Cassandra Nolan is known as the daughter of her ridiculously wealthy father, a surprisingly successful business owner, and the most trusting person alive. What else is new?
At first glance, Sam Parkins is the opposite of Cassandra. He seems judgemen...
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Liz's boyfriend can't be Sam Parkins.
Not because I would be jealous, but because this man can't be the same boy I fell in love with almost seven years ago.
The Sam Parkins I knew dealt with awkwardly long limbs and narrow shoulders. His rich dark locks were untamed, and his freckles were impossible to ignore. He was lanky but in an adorable way, which is precisely why the man in front of me can't be Sam. He is the opposite of lanky and adorable.
This man works out often enough to be considered sporty. He doesn't have cute freckles but dark stubble on his strong jawline and cheeks. His bronze hair is neatly combed back, not one strand out of place. He wears a suit and a Patek watch, neither of which Sam would've spent his money on.
Simply put, this godly creature isn't what Sam is like now, even in my wildest dreams.
But his eyes.
The eyes of the non-Sam are exact copies of the chocolaty ones I stared into countless times in high school. Sam's eyes always had some spell in them, something that made it impossible to turn away. And it's the same with the non-Sam.
Oh, who am I kidding? I know it's him. I knew it from the moment his shocked expression turned sour, his gaze narrowing on me skeptically. It's Sam Parkins one hundred percent.
"Sam!" I gasp. "Why are you back?"
I want to smack myself for asking such a stupid question. The not-Sam-imposter tilts his head quizzically.
"Cassandra," my name rolls from his tongue in such familiarity my legs tremble below the table.
I spring up from my chair and nearly tackle Sam, wrapping my arms around him and crushing my face against his impressively hard chest, completely ignoring that I almost bump Liz on the floor on my way.
Sam goes rigid, clearly not expecting the intimacy, but I keep embracing him. He is Sam, for goodness's sake. But in the end, it's pointless to stretch the awkward hugbecause nothing magical happens. Sam doesn't react to my touch, and my cheeks turn crimson.
I jumped on Sam in front of his girlfriend.
I pull away, gracefully slipping back to my seat, hiding my humiliation.
"You're as energetic as ever," Sam utters uncomfortably.
Liz looks baffled but doesn't point out that I nearly elbowed her to the floor. She doesn't have to because Sam looks at her with concern, as if I'd hit her.
"Why are you back?" I repeat, my heart drumming in my chest, and I wish someone would hit me.
"I thought you knew," Sam blinks, apparently unaffected by my stupidity.
"Knew what?" I stare at him.
When he doesn't answer, an awkward silence falls over our group. Liz is glancing between Sam and me, curious. Angela is the first one to break the silence by clearing her throat.
