It was a quiet Sunday afternoon, the kind that felt unhurried and golden. The only sound in the dining room was the soft clink of Sam's fork against her plate. Her grandmother had invited her over for lunch—an invitation that wasn't really optional. Sunlight streamed through the lace curtains, spilling in warm ribbons across the polished wooden table, while the comforting scent of roasted chicken and herbs filled the air.
Grandma broke the silence, her voice gentle but pointed. "Sammy, have you invited Alex to the reunion? She should meet the whole family."
Sam's fork paused mid-bite. "Yes, Nana. She said she'd come."
"That's good. I can't wait to have her there. It'll be nice for everyone to meet her."
"Me too," Sam said, forcing a smile, her fingers drumming nervously against the edge of the plate.
Grandma's eyes softened, sparkling behind their thin-rimmed glasses. "And the potential investors... have you scheduled the meetings?"
Sam swallowed, a nervous flutter in her stomach. "Some of them, Nana. A few are tricky to pin down, and some schedules just... don't line up."
Grandma reached over, her hand warm and steady on top of Sam's. "Oh, Sammy, you're doing your best, aren't you? That's what matters. Solid investment would be wonderful, yes—but don't let it weigh on you too much."
Sam felt a rush of affection for her grandmother, her chest tightening in that familiar, bittersweet way. "I know. I'm working with marketing to make the presentation as good as I can," she said, trying for calm, but her heart fluttered anyway.
Grandma gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "I appreciate it, dear... just promise me you won't work yourself into a frenzy over it."
Sam laughed softly, a little nervous, a little relieved. "I won't, Nana. I promise." The warmth of Grandma's hand made her forget the tightness in her chest for a moment.
Her phone buzzed on the table, breaking the quiet. Alexandra.
"You should answer it," Grandma said, tilting her head. "Maybe it's important."
Sam hesitated, eyeing the phone. She lifted it slowly. "Hello?"
"Hello, my Sammy!" Alexandra's voice was bright, teasing.
Sam shot a quick glance at her grandma. "Don't call me that," she whispered.
"Okay, okay! Chill. I'm calling to invite you out. I'll send the address."
"But it's Sunday," Sam said, frowning.
"Exactly! A rest day—but not too restful," Alexandra teased.
"I'm at my grandma's," Sam said, trying to sound casual.
"Please? You'll love it here." Alexandra's voice had that irresistible edge that made Sam's resolve wobble.
Sam exhaled. "Okay... I'll be there in a bit."
The line went dead, and Sam set the phone down.
Grandma's eyes twinkled mischievously. "Are you two going on a date?"
Sam froze, fork hovering mid-air. "N-no, Nana. Why would we..."
"It's normal with couples, isn't it?" Grandma asked, a knowing smile tugging at her lips.
Sam's stomach sank. Fake couple. Quick, think fast. "Y-yeah... yes. We're... going on a date."
Grandma laughed softly. "Good. I hope you two will enjoy."
Sam forced a smile, heat rising to her cheeks. She picked up her fork again, but the dining room suddenly felt smaller, the clink of silverware louder than before, her heart beating a little too fast.
-
Sam pulled up to the address Alexandra had sent, glancing at her phone one last time to make sure she wasn't late. Her stomach fluttered—part nerves, part curiosity. She'd never seen Alexandra in this kind of casual, weekend setting before.
Stepping onto the path, she was greeted by the park's weekend chaos—children squealing on the swings, dogs barking as they chased frisbees, and vendors calling out over the irresistible scent of fresh popcorn and roasted nuts. Sunlight spilled across the paved walkway, and a gentle breeze carried the mingling aromas of cut grass and blooming flowers.
Sam spotted Alexandra near a colorful carousel, waving her over with a grin.
"Finally!" Alexandra called, skipping toward her. "Thought you'd bail again!"
"I'm here," Sam said, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "No bailing today."
Alexandra eyed her with mock seriousness. "Good. Because if we're going to survive this fake couple act, we need to look natural. Close. Comfortable. No awkward distance."
Sam raised an eyebrow. "Close?"
"Body language, Sam! We can't look like strangers holding hands for the first time at the reunion. That would be... disastrous." Alexandra stepped closer, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "We'll start simple. Activities, games... I'll hold you when it matters."
Before Sam could protest, Alexandra grabbed her firmly by the waist, pulling her close. Sam stiffened.
"Alex! That's—"
"Relax," Alexandra whispered, leaning in with a grin. "At the reunion? There'll be more of this. Better get used to it now."
Sam's cheeks heated, but she allowed herself to relax just a fraction. Alexandra's hold was confident, grounding even, and somehow... fun.
They wandered through the park, hopping between activities. First, the two of them tried the tandem bike—Sam pedaling awkwardly while Alexandra took the lead. Then came a ring toss game, where Alexandra practically shoved Sam's hands to line up the rings correctly. At first, Sam resisted, stiff and careful. But as the day went on, she found herself laughing freely, teasing Alexandra when she went overboard or stumbled.
Halfway through the park, they strolled past a crowded fountain, and Sam's foot caught on the edge of a decorative stone. She yelped, flailing.
"Whoa!" Alexandra reacted instantly, yanking Sam into her arms just in time. Sam's heart raced as she felt herself pressed against Alexandra's chest.
"I—I'm fine!" Sam stammered, trying to regain composure while heat crept up her neck.
"Good. Just making sure you don't bail on me again," Alexandra said, holding her firmly—but then she took a step back... right into the fountain's shallow water.
"Alex!" Sam shrieked, grabbing her arm and nearly toppling herself in the process.
"Relax! I'm—oh no—" Alexandra squealed, splashing water over both of them. A little kid nearby pointed and laughed hysterically.
Sam's hair was plastered to her forehead, water dripping onto her shirt, and she let out a breathless laugh. "You're completely reckless!"
"And you're ridiculously dramatic!" Alexandra shot back, wringing her hair with her fingers. "Come on, admit it—you loved it."
Sam wiped a hand across her wet face, smirking despite herself. "Maybe... a little."
They both slipped on the fountain edge, almost colliding again, but this time they tumbled onto a nearby bench in a heap, laughing so hard they could barely catch their breath. Their arms tangled, knees bumped, and for a second, their faces were just inches apart.
Sam's eyes met Alexandra's, both of them frozen for a heartbeat—then, with an awkward cough, they disentangled, brushing off water and laughter.
"Okay... maybe we stick to dry activities for the rest of the day," Sam said, trying to straighten her shirt while Alexandra dabbed water from her own sleeves.
"Agreed," Alexandra replied, grinning. "But admit it—we're definitely more believable as a couple now."
Sam rolled her eyes, still smiling. "Yeah, yeah. Let's just... get out of here before either of us falls back into the fountain again."
The stumble had broken something between them: the stiffness, the awkward distance, the fake act. They laughed together, walking closer now, shoulders brushing, teasing and nudging like it was second nature.
By the end of the day, Alexandra steered them toward the ice cream stand, the scent of waffle cones mingling with sugary sweetness in the air.
"Last thing," Alexandra announced, eyes gleaming, "Ice cream. We need to end on a high note."
Sam chuckled. "High note or sugar coma?"
"Both," Alexandra said, ordering two cones. Handing one to Sam, she took her own, licking the melting chocolate carefully. They sat on a nearby bench, the laughter of children and the hum of the park wrapping around them.
"So," Alexandra began, eyes twinkling, "how was the day? Did you survive my... intense 'couple training'?"
Sam took a careful bite of her ice cream, savoring the creamy sweetness. "Honestly... it wasn't as awkward as I thought. You're... actually kind of convincing."
Alexandra smirked, eyes narrowing teasingly. "Convincing enough for Nana's standards?"
Sam laughed softly, shaking her head. Then, without realizing it, she found herself staring at Alexandra as she slowly enjoyed her ice cream—the way she tilted her head, the little smirk tugging at her lips, the focus she gave even to something as simple as chocolate on a cone.
Alexandra caught her gaze, raising an eyebrow with that familiar playful challenge, and Sam quickly looked down, cheeks warming.
The day had been exhausting, silly, and chaotic—and somehow, Sam didn't want it to end.