Page 72 of Begin Again
We walk back to the wedding party, where Sam and Tally are waiting for us.
“I’m sorry about how I reacted,” Noah tells Sam. “I’m a little surprised still, but I am happy for you.”
“Thanks, man.” Sam gives Noah a hug. “Now go hang out with your wife.”
Noah grins at Tally as they make their way to the small cafe where we’ll be eating dinner soon.
“You good?”
I smile up at Sam. “Better than good.”
37
SAM
“Dance with me.” It comes out like a command, which is not what I meant, I don’t want to tell Annie what she has to do; she has too much history with men like that. But my heart stops when she looks up at me. She’s got a sly sort of grin on her face.
We just finished the wedding dinner and everyone else is talking amongst each other, but I want to dance with my wife.
“Bossy Sam? I like it.” She takes my hand and I pull her up from her seat. Watching as the soft cotton of her dress falls around her—she’s like a dream.
“You like when I'm bossy?”
She nods as she follows me onto an open patch of grass. “Yes, surprisingly. Probably because it’s so different from normal Sam and YouTube Sam. But I like every version of you.”
“Which is your favorite?” The question is like a lit match, about to start a fire, but I have to know.
She smiles up at me as she wraps her arms around my neck. “I think I’ll keep that to myself for now.”
I squeeze her hips. “No fair.”
“I’ve got to keep some things a secret. But I will let you know when I like something, deal?”
“Deal.” Because what else am I supposed to say? She is too good for me, and I’m terrified she’s going to wake up and realize that any second and then she’ll bolt. I’ve been right in front of her for years, and she didn’t notice me romantically until this past year, so what does that mean for the future?
She lays her head on my chest, and I’m thrown back to last night, with her in my arms. Where I want her to stay forever.
“Is it weird to you that we now have one more night at the same resort where your brother is staying for his honeymoon?”
She shudders against me. “I did not need that reminder or image in my head.”
I chuckle. “Sorry, sunshine.”
“You are not sorry.” She hits my chest playfully.
“What should we do tonight?” I ask her.
“Sleep, like last night,” she answers and relief fills my chest. She wants me to be with her.
“I love that plan,” I tell her. I’ll hold onto this feeling for as long as she’ll let me.
Noah wasn’t wrong when he voiced his concerns about me not ever having a long-term relationship, but he didn’t know that the only reason those relationships didn’t stick was because I’ve always been in love with Annie and no other woman was her. No other woman can ever compare.
We dance on a patch of grass, close to the reserved section of the small beachside restaurant where the reception was held. There’s a man singing and a crowd has gathered, but the grass patch is empty.
“No one else is dancing, Sam,” Annie says, but she’s smiling.
“So? Is it so wrong to want to dance with my wife?” I pull her into my arms as the man starts to sing a song by Queen.
