Page 46 of And Then Came You

“Caroline said I could bunk with her.”

His emerald green eyes flash, a small smile playing on his full lips. “Don’t want to bunk with me?”

I sputter my drink, a flush crawling up my face. “I think your bunk is already filled.”

His gaze focuses on the water beyond, a muscle twitching in his jaw. “She was a surprise, too.”

“Almira?”

Sam nods, downing some water. “She came with me to Dominica and we spent another week together, but…”

“But what?”

“We’re done. Not that we were anything to begin with. Now we’re just hanging out.”

I want to ask more, pry deeper into Sam’s thinking regarding this strange as hell situation he now has with a woman he was sleeping with not three days prior.

But I never get the chance, as Almira settles into a chair next to me, flashing me a smile.

“Do you know anything about astrology, Lexi?”

“A bit, although I’m certainly not the Psychic Friends Network.”

Almira hands me her phone, showing me a photo of a pendant, carved with the Libra zodiac sign. “What do you think? My friend’s birthday is in two weeks, and I thought it a nice gift.”

“It’s lovely, but she’s not a Libra.”

“No? Are you sure?”

“Positive. My birthday is in two weeks, so she would be a Virgo.”

“Your birthday is in two weeks, Lex Lex?” Sam asks, his body tensing as Almira runs her nails along his inked bicep.

“It is.”

“What big plans do you have?” Almira inquires, seemingly oblivious to Sam’s stiffened posture.

“None. I tend to let my birthday slip by. I figure it’s a big enough celebration that I made it to the next one.”

“What did I miss?” Caroline inquires, taking the final available seat. “Lexi, we should be done here soon. Do you mind waiting?”

I shake my head as my phone vibrates. Glancing at it, I chuckle. Damian is once again on the golf course with his wealthy patrons, but this time, they went all out with plaid pants and hats. He looks ridiculous.

“Your beau?” Almira asks, nodding toward my phone.

“No, nothing like that.”

“Not yet anyway. I know that smile. I wore it when I met Sam.” She presses a kiss to Sam’s cheek, but his gaze is locked firmly on me. And it’s less than thrilled.

“Let me guess. Gianni?”

Bristling at his angry tone, I roll my shoulders as I gulp down the rest of my drink. “A friend, Sam. Not Gianni.”

“A friend? Right.”

I wish I hadn’t bothered driving here. We can’t even make it ten minutes. “Yes, Sam. A friend. Just. Like. You.”

Sam scoots his chair back with a grunt, grumbling about having to return to the set. He grabs Almira’s hand, dragging her with him down the sand. I guess her proximity isn’t such a bother, after all.

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