"So, you and Lloyd are hanging out a lot together." Cody grumbled.
"Should I even bother to ask what's going on?"

"We've been seeing each other." Sam said, gulping her drink. She knew that Cody had seen her hanging around with PJ a lot. She knew the questions would come.

"More than just sex?" Cody blurted out.

"Yes." Sam said.

"That's stupid Sam."

"Why?" Sam asked.

"He's already used you for sex, now you're going to date him?" Cody said. He had been in a fowl mood all week.

"First of all, the sex was a mutual agreement. And why would it be so bad if it turned into something more?"

"He's not right for you Samantha." Cody said.

"How would you know?" Sam asked defensively.

"I know you. I knew the jerk you married was wrong for you. And I know that Lloyd and you aren't meant for each other." Cody said.

"We're not all as lucky as you, and have found our soul-mates. Some of us have to shop around." Sam said, standing up to leave.

Cody grabbed her hand. "Don't go Sam. I miss you. It's been a month since we've hung out." Sam agreed, and sat back down. After a couple more hours, the sports bar they had been at was ready to close.
"I guess we need to be heading out, and let them close up." They walked outside, and headed back towards the hotel. It was a nice night. Not too cold.
"You wanna catch a cab?"

"Nah, it's nice out. I'm not in a hurry." Sam smiled. He knew how much she loved to walk, even at midnight. Cody smiled warmly at her as they started walking towards the hotel.
"I saw that park close by, I thought that maybe we could cut through it on our way back. " Cody nodded. He had really enjoyed the night with Sam.
There was a great paved path through the park, Cody smiled when he saw it.

"Come on, Sam. It'll be fun, and it's a short cut." Cody urged, already on the path. Sam hurried and was right behind him.
She kept hearing foot steps behind them.

"You don't hear that?" She asked.

"It's a walking path, Sam. There's bound to be others on it." Cody said.

"It's dark, Code..." She gasped as the went around a corner and almost ran into a jogger. Her hand reached down and she let her fingers interlace with Cody's, her other hand grabbing his elbow. He couldn't help but laugh at her.
Cody smiled, making a mental note to take more paths with Sam at night. He gripped his fingers around hers, not wanting her to pull away, but then she leaned into him.

"She's not." Cody said.

"What?" Sam asked confused.

"Brandi, she isn't my soul-mate." Cody confessed.
"I have been racking my brain of a way to get out of this and not be the bad guy."

"But why Cody? I mean I know it all happened fast, but you two have been together for so long. Why wouldn't you want to get married?" Sam asked.

"I've told you before, it's not getting married, it's getting married to her." He said.
"Tell me what to do, Sam. Tell me how to fix this."

"Tell me why and maybe I can help. Maybe you're just having cold feet." Sam suggested.

"I don't love her." Cody said.

"What? What do you mean you don't love her?" Sam asked.

"I thought I did. I had the ring, and was ready to ask her. But then, something happened, and I realized I was never in love with her. She was a replacement for someone else."

"You're in love with another women?" Sam asked. This was the worse part of being in love with your best friend. He came to her needing help with his relationships, and all she wanted to do was scream: 'I'M RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF YOU! CHOOSE ME!'

"I am. I thought I loved Brandi, but now I know I don't. I never really did. It's... well, this other women, it's her. It's always been her. I just never wanted to admit it to myself." Cody said, not even daring to look at Sam, afraid she would be able to read his eyes and know he was talking about her.

"You have to tell her." Sam said, after a minute of thinking.

"You mean... the other women?" Cody asked.

"Well, maybe eventually, but you need to tell Brandi. Let her know the truth. Call off the wedding." Sam said.

"I don't know if it's worth that." Cody said.

"You're in love with her." Sam said. "Love is always worth it."

"Even if she doesn't feel the same way about me?" Cody asked.

"Have you asked her?"

"No, not really. But she's kinda involved with someone else." Cody said.

"But if you don't tell her you will never know the truth." Sam said, wishing she could take her own advice. Wanting nothing more than to stop Cody right there and admit to him how she felt about him, but instead she was giving him advice that would end up tearing him from her.
"I know it's easier said than done. But you really should. You never know, maybe she's with the other guy because you are with someone else."

"Hmm." Cody said.

"Cody." Sam said, pulling on his arm until he stopped. She looked him in the eyes.
"You have to break it off with Brandi. Even if this other women doesn't want you, you can't get married into a lie. It doesn't work."

"You're right." Cody said, as they started walking again. He knew he would have to break it off with Brandi, he just didn't know how.

"Besides, who could resist the Runnels charm?" Sam laughed. They held hands until they got to the hotel. He walked her to her room, and kissed her hand.

"Thanks for talking with me Sam." He smiled.

"We really do need to start hanging out more. I miss you. You always make me smile." Sam said, pulling Cody into a hug.
"Anytime you need me, I'm here."

"Lock your door." He smiled. He turned to leave, wishing he would have told her that he always needed her.