I'm back at my apartment, floating in cloud nine despite being alone at last. I still can't believe how my life has changed overnight. From an absolutely single lady to an engaged woman out of the blue? It's a very exciting feeling, thrilling even, but a bit unnerving. No, it's so very unnerving.

The door shuts and I take a very deep breath, staring at my tiny living room. I'm suddenly feeling like a stranger in my own house, its silence almost defeating. I saunter towards the window and shuffle the curtains apart. The summer sunlight pours dramatically into the living room.

My lips stretch into an indulgent smile as I throw my gaze around the place I've been calling my home for two years and a half. And the sight of the beach house in Malibu flashes unbidden in my head. I'll soon have a new place, and maybe a family.

Family—something I always yearned for.

"Easy, Kira," I breathe softly, kicking my shoes off.

A while later, Sam calls me again and announces that she's almost here. From the sound of her voice, I can tell she has something succulent to tell. I wonder what it is, and am a bit anxious about what she'll say about my news to her.

She's over Liam, isn't she?

As I'm busy gobbling some chocolate chips, I hear a knock at the door. Samantha Ford is here. I go for it with a smile, and as expected, my dear friend is standing before my eyes. She's glowing, wearing a latex miniskirt and white crop top with some imprint, a black choker around her tall neck. She looks happy.

"I have something to tell you!" we say in perfect unison, and break into a ridiculous laughter afterwards.

"Okay, you first," I tell her impishly, my heart beating joyfully.

"By all means, ma'am." She strolls in, leaving me smiling incredulously as I shut the door.

"So, what's the mystery? It shows all over your face," I urge.

"Relax, Kiki. Sit down first," Sam tells me with a huge grin, and I comply with raised eyebrows.

"Okay." I sit down next to her, face to face. "I'm all ears," I mutter, and she takes a sound sigh, her fair skin shining from . . . excitement? I don't know, but she's almost blushing.

"Okay, listen," she starts with energy, and I sit straight. "I'm going out with Jonathan."

"Wow! Okay, I kinda saw it coming," I reply, a bit surprised.

Sam smiles from ear to ear, her cheeks reddened. "He asked me to give him another chance yesterday. He said he's always loved me and he's not going to allow losing me for another time." Her voice is full of ecstasy, and so are her eyes.

"Wow!" I exclaim loudly, surprised even more. "I always knew that, and I told you so."

God, this is going too well. I'm awed.

"I know, Mother. And you're always right," Sam remarks with rolled eyes.

"Of course." I laugh lightly, and she bites her bottom lip in what I could call overjoy. "How did that happen? I mean, when?" I ask urgently, dying to hear the juicy details.

"Perhaps . . . a week ago? Oh, I don't know. Maybe during this Jeremy's fiasco that forced us to meet again," she says, sounding happy but unsure, and it doesn't really matter.

She's happy. It's all that matters.

"Oh! Well, at least something good happened out of it, right?" I utter, my heart cringing at the mention of that imbecile and the fact that Sam took his side during the time. "So, you're finally opening up to Jonathan? I clearly remember how you locked the windows for him, claiming he's not your type and all. So then—"

"I know, Kira! I know I messed up in the past but . . ." She pauses, taking a deep sigh while running a hand through her blonde hair that is now slightly ombre at the natural black manifesting on the roots. "But I'm seeing him in a different light now." Sincerity laces her tone of voice.

"A good light, right?" I tease, and we laugh heartily, embracing this amazing feeling of self-discovery and acceptance.

It's what we both needed, after all. And it's never a small journey knowing who you are and what you truly need rather than want. This summer has been an eye-opener to us both.

"He's different, Kira," Sam proceeds, a gleam in her eyes preceding the million butterflies residing in her stomach. How cute! "Maybe it's something I should've realized sooner, right? But . . . Well . . . I'm still seeing it positively. And better late than never, right? I mean, he may not be as young, funny, or superficial like—"

"Like all the guys you usually go after?" I finish for her, and she nods wistfully. "Isn't that a good thing? Because I never agreed with your choice of men, to be honest, and you know that."

Well, except one guy who nearly broke us apart. How ironic!

"Yeah, rub it in." Sam rolls her eyes again.

I chuckle.

"Okay, I'll stop being a bitch," I say resignedly and suck in a deep breath. "Tell me more." I stare at her expectantly, curious to know about her new conquest.

Sam flushes. "Well, Jonathan is . . . he's just so nice to me, Kira, and I feel like I don't deserve him at all," she says remorsefully.

"Well, you're kinda right." I mess with her, and her reaction is priceless.

Those cheeky eyes flinching, those smart lips twitching in bemusement—such a fine payback.

"What do you mean?" she urges.

"You kind of treated him badly, and you should be the one asking for the second chance, not him," I casually remark, and Sam pouts her lips. "My point is that I'm glad you've realized it."

"I know I'm a bad girl." She sighs. "I've never been what I could address as good, so different from you."

"No, I beg to differ. You're not bad, Samantha. Not at all. You're just twisted and afraid of commitments, that's all. But Jonathan loves you, regardless, and that's the most important thing, don't you think?"

"Maybe?" Sam utters, dragging her head into the headrest of the sofa.

"The best thing you can do is to make yourself deserving of his love. Just love him back, and it won't be that hard, judging from the twinkle in your eyes."

"I know," she says, "and I think I'm done with all the stupid shit. I wanna grow up, and be a better person."

Now this is growth already. I smile fondly.

"That's good. I'm so happy for you," I tell her.

"And guess what?"

"What?"

"He's offered me a job, and I told him I'd think about it."

"Really now? And what's the job?" I muse, excited.

"Managing the resort," Sam says elatedly. "Can you imagine I'll no longer be someone's assistant but a boss?"

"Uh!" I take a dramatic sigh. "I can already picture the poor souls suffering under your tyranny. Samantha the bosslady! How epic!"

"What!" Sam snaps, and we both laugh loudly. "I'll be a good boss, come on."

"Oh, yeah, I believe you." I recline back, staring at her smiley face until her excitement tones down. "You can do it, Sam. I know you can," I utter softly.

"Thanks, Kiki. It's a great opportunity to expand my horizon." She also leans back, sighing.

"Things are changing so quickly," I murmur thoughtfully, thinking of all the dynamics we've gone through in such a short span of time. It's a bit overwhelming, but here we are. "I can't say I'm not scared, honestly speaking. Don't you?"

"I am" remarks Sam. "I feel like my life is changing big time. It seems like this summer was meant to be a turning point in our lives, right? We've gone through a lot in just three weeks or so."

"I know, right?" I sigh deeply, thinking of my own twists and turns. "But it's worth it," I think out loud, the image of Liam clear in my head.

"Wait," Sam suddenly snaps in a startled manner, eyeing at me strangely. "What is this?" she adds.

"What?" I utter, only to realize that my hand is on hers. "I was going to tell you, but you arrived with—"

"You're engaged?" Sam asks, deadpan, and I nod.

"Earlier this morning, and that's what I wanted to say. Liam proposed to me, I was so surprised, and . . ." My voice trails off, seeing no reaction from Sam.

I can't stop my heart from pounding faster, a slight disappointment giving me a pang on the chest. I wonder if she's mad, happy, or neutral about it.

I try to open my mouth, but her sudden gasp makes me hold back.

"You're engaged?" she says stoutly. "Like really engaged, ready to get married?"

"Um, yes?" I utter, and again she takes my hand.

"Damn, this is wonderful!" Sam exclaims cheerily at last. "And the ring is super beautiful."

"Um . . . Thank you," I say, completely awestruck.

"So, you're marrying your Mr. Darcy?" she shouts, and I shrug. "Kiki, this is amazing. I can't believe you're engaged to your first boyfriend." She pulls me for a scandalous hug, and I just follow suit.

"He's not my first boyfriend." I giggle in her embrace.

"Oh, yes, if we include the one you dated in high school, only to break up with him a week later," she teases.

"Whatever." I laugh lightly with her, all the tension gone. And when we pull apart I finally confess, "I'm still adjusting to the idea, Sam. It was so sudden, and now I'm freaking out inside."

"Come on, what do you mean freaking out?" she practically scolds me. "You love the guy, and I've never seen you in love before, remember? So don't give me that, because I'm all in favor of this holy matrimony."

I can't repress my laughter, for she's insanely amazing.

"It's just too . . . Ugh, I don't know how to explain it." I cross my arms on my chest.

"I know, Kira," Sam says gently, all jokes aside. "You, me, and Liam weren't off to a good start. But I realized I was just being silly, you know. It's not like I loved him as you do. No, I didn't love him, at all, to be utterly honest. Maybe I simply couldn't accept losing the battle, that wasn't even mine to begin with. How stupid is that, huh?" She sounds remorseful.

"Hey." I squeeze her hand with a smile.

"Forgive me, Kira, I was so unfair."

Now I pull her for a hug, and I'm almost tearing up. "Why are you so sweet to me, Samantha Ford, huh?" I ask her in a sassy voice.

"Because you've always been good to me, Kira. Always. For as long as I can remember. And I don't think there's anytime that I did anything good to you."

"Of course there is, or else why would we be friends?" I sniffle my tears away.

"Right? We may be so different but we're sisters forever!" She's also crying, but we manage to laugh and sit straight, staring at each other deeply in the eyes. "Just go for it and don't be afraid, Kira. I know you're the type to pick truth instead of a dare, but this time you need to pick a dare."

"Me? What are we talking about again?" I chuckle.

I know it's about my damn engagement.

"Yeah, you. Sometimes life gets a little crazier and you just have to forget your fears, and simply step your foot even in a fire pit," she says.

"Thank you, Sam. I know this is a bit too much but I think I can handle it," I reply with all honesty. "Although, I haven't told you something else."

"I'm all ears." She frowns a bit.

"Well, Liam and I met for the first time when we were children."

"What?" Sam huffs a laugh. "Did you grow up in Montana together or something? That would make a good story if you're trying to be a writer."

"Yeah, that sounds right, but I'm being serious."

Her nose crinkles. "Seriously?"

"Yes." I start telling her of my childhood story with Liam, and her look goes from being startled to awed, and then back and forth. "So we met again after the accident and here we are."

"God," Sam gasps, "that sounds like a fantasy movie plot. You mean, those freaking dreams you kept having were actually connected to Liam? And you two were together in the accident?" she asks aloud.

"Yes," I prompt.

"Oh, no, this is crazy." She scrutinizes me in disbelief. "Then you two are soulmates, huh? Because I can't come up with any other explanation."

"Well, I'm not sure about that." I sigh.

I know it's unbelievable, but I guess some things are meant to remain a mystery.

We keep talking, and I tell her about Liam's proposal that I go with him when he leaves.

"To London?" Sam snaps.

"Yeah. It's crazy, I know."

"But of course you have to go with him," Sam says stoutly. I blink at her. "You two will automatically get married, now that you're engaged. And it's not like he can move to L.A since he has a business to lead, right? But you can teach anywhere in the world, and especially England. I know you even planned having your masters there, right?"

It's true. I've always been fascinated by English historic enchantment and culture in general.

Plus, the idea of seeing where all my favorite literature authors lived. It's kind of a dream come true.

"But I'm going to miss you," I utter, and it's crazy that I'm already speaking of the future.

"I'll miss you too, Kiki. But we have phones and live video chats, don't forget. And we can always meet again because you're not shifting the planet."

"And I still think I need a little time to make a decision to leave L.A," I say. Sam frowns at me. "Seriously, Sam. I can't just pack and leave with him right away; it's too sudden. I need time to organize myself and be absolutely sure that I want to take this big step."

"Then talk to Liam," Sam replies. "Tell him how you feel because I'm sure he'll understand."

"I hope so. I really hope he'll understand," I mutter under my breath.