Page 5 of When Love Is Unexpected

A half-eaten breakfast sits on the table next to him. What's left of the eggs is yellow and runny, barely cooked through. The only person I know who likes his eggs this over easy is five thousand miles away.

"Dad," I say, but before I can finish my thought, my heart starts pounding because I can sense Sam's presence and smell the familiar scent of his cologne.

Fearing it could be my imagination, I whirl around and come face to face with him. My best friend.

He takes a step forward and wraps his arms around me. I hug him back.

"Sam!" I exclaim, "I can't believe you're here!"

"I missed you," he whispers into my ear.

"I missed you too!" I scream. "I missed you so much!"

Chapter 2

Sam

She's even more beautiful than I remember. She's not wearing any makeup, and her hair is all curls today. She is gorgeous.

"I'll leave you two alone so you can talk," says Jon.

"No, Dad," says Laila. "Stay and finish your breakfast. Sam and I will go talk in the den."

Laila takes me by the hand and leads me into the den.

"Sit," she says.

I sit on the couch, and she sits next to me, close enough that I can smell her hair.

"Why didn't you tell me you were coming?" she asks, nestling comfortably into my side.

"I wanted to surprise you," I say. "Surprise!"

"You've been avoiding me for weeks," she says.

"I was afraid that if I talked to you, I wouldn't be able to keep it from you."

"Are you back for good?" she asks. I can hear the smile in her voice.

"No," I say. "I'll be here for a few days, and then I'm heading to California."

"I see," she says. "You're here to see your family."

"Yes, but I'm here to see you, too. I want to spend as much time as I can with you while I'm here."

"Good," she says as she finds my hand to hold it.

To this day, I still don't understand how we've always been able to share such intimate moments yet remain only friends.

"Your move to Boston is coming up," I say.

"Yes," she begins. "I've got everything ready. I'm staying in Aaron's condo. I wish you could be here to help me move."

"I think I'll be back in Athens by then."

"You just got here," she says. "Let's not talk about you leaving. At least not for a while."

"I'm a groomsman at my sister's wedding next weekend," I say.

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