Page 71 of The Dating Contract

Because the door revealed…Liam… Grinning like a fool. “Mr. Levine, welcome, welcome. Come in, come in,” Liam said, making Samuel grin.

“Thank you for having us.”

“Not a problem,” he said. “You’re family after all.”

Which made Samuel feel warm inside, especially knowing that Leah was standing next to him.

“You too,” Liam said, having turned toward Leah. “Glad we get to really chat in a comfy place like this one.”

“I’m glad I was able to make it,” she said, making Samuel smile.

“Good, good,” Liam continued, still in host mode as he met Samuel’s eyes. Yep. His mentor was in his element. “Anyway, not a big gathering tonight, unlike what we’d planned. But that’s okay. A handful of artists and a good game of Pictionary with the non-dominant hand.”

Leah laughed, and that laugh made Samuel feel on top of the world. “Pictionary?”

Liam turned to Leah, and Samuel wondered what he was going to say; the games were legendary and he was actually really excited that she was going to play with him for the first time.

“Yep. Knock-down drag-out games of competitive drawing, so wild that we had to institute the non-dominant-hand rule,” Liam said. “So we continue, less alcohol, more fun. More drawing. More friends. More family.”

“Looking forward to it,” she said.

“And of course, I hope you’re hungry,” Liam continued. “Because you’re not coming to my house without being fed. My family would never forgive me, let alone what the birthday boy would do.”

Leah nodded. “I’m hungry.”

“Good.”

And as they headed inside, Samuel took her hand again.

“This is going to be nice,” she said, and in her tone, he heard so much. It wasn’t just nice, it was going to be fun and the beginning of their next chapter in ways that he hadn’t been ready to contemplate before.

Chapter Twenty-One

Even though thetownhouse looked to Leah like Gabriel Brucker’s from the outside, the inside was completely different. This wasn’t cool and modern, but warm and colorful. Like a collection of comic artists had made the walls their playground.

Adding on to the effect, each room seemed to be filled with art in a way that just matched. Colors and sculptures and photographs, books and other random pieces were all over the space, and plastic figures lined some of the walls. Leah wasn’t quite sure what to make of it, but she’d spent most of her life shoving herself into spaces she was unsure of. This was no exception.

The party space itself was great: two divided sets of couches, with an easel in the middle, with wide-open wooden doors that led to a dining table set family style, huge plates at the center.

This was going to be interesting. And she was so glad she’d come. “Those sneakers are killer.”

Leah turned around only to see a young woman in front of her. The woman’s jewelry was gorgeous as was her smile. “Thank you,” Leah replied, grinning. “I don’t get a chance to wear them often, but I figured this group would appreciate it.”

“Jamie Sawyer,” she said. “My husband’s on the other side of the room, refusing to wear the crown I bought him on principle.”

This was the birthday boy’s wife. Got it.

“Leah Nachman,” she said, extending a hand. “Nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you too,” Jamie replied, thankfully shaking the hand Leah offered. “Who are you with?”

“Samuel,” she said. “Liam is his mentor. He worked on the logo for Tzedakah Exchange?”

“Oh my God, Jamie,” interrupted another voice. “That is the worst question you could possibly ask. I mean the first real date I had with Isaac was at Liam’s actual birthday party that Isaac threw at his place. She could be with nobody, someone who’s a crafter or artist in her own right, or with someone for the first time.” And then the woman paused, shook her head. “Sorry. I have neither tact nor manners. I’m Sarah Lieberman. I…”

Sarah Lieberman.

Lieberman rang a bell.

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