’s going on between me and Devon and I tell her as much.

“I thought everything was going great.” Concern take up residence on her face.

I know I can’t tell her everything that has gone on this evening; no matter how much it tears me up inside or how much I want to spill the beans. I have to keep this to myself.

“You know how it is.” With a doubtful look cast my way I know I need to give more details. Not enough to give it all away but just enough to get her to drop it.

“Late night phone calls, being called away while at dinner, the stress of some of our caseloads.” I implore her with my eyes to understand.

“Couldn’t you woo him with your amazing sex skills?” She asked, arching a perfectly sculpted brow in my direction, a smirk played out on her face.

“Girl, I laid my best game out for him.” I rolled my hips seductively biting my lip.

Sam chuckled shaking her head. “The man is an idiot.” 

“Yeah, but can you blame him. What we do is hard enough on us. Just imagine how hard it has to be on someone with no training, someone who has never experienced it before.” I replied mournfully, every word dripping from my lips felt like a dagger to my heart. 

Finally, after a long pause, Sam gave a long soulful sigh.

“I get it.” Her eyes apologetic as she spoke.

I hated lying to her. I hated not being able to disclose my deep dark secret to her, telling her the full truth. I had never in my life hid anything from Sam so I knew she wouldn’t expect it now. The lie sat heavily in my stomach like a lump of coal. Mistaking my misery over my lie for misery over Devon, Sam swept me into a firm embrace.

Like a coward, I allowed her to hold me; soothing words sent tears streaming down my face. Unable to hold back, sobs wracked my body. I cried for Emily, the impending loss of Devon, and for the lie I had to hold close to my heart.

Sam held me, allowing me to come undone in her arms. Rocking me like a child she continued to whisper sweet nothings in my ear, promising me I would find someone that would love me through it all, someone like Anthony.

By the time Anthony had come to retrieve us we had both dried up our tears and scrubbed away any traces of the heart-to-heart we shared. We sat in his office talking and joking with one another as we discussed Sam’s wedding plans. She wanted a beach wedding, the one she had always dreamed about. I couldn’t fault her no matter how cliché it was.  There was something about saying your vows on a sandy beach as the sun sets in the distance that calls to all little girls, only the few lucky ones ever get to experience the real deal.