You've Found Oliver (You've Reached Sam, #2)(20)

“Not really, but my friend told me it’s an acquired taste.”

“This place might not change your mind.”

“Well, not with that attitude,” I say.

We both chuckle. I look back down at the menu. It’s hard not to keep staring at him though. The person I’ve been texting all this time. Here we are, finally meeting in person. He must have noticed, because he leans back and says, “Do I look like what you expected?”

“Maybe a little taller. But I didn’t have much to go off of.”

“I probably should have sent a photo.”

“I like the surprise.”

Ben smiles. “I do, too.”

The woman returns and sets down some waters. I glance around the diner, taking in the checkered floors, the dated wood paneling. “I swear, this place looks so familiar.”

“Have you ever seen Twin Peaks?” Ben asks. “It was filmed here.”

“You mean, this diner?”

“The whole town, actually.”

I glance out the window as scenes from the show fill my mind. “Oh my god, it totally was. The mountain and everything.”

“I was hoping you were a fan,” he says, smiling across the table. “See that barstool over there? It’s the same one Agent Cooper sat on.”

“Get out.”

“I think the mugs are original, too.”

“I’m taking one home.”

We hold in our laughs as the woman returns to take our order. I follow Ben’s lead and ask for a deluxe cheeseburger and a “damn fine” cup of coffee. Thankfully, she understands the reference. And likely tired of it, too.

Ben takes me in from across the table. Eventually, he says, “I’m really glad you showed up. I was worried you might cancel.”

“Of course not.”

“Hopefully the drive here wasn’t bad.”

“It was great. Had my driver take the scenic route.” I take a sip of water. “You have a car, right?”

Ben nods. “It’s my dad’s, but yeah. I like long drives though. You get to zone out and listen to music. Played some Velvet Underground on the way here.”

“You really are a fan.”

“I mean, aren’t you?”

“Yeah. I was just listening to them, too. On the bus, I mean.” I leave out the fact that I only made it through two songs.

“What’s your favorite album?”

Oh god. “Uh, the first one?”

Ben nods. “That is their most popular. Do you have a favorite song?”

What’s with these questions about the band? I’m about to make up a title, but maybe I should tell the truth. After all, I want him to know the real me, right? I release a breath and say, “I have to be honest with you. I don’t really like them.”

Ben tilts his head. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, I’ve tried. It’s just not for me. At all.”

There’s a brief silence. Then he breathes a sigh of relief. “Honestly, thank god. Because they’re not for me, either.”

“I thought you were a fan.”

“Not exactly.”

“But you sent me all those videos.”

“Because I thought you liked them,” he explains.

“No! I only watched because I thought you liked them.”

It takes a moment for this to sink in. Then we both crack a smile, realizing what we’ve done.

“Wait a second,” Ben says, holding his hands up. “This doesn’t make sense. What about that song you asked about?”

“It’s the only one I know from them. Only because Sam used to play it,” I explain. “I just couldn’t remember the name.”

“So he was the fan?”

I nod. “Yeah. He and I never had the same taste in music. But it reminds me of him. That’s why I wanted to listen to it again.”

“Sure you had other things in common,” he says.

“Like you?”

Ben blinks at me. “What do you mean?”

“Your phone number. Remember?”

“Right. I almost forget about that.”

“It’s weird to think about, huh? The reason we’re sitting here.”

Ben nods. “It does make an interesting origin story.”

“Definitely,” I agree. “Never thought I’d meet someone through my dead friend’s phone number.”

“Do you still have it saved under his name?”

I hesitate. “Of course not.”

Ben gives me a suspicious look. “Prove it.”

“Alright, fine—”

I pull up our messages. Then I turn my phone around.

Sam (Also Ben)

He squints at the screen. “You know what? I’ll take that.”

I sigh. “I can change it…”

“It’s alright,” Ben says with a shrug. “You don’t have to right now. I mean, it did belong to him first. And I know how much he meant to you.”

It’s really nice of him to say. Part of me wonders what Sam would think about all this. In a strange way, he brought us together. Just like he did with me and Julie. I fold my arms on the table and say, “You want to hear a story about him? There was this girl he was dating. I didn’t really like her at first. For months, we’d be in the same room and barely say a word to each other. After Sam died, I didn’t know who else to talk to. I figured she probably missed him, too. So I showed up at her house one night and threw rocks at her window. And we’ve been best friends ever since.”