One week later...
Samantha held her breath as Dave deepened the kiss. Her legs turned to jelly, and she went limp in his arms. He held her up with one strong arm around her waist, while she wrapped her hands around his neck to pull him closer...
"Get a room already!" Natalie giggled.
The voice hit Samantha back to reality. She pulled away. Her face was burning red. How could she have forgotten that they had guests around? She hides her face against Dave's chest.
"Now, you are shy?" Catherine teased, mischievously.
Across the room, Cosby Rayon and Michael Steel, Dave's friends, laughed with the rest of the guests. Earlier, Dave had introduced her to the two men. They were charming, mischievous, drop-dead handsome, and intelligent. Samantha didn't know what she expected of Dave's friends, but they didn't fit the bias she had about them.
When Samantha finally stopped dying of embarrassment, she and Dave moved through the room, greeting guests. James Rice and Fredrick Jones, the in-laws, chatted loudly over wine in another part of the room.
Dave refused to let go of her hand as they moved through the guests, following her like a cat, stealing kisses on her neck. The guest laughed. Samantha felt shy, but Dave was unbothered by the stares; it was as if he only saw her.
When they approached, Catherine and Natalie, Dave stole another kiss.
"Dave, stop kissing me." She whispered through her teeth.
"Why should I?" Dave's face dropped into a dramatic pout. He rushed towards the twin. "See, she does not love me. Samantha doesn't love me at allllll."
He sniffled, committed to his act. "Oh, no, oh my God."
The twins stare in shock. Samantha stared at him, mortified.
Dave kisses her forehead quickly, still fake-sobbing. "She doesn't love me at all..."
His eyes suddenly flicked to the corner. "Oh, Dad just waved at me. I will be back."
The three women watched him walk off like he hadn't just acted like a theater kid.
"Oh. My. God. He is sooo crazy," Catherine burst into laughter.
"That's the guy everyone called cold and a troublemaker?" Nat asked,
"I am shocked too," Samantha said. "He may not be cold, but he is definitely a troublemaker. You saw how he pouted just because he wanted to kiss me."
"He looks like he really cares about you." Natalie gently elbows Samantha.
Samantha hid a smile. "It doesn't really mean anything. He is just playful."
"Mm-hmm"
"Nat, stop."
Natalie's expression suddenly shifted. "What in the devil are those two doing here?"
Samantha's eyes followed Natalie's gaze. Her stomach dropped.
Ian and Claire have just arrived together. Holding hands.
"What the hell?" Samantha clenched her fist.
Did Dave invite Claire? Why did Ian come here?
Before she could sort out her thoughts, they were already approaching.
"Hello, Sammy," Ian said. He nodded at the twins. "Catherine, Natalie, you are here."
"Of course, we are here. Where else would we be?" Catherine snapped. She was ready to throw a punch.
"What are you doing here?" Natalie asked, gently, pulling her sister back.
Ian pulls out a bouquet of roses from behind him. "Congratulations on your wedding."
Samantha didn't take it.
"We are all adults here," Ian continued. "I have moved on. You have moved on. You are married, and before anything happened, the four of us were best friends," Ian stared pointedly at the twins. "All four of us. So, I am just here to wish you well, because that is what friends do."
Samantha eyed the bouquet.
"I will take it," Natalie offered.
Ian smoothly moved out of her reach. "It is for Sammy. She can take it herself."
They are causing a scene. People were staring. Samantha grabbed the flower, just as she saw Claire smiling triumphantly.
"Thank you for the flowers," Samantha forced out. "They are beautiful."
"What are friends for?" Ian said, then turned to the twins. "Call me sometimes. You can't just freeze me out because I broke up with Samantha."
"Ian, you—" Catherine started, eyes flaring.
But Ian and Claire had already walked off and joined the rest of the guests.
"Those two are trouble, aren't they?" Catherine glared.
"They are," Samantha exhaled. She tried reminding herself that everything was fine. She and Dave were in a good place. There was no need to overthink.
"Are you overthinking?" Natalie said, watching her carefully. "Don't you dare start overthinking."
Samantha smiled guiltily. "I wasn't."
"Yeahhh, I don't trust you."
"Well, you are wrong this time—"
"Let us have your attention, please!"
Frederick and James clinked their glasses.
"I would like to make a toast to the beautiful couple," Frederick declared.
"So, would I," James jumped in, refusing to be outdone.
Samantha smiled as she noticed Dave standing beside her, lacing their fingers together. She felt warmth spread in her chest.
"To the beautiful couple!" Everyone cheered.
"To a fruitful life," James added.
"To Rice and James' cooperation forever," Frederic countered.
"To twins in months!!" James yelled.
"To Triplets!" Frederic fired back.
"Are they competing on toasts right now?" Samantha whispered, choking on laughter.
"They are. " Dave muttered, eyes closed in shame. "They are competing with how many children we would have."
"To quadruplets!" James' voice boomed across the room.
"To a dozen children!"
"Why the hell won't they stop talking?" Samantha whispered through her teeth.
"I don't know those men," Dave said. "Never met them in my life."
Samantha giggled.
[|]
"I need a minute outside," Dave whispered.
He leaned in, bracing one hand on the wall beside her head, caging her gently between his arms. She tipped her chin up to meet his eyes.
"You are drunk," she murmured.
"I know," he nodded solemnly. "I used to drink like a fish. Now, a few glasses and my head is seeing things."
"Let him take you upstairs to lie down."
He shook her off and straightened. "Nah, I would be fine after some air."
Then, Dave turned to leave but stopped and turned around. "I forgot this."
He planted a kiss on Samantha's forehead. "I'll be back in a second."
Samantha blushed.
He turned and left.
Samantha watched Dave through the large window as he stepped out into the garden and sank onto the porch steps. She smiled softly until a shadow fell over her.
"Checking on your husband?" a familiar voice murmured.
She looked up. Ian towered over her, wearing that smile she used to fall for.
"Ian," she said quietly, taking a small step back.
"You keep pushing me away." His tone was light, but his eyes weren't. "We used to be close."
"And I'm married," Samantha whispered. She tried to smile, but it felt stiff.
"Married people can have friends." He smirked, dimples deepening. "Your husband is friends with Claire."
Samantha's jaw tightened.
Ian noticed. His smile widened.
"What do you want, Ian?" she asked, finally meeting his eyes. "What exactly are you trying to achieve?"
"Fine." He raised his hands slightly. "I want my friends back. I broke up with you. I never said I was giving up on Natalie, Catherine, or you."
"But-"
"Let me finish."
She clamped her mouth shut.
"You were my first girlfriend. I was your first boyfriend. We were young. We were bound to make mistakes. I regret them, but I can't change the past."
Samantha breathed sharply. "You didn't see me as part of your future."
"I said, let me finish." He stepped forward.
She instinctively stepped back until her spine hit the wall.
Ian moved with her. He planted one forearm on the wall beside her head, caging her in. His face hovered too close to her own.
"This is better," he murmured. "You always listened when you had nowhere to run."
His smile was disarming. But his eyes had gone dark.
"I think I should go." Samantha ducked, trying to slip under his arm.
Ian blocked her, grabbing her upper arm and pinning her in place. His other forearm slid across her collarbone, not choking her, but leaving her trapped between the wall and his body.
Samantha's eyes widened. "Ian! What the hell, let go!"
"No." His voice was soft. Final.
Then, he leaned closer, raising a mischievous brow. "What do you think your guests would assume if they saw this?" he whispered. "Your husband's ex pinning you to a wall in such a deserted area? Sammy... you think that'll go over well?"
Samantha's heart kicked hard. They were hidden behind a pillar, out of sight, for now. But if anyone walks in...
"Let me go," she said, her voice trembling.
"- And I said no." He clicked his teeth. "You know... if you keep quiet. I might just not make a scene."
He shrugged, smiling devilishly. "But it all depends on you."
Samantha swallowed hard and pressed her lips together, tight, obedient, silent.
He brushed a hand through her hair like she was a pet obeying a command.
"Good girl."