I know things can never be the same between Sam and I, because mending our friendship won't be an easy task. We have a lot of things to fix, and probably fate has granted us a second chance to salvage what can be rescued out of our many years together.

I hope this time we'll learn to understand and appreciate each other better.

"What really happened between you and Liam?" Sam asks after the whole morning we've spent talking about us.

I sigh softly. "He left after learning that I'm somehow responsible for releasing Jeremy," I reply feebly.

"What?" A soft gasp leaves her lips.

"Look, I don't want to talk about it," I declare tiredly.

"I—I am sorry, Kira," she whispers, remorse lacing a voice.

"No need." I puff out some air. "What's done is done so I'm giving him the space he needs."

Sam sighs heavily, and I can tell how troubled and guilty she feels about this mess. But in the end, this is something only Liam and I can sort. If he still considers us a couple, that is.

"Alright then," Sam jumps abruptly after dinner. "I know exactly what you need right now."

"What?" I know that naughty look of hers and I can't say I'm not wary.

"Relax, girl! I'm not taking you to a nightclub or anything!" She laughs aloud and I join in with small relief. "Well, let's watch a sad or lousy movie."

"A sad movie?" I scowl.

"Yes, it's the perfect excuse to cry your heart out and let it all out."

"Cry my heart out? Who said I want to cry my heart out?" I recline back on the couch, yawning. "I've cried enough this summer so I'm not gonna do it anymore." I cross my arms on the chest, pretending to be stronger than I am right now.

"Yeah, yeah. Yadda yadda. So which one? Let's see." Sam starts rummaging through our shared Netflix account on my laptop. "The notebook? Me before you?" She looks at me. I shrug. "Um . . . Faults in our Stars? No, Fatherhood! Kevin Hart stole my heart there so you should watch it, Kira."

"Yeah, I've been meaning to watch it. Maybe it's time for me to do it," I say.

That's being decided, I huddle up in my huge recliner chair with a blanket, and Sam lies on the couch, our pizza popcorn bowls on the lap.

I feel good. I've been caught up in my little romance and completely forgotten another important part of my life; my best friend. But will this be enough to fill the void?

***

I wake in the morning and a smile forms on my lips. Not everything is lost so I refuse to stay gloomy today. Sam is still sleeping in a very disturbing posture on the couch, her legs sprawled apart. I burst into laughter. Goodness—she never sleeps decently.

Soft music is what keeps me company while I prepare breakfast. Staying indoors only depresses me. Thinking of Liam every time, I feel as though he's my divorced husband now. So I'll just go out and have fun instead. I know Sam won't object.

"Shopping, please," she tells me when I press.

"Okay. As long as we get to go out of this apartment, I'm good," I reply.

"And also . . . I think I'm going to have dinner with Jonathan tonight," Sam informs me, her face flushed as if she's underdressed during winter.

"Dinner, huh? Hmm, I guess something is happening here, am I missing something?" I tease her, but am so curious about this info.

"It's just dinner, Kiki, don't give me that look," Sam insists.

"Okay, I didn't say anything, did I?" I laugh before slurping my juice after a heavy breakfast we've just had. "Have fun, sweetie, on that . . . dinner. Sure, we can call it that for now."

Frankly speaking, I ship the two of them with all my sailing skills. Jonathan is a matured gentleman; only a guy like him can handle someone like Sam, in my opinion.

We go out as planned and spend the rest of the day in the heart of Los Angeles. Shopping with Sam has always been a mood lifter, and today is no exception despite the number of times I've stared at my phone to see if Liam has texted me at the very least.

But I find nothing. And his phone is still off.

Sam leaves as soon as she drops me and my shopping bags home. It's five in the evening and her dinner plans with Jonathan are still in tact. She seems excited, a bit forgetful about the man we both crushed too hard on just a few days ago.

It's a good thing. I'm glad her crush for Liam wasn't as deep as she thought it was.

I visit Amelia to give her a little present I bought. She's been very nice to me and I'm forever indebted for her kindness. As expected, she screams gleefully when she flips a Moroccan kaftan dress and its matching scarf. I figured she likes to wear traditional clothes as she's traveled a lot since she was a kid.

"Oh, thank you so much, Kira! You didn't have to, I swear." She's happy.

"Well, I wanted to. And you're welcome," I reply.

Her cheeks redden. "And you're looking better than yesterday. Tell me, something good has happened, right?" She urges me to sit by doing the same.

"My best friend is back in my life, Amelia. We've been together since yesterday and I'm so happy about that. I mean . . . At least I haven't lost it all, right?" I say with a bittersweet smile, missing my boyfriend terribly.

Is it selfish that I need both of them in my life? Because I desperately do.

"Exactly, Kira. And that's awesome, my dear, because you looked a wreck the last time you came here," Amelia says and we share a hearty laugh. "Since we are in a good mood today, how about some tea and cookies?"

"Bring it! I'm starving." I grin at her.

I spend an hour at Amelia's before returning to my sulky apartment. Even if I want to move on, the memories of Liam being here seem to never let that happen. He's everywhere. We were happy, laughing, teasing, and making love whenever we felt the urge.

One night that I'll never forget.

Again I'm alone in my little home. On the TV I see the news about a famous British ballerina who was going to perform in New York but ended up in a car accident just a few hours before the performance. How sad! Now I want to hear Liam's voice just to confirm he's fine.

He's got to be fine.

I stick my nose for a while, watching a clip of the ballerina moving like a swan with her beautiful figure and smiley face until I realize that I'm the ugly duckling myself, with problems of my own, and maybe in need of some sleep. I should get a life.

Still on the couch, my eyes wander through the window and it's already dark outside. I take a deep breath, sitting up. Slowly I move into my bed and try catching up on some sleep. But before that, I get an idea on how I can gather Liam's whereabouts as quickly as possible.

"Malik," I utter as though I've seen the green light. "Yes, I'll just call and ask if Liam is fine."

Again, I pull a deep breath, waiting for the response. Thank God, Malik's phone is on and it rings perfectly. It's not picked right away, however, which makes me frown until the rings end.

I call another time, and nothing comes. Well, we have several hours' difference, so could he be asleep? Or avoiding my calls, maybe? I don't want to think the worst.

I'm about to give up when I hear "You don't know how to give up, you bitch, do you?"

"Excuse me?" I gasp.

It's a female voice, speaking in a thick French or Italian accent. Not sure exactly.

"So, are you the summer fling he had when he traveled over there?" she accuses.

"What?" I get up reflexively from the adrenaline spiking through my veins.

Who the fuck is this bitch?

"Listen, girl," she starts. "I don't know what you had with Malik while over there, but you better forget about him. I know you American bitches so very well. You thought you'd found yourself a gold mine? No, sweetheart, you're just like any other fling he fucks around. Beautiful professor? Is that what he called you? Give me a break! Well, listen—"

"No, you listen to me now!" I flap. "I don't know who the hell you are, lady, but jut for your own good, don't go around yelling and cussing at the people you don't even know! If you have issues with your boyfriend or whatever, deal with it! You don't know me and I don't know you so I'm not gonna listen to your insults." I hang up and shout, "Fuck!"

I mean, who did I call again? I check the number, and it is Malik's indeed.

"So then what's going on, dammit?" I scoff incredulously

It's all Liam's fault! Ugh, why is his phone off?