Page 66 of Dreaming Without Heartache

Sam snuggles back in her chair, pulling the blanket around her. The firelight flickers across her face, painting her in gold and shadow. She’s silent as she stares into the fire, gripping her knees with both hands as if lost in thought. God, she’s beautiful. My heart picks up speed as I take her in.

“Kara told me about what she said to you about having women stay overnight,” I say, breaking the silence. “No wonder you thought Lorrie’s hug meant more.”

She lifts one shoulder while tilting her head. “It was hard to hear.”

“Why didn’t you come to me first?”

She shifts in her chair, settling her body toward me. “Why do we do any of the things we do?” she says softly. “I didn’t expect to feel such a connection to you so fast. And I’m not talking about the physical, which is off the charts by the way. As I told you, it all scared me. You opened up to me about the girls, your life, things that matter. I never had someone communicate with me like that. Then our attraction is so crazy good. I just thought Kara was trying to protect me in her own way. I didn’t realize she said it to hurt you.”

“I would never do that, Sam. That’s not who I am.” I exhale. “It hurt me seeing you with Ginger. I had no clue what was going on or what I did for you to completely shut me out.”

Sam gets up and crosses to lower herself next to me. Her hand rests gently on my knee, our eyes locking. “That’s on me. I would never hurt you on purpose. I’m so sorry.”

“I’m sorry too.”

“You didn’t do anything wrong,” she insists. Sam takes my hand in hers.

I sigh. “I could have heard you out when you tried to talk to me.”

“I guess I was trying to protect Kara.” Sam looks down at our joined hands as she plays with my thumb. “I know it’s been hard between you two. I didn’t want her to not have a friend in me during this hard time. I told you enough that I hoped would rectify the damage I created.” She looks at me again. “I was wrong. Please forgive me.”

“If we’re going to do this, then you have to be honest with me. You have to come to me with the hard things. We have to trust each other to make difficult decisions together as well the easy ones.”

The corners of Sam’s mouth turn up into a smile. “So…does this mean you forgive me?”

“Of course, I forgive you.” I smile back.

“And we’re giving this another shot?” she asks, squeezing my hand.

I can’t help laughing at how adorable she looks. “Sam,” I say, “would you be my girlfriend?” I mean it, as dorky as it sounds.

Before I can blink, she’s in my lap, arms around my neck, with her lips finding mine. “Yes,” she whispers against my mouth. “I thought you’d never ask.”

I savor the taste of her tongue as it brushes against mine. Her body ignites a fire hotter than that in front of us. My heart finally feels home.

“Eww!” someone yells, followed by giggles.

We break apart to see Steven, Luke, and the girls watching from the doorway. Maisie’s pretending to kiss her hand, while Olivia and Kara grin like it’s the best thing they’ve seen all day.

“It’s about time!” Steven calls out as Luke whistles.

“I love this family,” Sam says, and I can tell she means more than what she’s stating.

“This family loves you,” I whisper back.

And for the first time in a long time, everything feels right.

Epilogue

14 months later

It’s the weekend before Christmas. There’s a crisp chill in the air. Steven and Luke stand side by side in their tuxes beside a white three-tiered cake topped with two grooms. When Steven told me they were getting married, my heart filled with so much happiness for my best friend that I thought it would burst. And when they bought the A-frame house that we’d poured our sweat and love into, I was ecstatic about his new journey.

We’re gathered in the backyard beneath a grand white tent with heaters humming softly. Though this weather has cooperated and is comfortably sitting in the sixties.

Everything is white. And I mean everything possible. Steven wanted it to feel and look like a “white Christmas,” and he wasn’t kidding. Flowers, drapes, table runners—if it could be white, then it’s white. And honestly? I love it!

Maisie was the flower girl. Olivia stood next to Sam on Luke’s side while Kara was next to me and Steven. We all have white dresses with pink sashes around our waist to match Steven’s pink tie and Luke’s pink vest. The ring bearer was Steven and Luke’s new golden retriever pup, Charley, they adopted last week. He stole the show walking down the aisle with Maisie, trying to eat the rose petals she tossed.