Page 27 of The Dating Contract

“Oh that’s amazing,” she said. And then something clicked; the fact that Samuel had been asking for information about the Unicorns.

“It is. Evan’s even pulling in a favor from his buddy who works at BP comics for the logo. It hasn’t been done yet, but we’re crashing everything so…we had basic invites and are revealing the logo as a sort of…draw for the donation part of the event.”

And that made sense. So much sense.

This is why Samuel needed information about the logo, and why he was going with her to practice on Saturday. Yet another reason she needed to find him.

But none of this, none of the strings that were tying them in tangled ways together, was bashert.

*

After finishing theconversation with Josephine Brucker, Samuel found himself at loose ends, and debated going in search of Leah. Of course she was already in a conversation with someone else, someone he vaguely recognized. Instead, she went to get a glass of ginger ale on the other side of the room.

“Takes a lot to be in a relationship with a strong woman.”

He blew out a breath, turning toward a gentleman wearing a blazer, a pair of black pants and oxfords. “If it’s not as easy as breathing, you’re with the wrong woman.”

The gentleman he was talking to blinked, as if he hadn’t expected to hear the statement the way Samuel said it, and as if there was a bit of awe, if not understanding. “Yes,” the gentleman said. “It’s hard for people who aren’t with the right person. There are difficult moments for sure, but when the underlying conflict is that you want them to be a different person, you’re in the wrong relationship with the wrong person.” He paused and extended his hand. “Evan Lefkowitz,” he said. “My girlfriend’s on the other side of the room.”

And then it clicked. “My mentor is Liam Hernandez,” he said. “I’m Samuel Levine.”

“You’re working on the logo, I hope!” Evan said with a grin.

“I am,” Samuel said. “I’m really excited, testing out things.”

“I’m so glad he convinced you to do this. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Great to meet you too,” Samuel said, smiling. “It’s nice to make the connection face to face.”

“It is, right? I hope Liam hasn’t said anything awful about me?”

Samuel laughed, the weight of making a good impression off of his shoulders. “Just things that make me think you’re a kindred spirit—I also had a picking-grass phase instead of playing goalie when I was young.”

Evan snorted making Samuel, once again, feel right at home. “He’s never going to let that go. Ever. But that’s why he’s my friend, He’s got a good eye though. Keep him close.”

“I was lucky,” Samuel replied. “Lucky that they assigned me to him after design school.”

“He is the lucky one. Says my mezuzah and the ketubah I’m looking at, not seriously, of course.”

And as they continued to talk, Samuel found himself relaxing even more, until Evan looked up and realized what time it was before heading to find his girlfriend, leaving Samuel with a parting ‘see you at the gala. Can’t wait to see the logo.’

Apparently, he had a great deal to tell Leah on the way home. This, he decided, was going to be interesting.

*

When Jess leftto usher Evan out the door, Leah took it as her cue to go and find Samuel.

“Hey,” he said.

She held his hand; she wasn’t sure why she felt it was necessary, but she did it anyway. “You’re amazing,” he said as they headed down the stairs of the townhouse, and out into the summer night.

“I…don’t know what happened?”

“You don’t?”

She shook her head. “No. I don’t.”

“They love you,” he said. “It felt like you were holding court, you know? Like everybody wanted to talk to you and everybody wanted to see what you were saying. You did amazing and I’m so glad you had me come with you.”

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