“What?” She sounded like a broken record.
“Instant ramen,” Sammy clarified. “I can make some. They’re nothing mind-blowing, but they’ll tide you over until the morning. Unless you want eggs and toast.”
A warm, gooey sensation oozed through her chest. “Ramen is fine. Thank you.” She watched him prep the food, swallowing the lump in her throat. Even though there were moments she wanted to kill him, Sammy was a good guy. No, not good.Great.And she’d been stupid enough to drive him away. “What about you? Why are you up so late?”
“Couldn’t sleep.” Sammy dumped the noodles in a pot on the stove. “Thought I’d watch a show or something till I could.”
“What show did you have in mind?”
“ProbablyFriendsor something I’ve already watched. Otherwise, I’ll stay up all night to find out what happened next, and that won’t solve the problem.”
“Good point.” Olivia chewed on her bottom lip. “I’m down if you are.”
Sammy’s eyebrows rose.
“To watch the show,” she said. “I can’t sleep either, and we’re both already up...” She trailed off.
Sammy shut off the stove and ladled the noodles into a bowl. He stayed silent for so long Olivia was sure he’d say no until he surprised her with a quick nod.
“Let’s do it.”
They stuck with his originalFriendssuggestion. In between laughing their butts off and arguing over which character was the best friend—Olivia said Phoebe; Sammy was Team Chandler—they talked about everything that came to mind, just like they used to. There was something magical about the late-night to early morning hours that compelled people to drop their guards, and for once, things between Olivia and Sammy felt like old times: easy, comfortable, and poignant all at once. The awkwardness that had lingered between them since her apology dinner faded more and more until it was nothing but a faint memory by the time Olivia drifted off.
She stayed on the couch next to Sammy, too cozy and sleepy to move, and as her eyes fluttered shut, she found herself thinking that she could get used to nights like this.