Page 22 of One Last Chance

I smile then reply, “I’m waiting for someone.”

“You don’t recognize me, do you?”

My gaze falls back to him, and suddenly awareness flashes through me. “Sam? Is that you? Oh my God, it is you.” I jump off my stool and hug him tightly. He’s broader, taller, and just more man.

I pull back and look at him. “I can’t believe you’re really here. I was only thinking of you the other day. I wanted to call you to say I was coming home, but I got busy.”

“That’s okay,” he replies, taking a sip of his drink. “Tell me… what brings you back to Vixen Falls? It’s been what? Four, five years?”

I sigh. “Yup, five years.” Taking another sip of my wine, I sit back down and notice a wedding ring on his finger. “You’re married?”

He lifts his hand, displaying his yellow gold ring and says, “Yes, I am, fourteen months and counting.”

“Oh, wow, Sam. I’m so happy for you. Who is she?”

“Susan… Susan Baker.”

Shocked, I widen my eyes and say, “Susan Baker from school?”

“The very same,” he replies, twirling his amber liquid around in his glass.

“I can’t believe it. You married Susan Baker. Susan, who everyone used to tease for wearing braces?”

He laughs as he remembers. “Yup, that’s her.”

Sam takes out his wallet from his inside jacket pocket and pulls out a picture of them at their wedding. I hardly recognize her.

“She’s gorgeous, Sam. Gosh, she’s changed so much.”

“Well, you know what they say, the ugly duckling turned into a swan.”

“You got that right. She really is beautiful, Sam,” I say, returning the photograph of them. “I’m so happy for you.”

“Enough about me. What are you doing here alone?”

“She’s not alone!” A low growl comes from behind me, and I twist around in my stool, noticing Domenic is standing there dressed in jeans, a shirt, and his football jacket.

“Reed,” Sam says bitterly.

“Ross.”

“Well, look at that, it’s time for me to go. How long you in town for, Chloe? I’d love to have you over for dinner. Susan would love to see you.”

Sadly, I say, “At this stage, I’m not sure. I was supposed to be leaving this weekend, but now I have promised Sophia and Megan that I’ll go out with them for old time’s sake.”

“Not to worry, next time, perhaps.”

Sam gets up off the stool and places a kiss on my cheek. “It was nice seeing you. Don’t be a stranger, okay?”

“I won’t, it was so nice seeing you, too.” I get up off my stool and hug Sam. “I’ve missed you,” I tell him honestly.

Sam pulls back and looks at me. “I’ve missed you, too.” He leans in and whispers in my ear, “It seems like nothing’s changed… Domenic over here still acts as though he owns you.”

I turn around and see Domenic standing there with his arms crossed, glaring at us.

“I’m the one that should be angry. He’s made me wait for forty minutes,” I say, a little loudly, so he can hear me.

“Don’t look now, but I think he’s gonna pop a vein any minute.”

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