Page 79 of Please Don't Leave Me

My eyes narrow into slits, and I glare at her. “You better shut up, or you’re not invited to my birthday party.”

B bursts out laughing, and it becomes contagious to me as well. She’s laughing so hard that her nail tech has to ask her to hold still; how embarrassing.

The frosted glass doors open with a faint creek, and I look over instinctively, as if I’m going to know whoever is walking in. I think that’s a small-town habit still engrained in me.

But this time, I do know them. It’s Sam.

My heart stops for a moment, and my eyes get as wide as they can stretch before I duck my head down.

He’s with a woman. Who is she? Why do I care?

I keep my head ducked, pretending to be interested in what’s happening with my nails.

“Louisa?”

Fuck.

I look up slowly, trying to put on my best face like I’m noticing him for the first time. He’s stopped in front of our table. The woman he's with is over by the wall, looking at nail polish colors.

“Hey, Sam.”

I look over at B and see that she’s just as stunned as I am. But unlike me, she’s not even trying to hide her shock.

I look back, and he’s still there.

“How are you?”

He stutters a bit. Is he nervous? “I’m good. How are you?”

“Same.”

Oh my god, could this be more awkward? I’m sitting here in a damn robe, and I’m sure my hair is greasy from the massage oil.

It dawns on me that I’m in a nail salon at a spa. What is he doing here?

“You here to get your nails done too?”

“I’m here with my mom.” He gestures to the woman that he walked in with.

“That’s sweet of you.”

There’s a pause filled with silence as we just stare at each other, unsure of what to say next.

His mom walks up behind him and hooks her arm in his. “Alright, I picked out my color.”

He turns to walk away with her; she clearly was unaware he was even talking to me. Before he gets too far, he turns back around. “It was good to see you.”

I respond with a forced smile. And then he’s gone.

They seat him way in the back, and with the pony wall between the two sections, he’s blocked from view. A small blessing. If I had to attempt not to stare at him for the rest of this appointment, I fear my head would explode.

B leans in and whispers, “Was thattheSam?”

I nod and keep focused on my nails.

“Damn, he’s attractive.”

“I know.”

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