Page 23 of My Always One

She lifted her hand my direction. “Very nice to meet you.”

“We’re waiting for our table.” Carmichael’s gaze goes behind me as he tries to make himself appear taller. “And here’s my date.”

As if she materializes out of thin air, Sami steps around me, reaching for her fiancé’s outstretched hand.

“Jack, I’m sorry I’m late.”

She hands him a key fob. “No valet. I parked it myself.”

Jack nods, taking the fob from her.

Before she realizes I am even there, I have a flashback of a dance and a red dress. Hell, the one she is wearing now covers about as much skin as that red one did back then. In her defense, this one is cut differently, not as revealing on top, but damn, how did she walk on the icy sidewalk in those shoes?

Sami spins my direction, her smile wavering and recovering. “Marsh, what’s going on?”

The knot in my chest pulls tighter as I force a smile. I want to tell her the truth. That’s always been our thing. But do I really know the truth? Maybe Melinda is right. Maybe it was all innocent. I clear my throat. “I’m here with some of my coworkers celebrating a big deal and saw Carmichael. I stopped to say hi.”

Carmichael nods. “I heard McMann landed the Sirius Hotel deal.” He extends his hand. “Congratulations. I should buy you a drink.”

I force myself to take his hand. “No, thank you.” I turn to Sami. “Hey gorgeous, how about lunch sometime?”

“I’ve never been able to turn you down.”

When Ellen looks from Sami to me and back, I feel the need to save my best friend, to protect her. I’m not sure if it’s necessary, but I can’t stop myself. “Old friends,” I explain.

“Since you were five?” Carmichael says in the form of a question.

“Since Sami kicked my ass. Watch out. She has a mean right hook.” Sami’s smile warms my heart, slowly unknotting my worries.

“I’ll text you,” she says before turning to Ellen and talking to her, completely unaware that moments earlier that woman was flirting with—no, her fiancé was flirting with that woman.

I can’t say I feel better as I walk away, but I don’t feel worse.

Did I just save Sami from witnessing what I’d been watching?

If I did, is that good or bad?

By the time I make it back to the others from my firm, I’ve chosen to believe it is all innocent and good. I glance across the bar to see her smile. It lights up the entire room. If Sami stood closer to the windows, she would undoubtedly melt the snow.

“Are you all right?” Melinda asks as we follow a hostess to our table.

“I think so.”

Marshal

"No, no..." Sami's words trail away as she shakes her head.

It’s been a little over three months since the incident at the bar and seeing the hurt in Sami’s expression and the tears on her cheeks, I know I made the wrong choice that night. I won’t do the same tonight.

The bourbon burns as I take a long sip.

The alcohol doesn't dull her pain, but it helps calm my rage at myself and her no-good asshole ex.

Ex as in she left her engagement ring on the kitchen counter of her condo before coming here.

Even half-wasted, Sami is adorable. I love the way her long, wavy hair becomes curly in the summer's heat. She hates it. She always has, but I can't stop myself from reaching out and tweaking a long chestnut curl, just to watch it bounce.

"Stop it!" she says, pulling away and laying her head against my sofa.

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