I look at him, trying to make sure I heard him correctly. “You, you want to dance with me?”
Sam smiles his big, familiar smile, showing the dimple in his left cheek. “Yeah. I mean, if you want?”
“Ok.” I stand and take his hand.
It's only a few steps from where I was sitting to the dance floor, where a lot of others are already dancing.
The song changes to a slow song, and I look up at Sam, trying not to show the worry on my face that maybe he doesn’t want to slow dance. I’m secretly hoping he does, but I can’t handle the embarrassment if he changes his mind.
I’m relieved when he puts his hands on my hips and starts slowly moving from side to side. I put my hands on his shoulders and follow along with his steps.
“You look pretty in your dress.” Usually, Sam is so confident, but right now, he seems shy as he ducks his face a little and avoids my gaze.
I still can’t believe he asked me to dance. I know he asked me to save a couple of dances for him when we were at my house. I just thought he was trying to be nice since Kevin couldn’t come.
“Thanks, Sammy. And thanks for asking me to dance. I was starting to feel dumb just sitting there watching everyone.”
I don’t tell him this, but truthfully, I was starting to feel lonely. I’m not a popular kid, not like Sam and Ethan. I’ve never really had a boyfriend, and boys aren’t exactly lining up down the street to ask me out.
My thoughts stop spiraling when Sam pulls me in a little closer, and my heart starts racing. With how close we are now, I have to move my arms so that they are draped around his shoulders instead of having my hands on them. He’s so tall.
“I’ve wanted to ask you to dance all night and finally got the courage to do it.” He gives me that shy smile again.
“Really?” I can’t hold back the surprise in my tone.
“Really. I’m just glad you actually said yes.” He’s glad?
I’ve had a crush on Sam since the beginning of summer. It's one of the reasons why I insisted that Liv and I go to the beach with him and Ethan almost every day. I just wanted to lie on the beach and watch him. I thought for sure he had noticed me staring at him when he wasn’t looking. I can’t believe he thought I would say no to him asking me to dance.
The song ends, and a new, more upbeat song starts to play. “Do you want to keep dancing?” Sam seems unsure again.
“Yeah. Let’s do it.” I can’t hold back my excitement as I beam up at him.
We dance for several more songs until I’m feeling a little sweaty and thirsty.
“Do you want to get a drink with me?”
“That's a great idea.” Sam looks around, “Actually, why don’t you hold those two seats over there for us, and I’ll get us some drinks?”
“Sure.” I wait for him and think about how great it felt when he touched me while we were dancing.
Every time his arm or hand brushed mine as we walked over to the chairs, I felt shivers. I imagine what it would be like if Sam liked me, too.
***
Present Day
The next morning, I wake up alone. The space where Sam had slept is empty. My momentary disappointment is replaced when I hear the sound of dishes and smell food wafting in from the kitchen.
I woke up briefly at one point in the middle of the night and found that I was still wrapped up in Sam’s embrace, my leg had shifted the rest of the way in between his thighs. The last time I slept that well was with Sam in Chicago.
It’s funny to think back to that time and how much has changed between us since he slept in my bed in Columbia. I laugh at the memory. I was mad at him for forcing me to go to my parents’ house for Thanksgiving. But the trip ended with Sam and me getting closer.
Stretching and pulling down my tank top, I get out of bed and make my way into the kitchen.
“You know, I was thinking.” I wrap my arms around his middle and hug him from behind while he stirs what looks like eggs and vegetables in a pan on the stove. “I could get used to waking up to you cooking me breakfast.”
He turns around and chuckles, “How did you sleep?”
