Until I Met You

‘My point is, I was straight up with you.’

‘A little too straight up, if you ask me.’

‘You’re the one operating under a false identity. You claimed to be a blogger. Remember?’

‘It wasn’t a lie!’ she snapped. ‘I’m blogging about this trip. I’ve taken a ton of pictures.’

Fact check: she’d taken exactly two pictures, both at the airport.

‘When can I read it?’

Likely never.

Hugo snapped his fingers to grab Samantha’s attention from across the table. ‘What’s up with you two? Why do you look so tense?’

‘Nothing’s up,’ Samantha said quickly.

‘Just getting to know each other,’ Roman added.

‘Carry on,’ Hugo said. ‘Roman, Sam is single. How about you?’

‘I’m very single.’

‘Interesting.’

Exasperated, she looked up past the fairy lights, in search of a star to wish upon to start this whole day over.

Roman leaned close and whispered, ‘You didn’t tell your friends about us.’

‘There’s no us,’ she hissed. ‘Besides, I forgot all about it. Totally escaped my mind.’

She’d spent the whole afternoon obsessing over it, slicing and editing the reel in her mind. Roman Carver didn’t have to know that.

‘Not me,’ he said. ‘It made my day. A pretty lady tells you off … it does something to you.’

There were those stupid words again: pretty lady. But something about the way he said it made her think he meant it this time – not that it mattered. She was absolutely indifferent. She couldn’t care less. ‘I’m surprised it doesn’t happen more often.’

‘Oh really?’

His brown eyes sparkled entrancingly. The server chose this moment to return with his beer. He picked up the bottle and poured the frothy amber liquid into a tall, chilled glass. Seconds passed before he could spare her his full attention.

‘Samantha?’

‘Yes?’

‘Don’t let me get under your skin.’

‘You’re not getting under anything!’

Roman’s big, rolling laughter filled her ears, followed by the crystal sound of Anthony tapping on his glass for yet another toast. He stood at the head of the table. ‘Naomi and I want to thank you all for being here with us. Some of you travelled from very far and we appreciate that. Your support means the world to us. I’m lucky enough to have found my great love and soul mate. That is our wish for all of you.’

Anthony’s words prompted applause and much cooing. Naomi was incandescent with a mix of joy and pride. Jen dropped her head on her date’s shoulder. Jason pulled Jasmine close and planted a kiss on her temple. Hugo clutched his chest as if his heart might burst.

Roman glanced her way and reminded her to smile. ‘You should see your face right now.’

‘I am smiling,’ she said through clenched teeth. ‘If I smile any harder I’ll pull a muscle.’

‘Maybe that’s the problem. Try less.’