Jonah introduces them, and uncharacteristically, Millie’s smile is pure sunshine. Jonah’s jaw tightens as Millie gushes about Sam. Clearly, she’s a fan as she should be since she too is a chef.
“Millie, we’re going out, so I won’t need dinner tonight. Thank you,” Jonah interjects the first chance he gets.
She whirls to face him, blushing like a young schoolgirl caught ogling her teacher.
“Oh, okay.” Her voice is almost a whisper with a hint of disappointment.
I seize the opportunity. “Millie, would you like to join us for dinner?”
She hesitates, but Sam flashes his easy, genuine smile. “We’d love that.”
Jonah glares at me.
Payback.
On the drive, Sam and Millie dive deep into culinary talk—laughing, swapping stories, trading chef war wounds like old friends. In the front seat, Jonah mumbles something about me being careful what I wish for, but I barely register it.
Because I’m listening to Sam.
Not just the words, but the way he speaks—animated, open, relaxed in a way that tells me this isn’t performance. This is him. And I get to see it.
There’s no jealousy. No insecurity. Just a quiet thrill that he came all this way…and still fits so naturally in my world.
Jonah leans over, eyebrow raised. “Still happy you invited her?”
I smile, eyes on Sam in the rearview mirror. “More than ever.”
14
SAM
The Bow is your classic Irish pub with dark wood furniture, warm lighting, leather booths, TV flickering overhead, and taps flowing with good beer. Cozy. Loud. Familiar.
We weave through the packed dining room toward the back booth where Sin and Drew are seated. Olivia leads and I hang back, just behind Millie.
I want to be beside Olivia, close enough to touch her, smell her perfume, feel the addicting fizz that sparks between us. But here we are, surrounded by her friends and her son, and any hope for a quiet moment alone evaporates as we settle in.
And the drive over here didn’t count. Millie nudged me into the back seat and monopolized my time. She’s a nice woman and I was more than happy to talk shop, but I’m here for Olivia. And at least for now, I don’t see much alone time in our near future.
“Hey, darlin’.” Jonah greets Sin with a kiss on the cheek.
Sin reaches for me next, her laughter full of trouble as she pulls me into a hug. “Sam, it’s so good to see you.”
Her gaze ping-pongs between Olivia and me while she waggles her eyebrows and Jonah joins in on the fun. Both clearly love the chance to bug their best friend.
Jonah fist-bumps Drew before sliding into the booth beside Sin. He pats the seat next to him, inviting Millie to join. Solid move. I like him even more now. Olivia takes the spot beside Drew, and I grin foolishly as I plant myself on the end of the banquette, beside her. Victory.
Once drinks and food arrive, I relax into the rhythm of the conversation. I take in Olivia and how she interacts with her people, how her laugh lingers longer when she’s with them. She’s radiant like this. Grounded. Real.
Watching her among the people who know her best is how I’ll truly get to know her. Not through questions or grand declarations, but moments like this.
“Drew, how’s school?” Jonah wraps his hand around his beer. “Still headed for law school?”
He shrugs. “Good. Just glad exams are done. And yeah, that’s still the plan.”
Olivia adds gently, “Honey, the plan can change if you want it to. You know that, right?”
“Yeah, I know, Mom. But this is what I want.”
