Page 13 of When Love Is Unexpected

"You're the middle child," I say. "Your little sister, Emma, is the bride-to-be. She's marrying Luke. I don't think I ever knew his last name."

"Parker," he says. "How old is Emma?"

"You're twenty-nine, and I remember she's a few years younger than you, so twenty-five?"

"You're amazing!" he says.

"I am," I say. "Okay, your grandparents are next."

"You get brownie points if you get both sets of grandparents right."

I search my memory bank, pulling up the many conversations I've had with Sam in which his grandparents' names have come up.

"Ooh," I say. "This is hard."

"Remember, Sam is my middle name. Samuel."

"Yes. Yes, I remember that. You're a third. Robert Samuel Jameson the third."

"Yes!" he exclaims.

"So, your grandfather's name on your dad's side is Robert, too. His wife, your grandma, is Janice. Robert and Janice Jameson."

"I'm impressed," he says. "One more set of names, and we'll be done for now."

"Your mom's maiden name is West. I know your grandma's name is biblical, but also something like a candy bar."

"You're close," he says.

"Baby Ruth! Her name is Ruth West, and her husband is Martin. I did it!"

I jump to my feet and so does Sam. He comes around the table and hugs me. I missed his hugs.

"I think we're all set," he says, looking into my eyes.

"I missed you," I say.

"I missed you too, Laila. I missed you so much."

After we wash the dishes and put them away, we sit on the couch and go over names again.

"So, what exactly did you have in mind as far as us?" I ask. "What are we going to tell your family?"

"Mom has tried fixing me up with every one of her friends' daughters over the years."

"So why are you still single?" I ask.

"For the same reason you are," he says.

"What?" I ask. "You've been focused on your career, too?"

"No," he says. "I haven't found the right person."

"I guess my career has kept me from finding the right person," I say. "Zoe would love to go out with you."

"Oh yeah?" he asks, teasing me with his gaze.

"Why don't you ask her out?"

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