Page 56 of When Love Is Unexpected

The way this man looks at my sister is truly mesmerizing, but it's no longer foreign to me. I recognize it because I experienced it last night with Sam.

Chapter 12

Sam

After stopping by the studio to meet the new hires, I pick up groceries for tonight's dinner.

Laila calls shortly after I get home to let me know she's running late.

"Don't worry," I say, "I got this. I'll see you at six."

I'm finding it increasingly challenging to keep my friendship with Laila strictly platonic. Last night was rough. I want to see her, touch her, kiss her. Keeping my hands to myself is nearly impossible. I have to touch her.

I can see now that returning to New York was a futile attempt to prove to myself that I could walk away from her again without regret. I want to be with her, but a friendship is no longer enough. I love her, and I want to be with her. The instant attraction I felt when I met her at Loren's studio has grown into love. She's the first thing I think of when I wake up and the last thing I think of before I drift off to sleep, and if I'm lucky, I get to see her in my dreams.

Even in Athens, all I thought about was Laila. I counted down the hours and minutes until I got to speak to her again.

I was shopping for her birthday gift the day I met Helga. She worked in a quaint little shop in Plaka. She helped me pick out some scented olive oil soaps and a beautiful, delicate scarf that Laila loved.

Helga's English was limited, and my Greek was worse, but we made it work.

"This must be a very special friend to you, yes?" she asked. "Is it your girlfriend? You love, or a girl who is a friend to you?"

"She's just a friend," I said. I lied.

Helga is beautiful and sweet. We started meeting for tea and then dinner. We went hiking, visited museums, and went to the beach. Once we started spending more time together, I found myself juggling my time between Helga and my phone calls with Laila.

It didn't take long before Helga took notice of my schedule. She felt slighted, and I had no excuse or solution. Laila was my priority. I would leave Helga's apartment and run home to call Laila. I knew she'd be waiting for my call, and the thought of standing her up broke my heart. I never stopped to think that I was breaking Helga's heart instead.

During our explosive breakup, Helga reminded me of what a liar I'd been. "You said!" she yelled. "You said you were friends. No more than friends. You lied to me, Samuel! I hate you for using me, and I hate me for letting you."

Last night, I could smell the scent of lavender soap on Laila's skin—the soap Helga helped me choose.

When women say men are jerks, they're talking about me.

The fantasy was that I could have a real relationship with another woman. The reality is, I can't, and I can't leave Cold Spring again.

The doorbell rings just before six. I greet each member of the Baldwin family as they enter.

"Come in," I say. "Come in."

"Loren," I say, "you look beautiful."

"Thank you, Sam," she says, giving me a hug.

Her long, curly hair is tied back in a ponytail, with a few curls framing her face. Even at almost nine months pregnant, she glides into the room like a graceful ballerina. She's wearing a dark plum maternity dress that's gathered around her middle and ties with a perfect bow at the top of her belly. The color makes her green eyes look brighter, but maybe it's her happiness I'm seeing.

Holly is wearing a light green dress and sandals. Her hair is in a bun on top of her head, held in place with the barrette I gifted her.

"Hey, your dress matches the barrette," I say. "You look so pretty."

"Thank you, Sammy," she says. "I lost a tooth."

"Yeah, I can see that," I say, smiling. "It just makes you look cuter."

Aaron is casually dressed, but what stands out about him is his beaming smile. This man is undoubtedly happy, and their little family is perfect.

"Where's Laila?" asks Loren.

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