August 19th brought a special kind of energy to the warehouse. It was Tom's birthday, and the group was determined to make it a memorable one. The morning was filled with a flurry of activity, everyone pitching in to prepare for the celebration.
During breakfast, Josie couldn't resist the opportunity to rib Tom with tales of his childhood antics. "He used to run around in a cape pretending to be a superhero. Called himself 'Tom the Terrific'," she shared, her eyes dancing with mirth. Tom, his face flushing a bright red, tried to play it off coolly. "I was ahead of my time, you know. Capes are making a comeback," he quipped, but his embarrassment was evident, much to the amusement of the group, especially Sam.
Josie couldn't resist sharing more. "And then there was the time he tried to build a fort in the living room. It ended up looking more like a blanket monster," she chuckled. Tom, red-faced but smiling, retorted, "Hey, that fort was a masterpiece of engineering!"
Sam joined in the fun. "I bet 'Tom the Terrific' would've saved us from many zombies with his blanket fort," she teased, nudging Tom playfully. The group erupted in laughter, the air light with good humour.
Later, while Sam and Josie attempted to bake a cake without eggs or butter, their kitchen disaster turned into an episode of playful chaos. Their attempts at cake-making were filled with more laughter than culinary skill. "Who knew baking could be a contact sport?" Sam joked, as Josie accidentally flung flour her way. Nevertheless, they presented it to Tom with pride. His gracious acceptance and laughter upon seeing the cake warmed everyone's hearts.
During dinner, the unveiling of the James Bond DVDs brought a genuine spark of joy to Tom’s eyes. "You guys are incredible. This is the best gift," he exclaimed, his excitement contagious.
The camaraderie continued into the evening. As they settled in for the movie marathon, Tom’s flirtatious comments to Sam were light and playful. "I guess you could say we're Bond-ing over Bond," he quipped, earning an amused eye roll from Sam as well as a sympathy laugh from Elijah.
Elijah, noticing Josie’s distant gaze, leaned in. "You know, Sam's just being friendly. Don't read too much into it," he whispered, trying to offer some comfort.
Josie nodded, her eyes fixed on the screen, but her mind elsewhere. "Yeah." she murmured.
The movie night progressed with Tom occasionally sharing trivia about James Bond, clearly in his element. Sam engaged in the conversation, their shared interest creating a natural rapport. "I never knew there were so many Bond movies," she said, impressed.
Tom laughed. "Oh, there's a whole world of Bond. I'll be your guide."
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Josie tried to focus on the film, but her attention kept drifting to Sam and Tom. Elijah, picking up on her discomfort, offered to make more stale popcorn, a subtle excuse to get her away from the scene for a moment.
In the kitchen, Elijah gently prodded. "You okay, Josie? You seem a bit off tonight."
Josie let out a sigh. "I'm fine. Just a bit tired, I guess." But the look in her eyes told a different story, one of unspoken feelings and longing.
Back in the living area, the atmosphere was light and full of laughter, the group fully immersed in the Bond world. Tom's arm casually rested behind Sam on the couch, their proximity a comfortable one.
As the night drew to a close and they began cleaning up, Tom's gratitude was evident. "Thanks for making this birthday memorable," he said, his gaze lingering on Sam.
Sam responded with a warm smile. "It was our pleasure, Tom. Birthdays are about making good memories, right?"
Josie, watching from a distance, felt a twinge in her heart. She quickly busied herself, her movements brisk as she tried to focus on the task at hand. As the group started tidying up, Josie's restlessness grew. She busied herself with cleaning, her movements a bit too frantic. The sound of Tom and Sam's laughter lingered in the air, a reminder of what she longed for..
Back in their room, as Sam and Josie got ready for bed, the tension was palpable. Sam noticed Josie's lingering looks but chose not to comment, unsure of how to address it. They slipped into bed, the gap between them filled with unspoken words.
Sam broke the silence, her voice soft in the dark. "Hey, Josie, you up for a game of cards?" It was their way of unwinding, a ritual that had become a part of their nightly routine.
The card game was a mix of playful teasing and subtle flirtation. "Prepare to lose again," Sam challenged with a grin, shuffling the deck skillfully.
Josie rolled her eyes, a playful smirk on her lips. "In your dreams, Sam. I'm feeling lucky tonight." As the game progressed, their laughter filled the room, each round bringing them closer.
As they played, their conversation meandered from the silly to the sentimental. "You know, Josie, I'm really glad we're here together," Sam said, her voice tinged with sincerity.
Josie's heart fluttered at the comment. "Me too, Sam. You make this crazy world a little less scary."
The night wound down with Sam emerging as the victor once again. "I can't believe I lost to you again," Josie said, shaking her head in disbelief as she shuffled the deck of cards, for the seventh time that night. "I thought I had this game in the bag." Sam chuckled and took a sip of her water. "Well, I guess I just got lucky this time." Josie snorted. "Lucky? I don't think so. You've been beating me at cards for weeks now. You're just really good at hiding your tells."Sam shrugged nonchalantly. "It's all part of the game. You have to keep your opponents guessing." They both then slid back under the duvet. “Go easy on me next time” Josie said quietly as they were drifting off to sleep. Sam giggled “I'll see if I'm feeling nice. Goodnight Josie”
The next morning, Sam woke up to find Josie still fast asleep next to her. She smiled to herself and gently brushed a strand of hair out of Josie's face. Josie's eyelashes fluttered and she slowly opened her eyes. "Good morning," Josie said, rubbing her eyes. "Good morning," Sam replied. "Did you sleep well?"
"Mmmhmm," Josie nodded. "I always sleep well when I'm next to you." Sam blushed at the comment. She wasn't sure how she felt about Josie, but she knew that she cared about her deeply.