You've Reached Sam(35)

“I’m sorry, Sam,” I whisper.

After all this time, I finally found him. But I’m too late.





CHAPTER SEVEN

BEFORE

The drive-in is crowded for a Tuesday night. There are a few tables outside, each packed with teenagers sharing fries beneath long strings of light. It takes a while before some seats open up for us. I am sitting beside Mika, while Sam leaves to grab our drinks. This is the first time the three of us have hung out together. I’ve only met Mika once, at a party a few weeks ago. I wasn’t planning to go out tonight. But Sam texted me an hour ago, asking me if I wanted to grab something to eat. He didn’t tell me his cousin was coming, too.

Mika and I barely speak to each other. I wish Sam hadn’t left us alone like this. Maybe I should have offered to pick up our order instead. I wonder what’s taking him so long. Then out of the blue, without even turning to me, Mika asks something completely inappropriate.

“So you’re in love with Sam, right?”

“What—” I was too thrown off to string a sentence together. Something gets caught in my throat. “I mean, excuse me?”

Mika runs a calm hand through her smooth black hair, unbothered by my reaction. “I’m just saying, he seems to be really into you.”

My eyes widen, shocked by her nonchalance. “Should you be telling me that?”

Mika gives me a look. “Don’t pretend you didn’t already guess. It’s so obvious. The whole school knows.”

My mouth moves but no words come out. What’s taking Sam so long?

Why did he leave me with her?

“You should compliment his hair,” Mika continues.

“What—why?”

“It’s only a suggestion,” she says, and leans closer to me. “Do you like Sons of Seymour? The band, I mean.”

“I think I’ve heard of them,” I say vaguely.

“They’re playing downtown this weekend. Sam’s obsessed with their newest album. You should suggest we go. He already bought his ticket.”

“Then why would I need to suggest—”

She holds up a hand. “Just do it.”

A second later, Sam reappears through the crowd, holding milkshakes.

Mika whispers, “He’s coming back. Act natural.”

Sam sets the tray down between us. “So they ran out of straws…” he says, reaching into his jacket. “Had to fight a guy for the last two.” He hands one to each of us. “I guess I’ll wait for mine to melt so I can sip it.”

“That’s gross,” Mika says.

Sam looks at me. “Straws are bad for the environment anyway. I hear they’re trying to ban them in Seattle.”

“Are you trying to impress us, or make us feel bad?” Mika asks.

“Feel free to ignore her,” Sam says with an eye roll. He takes off his jacket, then removes his hat.

“Oh—” I notice his new haircut. “I like your hair.”

“Really?” he says, suddenly blushing. “I was worried they cut it too short.”

“No, it’s nice.”

We smile awkwardly at each other. I take a sip from my milkshake as Sam sits across from me. I watch as he stares into his strawless cup, waiting for it to melt.

“So there’s no school this Friday,” Mika says to stir up conversation.

“Isn’t that a relief?”

“Yeah … finally a three-day weekend,” Sam says. He looks at both of us. “Do you guys have any plans?”

Mika nudges me with her foot.

“Oh—uh, well, I hear there’s a concert this weekend,” I think she wants me to say. “Sons of Seymour is playing.”

Sam leans into the table, his eyes bright with excitement. “Oh my god, I just bought my ticket to that. I didn’t know you listen to Sons of Seymour.”

“Yeah, I didn’t know you did, either.” I take a sip of my drink, trying to be casual.

“Of course! I’ve been obsessed. What’s your favorite song from them?”

Sam asks.

“Oh—” I pretend to think about it. “Uh, I like the entire album. The new one, I mean.”

“It’s so good.”

“Right?”

“Maybe we can go together,” Sam says. “I’m sure they’ll sell tickets at the door.”

“I’d love that.”

“Cool.”

I glance at Mika. She smiles to herself as she sips her milkshake, appearing very pleased.

It was at this moment that I decided to like her. I started looking forward to those days she would tag along with us. I especially loved it when she’d send Sam on random fetch quests to give us a moment to chat—often about him. Like that time we were at the Wenatchee Valley Museum, looking at the Ice Age exhibit, and she made Sam go get her jacket from the car.

Mika leans her nose to the glass case, examining a mammoth bone.

“How was your weekend in Seattle?”

“It was fun. It rained most of the time, though. What about yours?”

“Sam and I rewatched Avatar: The Last Airbender, ” she says. “One of his favorite shows. He asked me about you.”

“Oh?”