“No, Marsh, I should. When have you ever let me down?”
“Well, there was that one time when I took all your M&M’s from your Halloween candy.”
Her green eyes open wide. “It was you. I blamed Millie.” She soft-punches my arm. “And you let me. You said you’d always tell me the truth.”
I nod. “If I remember correctly, you jumped to the Millie conclusion without asking me.” I shrug. “I simply didn’t correct you. That isn’t lying.”
She takes a step back and scans me from head to toe. “Just like that dance. You look good in a suit, Marsh.”
I do the same, taking in her pretty smile, soft sweater, black slacks, and boots. I shake my head. “I’m glad you didn’t wear that red dress. You would have given Grandpa a heart attack, if he hadn’t already had one.”
“Marsh.” She elongates my name. “Are you all right?”
“If I tell you that I’m better with you here, does it make me sound like a pussy?”
“No. It makes you sound like a man who could use his best friend.” Her gaze goes to the window and back. “Besides, it’s a bit cold for that dress.”
Taking her hand, I lead her out of the big room, down a hallway.
“Where are we going?” she asks.
“Trust me?”
Her smile grows. “Always and forever, but...”
I stop. “But?”
“You have a history of getting me in trouble especially back here in Johnson.”
“Your memory is playing tricks on you. I think you’re the one who instigated most of those incidents.”
I tug her hand as we step into a kitchenette area with a table filled with food. Most of the food came from ladies from the church.
“Wow,” Sami says as she reaches for a mini-muffin. “The ladies from the church never disappoint.”
There was something comforting in not having to explain things to Sami. She just knew.
“Are you nervous?” she asks.
“About Grandpa? I’m worried about Grandma.”
She gives me a sad smile. “I mean about graduating and being expected to be adults.”
My brow furrows. “Me? I’m never nervous.”
“I’m scared shitless.” Her lips form an O and her green eyes grow wide as she lowers her head. “Oops. I don’t think I’m supposed to sayshitin a funeral home.”
“It’s not a church, and no one but me heard you.” I lean against the counter. “The advertising firm where you’ll be working isn’t far from my new office.”
Sami smiles. “I’m so glad we’ll both be in Grand Rapids. It makes it easier knowing you’re there.”
“You just drove in a snowstorm. I think one of us could move to Australia and if the other needed something, we’d be together. In...twenty-four hours.”
“You’re right. It’s just, I imagined being like Marcus.” She points toward the room slowly filling with a few brave souls. “He and Sally met at Albion and they knew they’d found their forever. I’m about to graduate. No forever.”
“Don’t rush it. You’ll find him.”
“I’m not rushing. I know I’m young, but my parents were married by twenty-one and having kids a few years later.”