And through all of it, Sam kept looking at me, like they had been looking at me all night. Gentle and admiring and pure. I felt so grateful for them at that moment, no matter what happened next, for giving me this night. For making me feel like I was the most interesting person in the room. For being such a comforting presence, for gifting me with their honesty, for granting me so many precious, casual touches throughout the night that made my skin heat and my belly burn. I felt strangely bared to them in this nearly empty bar, in the middle of what could have been a very ordinary September night, like they were the only one I had ever wanted to sing for. Like their friends abandoned them on purpose, giving me room to find them.

And when I asked, in the song, Do you feel my heart beating? Do you understand? I felt like they did. Like they really, really did.

In the middle of the last chorus, while never breaking eye contact, they stood. They walked around the table, leaned against it. Waited.

Kiki came to me, took the microphone out of my hand.

“Go get ‘em, tiger,” she said with a wink. Gave me a small shove.

They met me halfway. I only took a few steps, and they were there, green eyes dark and serious, although their mouth was still smiling. They cupped both hands around my face. Rubbed a thumb over my cheek.

I heard a high whistle that I instinctively knew was Bri.

And then Sam closed the gap and kissed me.

5

Sam & Lily

The September night air was chilly when we stumbled outside, waking me all the way up. We waved goodbye to Preeti and Bri as they stepped into a cab. They had been thinking ahead, had called one ten minutes ago.

I continued to take the Not Thinking Ahead At All path when Lily tugged my hand a second later, led me to the side of the building, and shoved me against the wall. It was hard and a little shocking and the complete opposite of Lily’s lips on mine again, which were soft and plump and hot, and the combination made me dizzy.

Until, suddenly, she was gone.

“Sorry.” Lily huffed out a breath, hands on her hips. I did my best to not flail wildly and crash into her breasts.