You've Found Oliver (You've Reached Sam, #2)(2)

“I hope there’s shrimp cocktail.”

“That’s the spirit.”

We adjust each other’s collars before heading inside. Flowers fill the entrance as we make our way toward the crowd of wedding guests. You know these people have money because the ice sculptures are bigger than both of us. I reach out to touch one of the ice swans.

Sam shoves me. “Stop that.”

“I was checking if it was real.”

“We’re supposed to be invisible, remember?” Sam shakes his head at me. Then he glances around the room and says, “Wait a minute. Is that a photo booth?”

“A photo booth?”

We race over to it. Several pictures later, we grab our prints and head toward the buffet to get some food. Sam’s face lights up at the chocolate-covered strawberries. He places two on his plate and says, “Everything looks so good.”

“Told you this was a great idea.”

“Could you imagine having a wedding like this?”

I shrug. “It’s a bit much, if you ask me.”

“But you want to get married, right?”

I think about this. “Maybe. Do you?”

“Of course. I mean, if I meet the right person.” His eyes move around the room as if he’s imagining it for himself. “Doesn’t have to be this extravagant though.”

“I guess weddings are a good way to get flowers,” I say.

“True.” Sam smiles, turning back to the dessert.

I wish I could tell him how handsome he looks tonight. How the light around us brings out the deep brown in his eyes. We find a table and enjoy our food. Then we wander toward the dance floor to see the band. As we’re enjoying the music, a tall man approaches us.

“Excuse me,” he says. “I don’t think I’ve seen you boys before.”

Sam and I exchange a nervous glance. Before either of us can speak, the guy behind him with a camera says, “Do you have a few words for the bride and groom?”

We blink at each other. Sam nudges me.

“Uh…of course,” I start. I put my arm around Sam and smile into the camera. “Thank you for sharing this beautiful night with us. I think I speak for everyone when I say, you two are truly made for each other. Watching you fall in love over the years was a gift to us all. So congratulations to…uh—” I freeze, realizing I don’t know their names.

“You lovebirds!” Sam jumps in to save me.

“Stop, I’m getting emotional,” I add, fanning my eyes.

The moment the man turns away, Sam grabs my arm. I’m laughing as he pulls me aside, looking worried all of a sudden. “Oliver, I think it’s time to go.”.

“But they haven’t even cut the cake!”

“I don’t want us to get caught.”

“Relax, nobody’s noticed yet.”

“We’ve stayed long enough,” he says firmly. “I’m gonna grab my jacket and meet you at the door.”

“Boo.”

He walks off before I can stop him. The music was just getting good, too. As I’m standing there, not yet ready to leave, an idea comes to me. I head up to the band and make a request. Thankfully, the guitarist knows the song. As I’m waiting for them to play it, Sam returns to the dance floor and says, “What’s taking so long? You were supposed to meet me by the door.”

“How about one more song?” I suggest.

“You can stay for one more song. I’m gonna wait in the car.”

“Come on, Sammy.” I grab his arm.

But he pulls away. “I’ll be outside.”

I stand there as Sam begins to walk off again. Then, as if on cue, there’s a familiar drum intro. He pauses, recognizing the beat instantly. There’s only one song that could get Sam to stay. “Escape,” by Rupert Holmes, better known as “The Pi?a Colada Song.” It’s unironically one of Sam’s favorites of all time. He’s forced me to listen to it a thousand times in the car. We choreographed a dance to it for his parents’ anniversary a few years back.

Sam turns around slowly, narrowing his eyes at me. I smile as I step toward him, rolling my shoulders to the beat. Eventually, Sam taps his foot as if the music’s taken over. The moment the chorus hits, he finally surrenders to it, dancing along with me. To my surprise, we remember the moves almost perfectly. I love seeing him like this, singing along to the words, as if no one around is watching us.

Haze blankets us, pouring down from a fog machine on the stage. Sam shuffles toward it, making me follow after him. The music fades as we disappear through the fog, and the memory changes once again…



* * *





Fog turns to mist as I step off the city bus. It’s seven-thirty on a Saturday night. Zach lives an hour and a half away from Ellensburg. We’re finally meeting after three months of texting. I’ve never been on a date before. I picked a Mediterranean place because he mentioned it on the phone once. I grab a table in the restaurant and wait for him to arrive.

Zach is running late. I send him another message.

Hey I just got here



I’m sitting at the table in the back left



Hopefully he’ll be here soon. The waitress comes to take my order.