Page 56 of The Boy I Hate

He cracked a smile, but ignored her warning and stepped toward her anyway. “You can call me that whenever you want to, baby.” He then tugged on one of her braids and pressed the call button for theelevator.

They stepped out to the lobby a short time later, where a bus boy with a hopper full of matching luggage passed in a hurry. Samantha looked around for the reception desk, wondering if that was where they should try first. “Maybe we can callRenee—”

But before she could finish her thought, a squeal came from the other side of the elevators and traveled all the way down the hall. Not two seconds later, a flurry of light brown hair and skinny legs launched themselves to the top ofTristan’sback.

“It’s about time!” Reneeshouted.

Samantha covered her mouth, watching Tristan almost tumble forward before catching his balance and reaching up over his head to flip his sister over his shoulders. She was in a headlock before she could evenblink.

“Woah, woah, woah!” protested a very tall, very lean man who came to stand beside them. “That’s my future bride you havethere.”

Samantha instantly grinned. She’d seen pictures of the handsome ballet dancer, but there were people who were more attractive in person, and Renee’s fiancée was one of them. He had a sort of James Dean quality about him. Inky dark hair that was both perfectly combed but messy at the same time, and his eyelashes were so thick it almost looked like a chore to hold hiseyesopen.

Renee glanced up, head twisted around Tristan’s death grip, and giggled. “Phin, you remember my brotherTristan.”

Tristan let go of Renee, almost dropping her, then draped his arm over her shoulder, anchoring her arms at her waist. “Sisters,” he said, holding a hand out to shake. “Can’t live with ’em, can’t livewithout’em.”

Phin only laughed, and shook Tristan’s hand. “It’s good to see you again,” he said, then he turned toward Samantha and took the backpack from her shoulder. “And you must be Samantha. Renee has been talking about you formonths.”

Samantha glanced over at her friend, a lump forming in her throat as she held out a hand to Phin—but he immediately yanked her forward and into a two-armed hug. “It’s good to meet you,finally.”

Emotion hit her like a sack of onions—without warning, tears stung her eyes and she blinked them quickly way. After all this time, after all these months, she was finally meeting the man her best friend would marry. No, she wasn’t just meeting him, she was pressed into his chest barely able to breathe. Renee was as close as she had to as a sister, and until this moment Samantha wasn’t sure she liked Phin. He was a strange man who had swept in like Batman, capturing her best friend—with no plans to ever lethergo.

But she didlikehim.

He was warm, protective, and he made Renee smile like Samantha had never seenbefore.

She finally closed her eyes, accepting the man who would be as close to a brother as she’d ever have, and hugged him back “The feeling’s mutual,” she saidsoftly.

They all parted, realizing they were making a spectacle of themselves in the middle of the hotel lobby, and Renee came up to take hold of her hand. “I thought you’d never get here,” she whispered, her head resting on the top of Samantha’s shoulder in the familiar way she’dmissed.

All of a sudden, it was like the last six months disappeared. Like it always did. Because Renee owned a piece of her heart. Reunions weren’t awkward or uncomfortable; they were like finding an old pair of slippers after a long summer. They were worn, comfortable, and perfectly molded to your feet. She and Renee fit together, and she immediately feltathome.

The group continued talking and moving toward the reception desk, and for the first time since Renee had moved out, Samantha realized she wasn’t losing her best friend. She would still miss her like crazy, would still have to adjust to not seeing her face every day, but you could never lose a person who held a part of your soul. Renee wouldn’t be able to get rid of her even if shetried.

They began talking about the trip, about how different the city was compared to Los Angeles, and Renee stopped. She turned around to look at Tristan and tilted her head. “That reminds me. What happened with the car?” she asked, eyeing him up and down suspiciously. It was a normal question—one that should have been expected after being almost two days late to his sister’s wedding, but he adjusted his stance and looked at Samantha. “Radiator cap. Of allthings.”

Renee’s brows furrowed and she looked to Samantha. “And it delayed you forthatlong?”

Samantha nodded, taking hold of Renee’s hand and squeezing. “That’s what happens when you break down in the middle of Colton, Iowa,” she answered. It wasn’t a lie, but for some reason it feltlikeone.

They continued walking, catching up on wedding stuff, while Phin escorted them to the reception desk to check into their rooms. Tristan and Phin took the task of checking in the car, while Renee rambled on about this weekend’sitinerary.

“I was beginning to think you wouldn’t make it,” Renee said, playing with the ends ofSamantha’shair.

“I wouldn’t have missed it for theworld—”

Renee interrupted, cracking a grin. “No, I mean theparty.”

Samantha narrowed her eyes. “I thought Imissed—”

“No.” Renee shook her head. “Phin and I decided to do them together, bachelorette and bachelor all in one.” She got quiet suddenly, then rested her head on Samantha’s shoulder again. “We only get to see you guys for a few days, and splitting up didn’t make any sense.” She turned around to look at her fiancé, causing her face to instantly soften. “I want you to get to know him, Sam. Really know him, and I’m worried we’re going to run outoftime.”

Samantha frowned then, and shook her head. “There’s plenty of time…” But she was saying it for her best friend’s benefit, because the moment she thought about the days she had left, a hard knot formed in the bottom of her stomach and made herfeelill.

A buzzing noise began vibrating in Renee’s pocket and she broke away to pull her phone from her pocket. She looked down at the screen then turned toward Samantha. “Betty, my seamstress, she’s waiting for you in my room. I know you’re probably tired, but do you mind if we run over there? I’ll have the guys bring your key when they’re done.” She turned to Phin and Tristan, grabbing hold of each one of their shoulders and lifting up on her toes. “I’m taking Sam. Bring her key to my room when you’re done. Okay? Okay!” Before waiting for an answer, she turned back to Samantha and took hold of her arm again. “I’m a mess. Canyoutell?”

They walked arm in arm to the elevator, where Renee told her all about the events leading up to the wedding. About the caterer canceling last minute, about how her future mother-in-law was freaking out. But somehow it all had resolved itself in the end, because some big famous baker was coming into town and agreed to takethejob.

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