The CEO's Matchmaking Game

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Sam’s POV

“That’s f*****g insane!” I heard Liah exclaim. “He must be crazy, don’t you think?”, she asked me, still staring at her phone.

“I guess that depends on what he did and who he is.” I replied, yawning as we reached the parking lot. How she was able to keep her eyes glued to her phone from the time our shift ended until she got into the driver seat each morning was baffling. We had just finished our third 12 hour night shift in a row and I could hardly keep my eyes open.

“That hot patient of yours from a few months ago, ya know, the one with those f*****g gorgeous biceps and striking green eyes!” she replied.

“I’m too tired to think. Can’t you just tell me his name and unlock the car already? I’m too tired to stand” I reply, rubbing my tired eyes while leaning against the car. I open the car door as soon as I hear the locks click and while Liah says his name, I end up missing what she says.

“Sam, SAM, did you hear what I said?” She asks as she starts the car.

“No...too tired...wake me when we get home.” I groggily respond while falling asleep.

Liah and I are best friends and roommates. She’s like a sister to me. When I was 7 years old, my younger brother Liam and I lost our parents. Screaming and loud noises had woken me up. I could hear strange voices and my mother was crying. I quickly woke up Liam and we hid in the laundry hamper. We stayed in the hamper until the sun came up. Our mother died that night. Our father has been in a coma since. We ended up in foster care, bouncing from place to place for more than 6 months. On my 8th birthday, we were placed with Liah’s family. Liah and I have been inseparable since. We became nurses together and worked the same shifts in the same hospital unit. Our birthdays are exactly one month apart with hers first on November 7 and mine on December 7. This year we will be 24.

I awake in the car, parked in the driveway. My heart was racing, and the feeling of terror engulfed me, with my arms pulled tight to my chest. I was squinting from the bright sun blinding me but didn’t notice it as I tried to calm down from my dream and head inside. It was another flashback nightmare. I can still feel the panic and terror of those voices and mom’s screaming while hiding in the hamper with Liam, desperately praying he doesn’t fully wake and start crying. I focus on how each breath feels then remind myself that we are safe and I’m so close to my goal of bringing dad home. Suddenly feeling annoyed, I open the front door and yell for Liah, “Liah, Liah! Why didn’t you wake me. You know I hate it when you leave me sleeping in the car”. There’s no response as I slip off my shoes and head to my room. As I’m about to shut the door, Liah’s hand grabs it as I hear her voice asking someone to send her the link.

“Sorry Sam, my phone rang just as we got home. I was going to wake you after I finished the call.” “EEEEK”, Liah screamed excitedly. “I can’t wait for you to see this. It has all the details. We should totally apply.” she continues. I look at her confused as I shrug my shoulders at her. “Didn’t you hear anything I said on the way home? How can you sleep so soundly on the 10 minute drive home?” she asked.

“Because the night shift is so exhausting, which is why you always drive home in the mornings. I’m going to shower and sleep, no time for talk” I reply between yawns while grabbing my pajamas and heading to the washroom. I just want to take my pill and hit my pillow.

“This will only take a few minutes.” Liah says, standing in my way. “Come on, just let me tell you, it's so exciting and we don’t have to work tonight....pleeeeaaassse” Liah says as she bounces up and down on her toes with hands grasped together like she’s begging.

“Fine, but I need to shower first.” I groan in acquiescence while Liah moves out of my way.

“Yes! Begging always works with you. I’ll grab us a snack and get the TV ready. I’ll stream the video, so your poor tired eyes won’t have to look at the small phone screen.” She responded, practically dancing out of the bedroom. I stripped off my scrubs and enjoyed the relaxing feel and sound of the shower spray massaging my back. My mind wandered to my flashback in the car. Normally I don’t have them unless I’m sound asleep at night. I’ve never had them during the day, let alone during a quick nap. A flash of quilt and shame spreads through me as I think “I should have called 911 instead of hiding. Maybe we would still be a complete family”. I remind myself that would most likely have resulted in Liam and myself being found and murdered like my mother. I quickly distract myself by trying to recall what Liah was talking about while I wash my hair.

Biceps and green eyes, I recall then a small smile spreads across my lips. I remember him, he was a nice guy and seemed honest, Jacob Bucksburn was his name. I had to admit he was quite attractive. I never told her, but he and I had already met 7 years ago during my first year at university. I graduated high school a year ahead thanks to the extra courses I took in the summer. I also took an accelerated course load in university and completed my nursing degree in 2 years. At 19, I was working as a registered nurse while Liah was starting the second year of her nursing degree. Jacob and I had the same class, a sociology elective. He was smart. We shared small talk and on more than one occasion he had asked me out after class. I was always too busy and kept declining his invitations. Honestly, I didn’t and still don’t have a social life. I’m too focused and work hard to reach my goals. I only have time for family. There’s always time for family. Between work, school and making time for Liah and Liam, there isn’t time for anything else. Honestly, this also prevents me from thinking about and feeling things from that night almost 17 years ago. I finish my shower, brush my teeth and get changed. As I enter the living room, I see Liah stretched out on the sofa in her robe and long red hair pulled back into a messy bun while eating ice cream with eyes glued to her phone. “Ice cream for breakfast or is it dinner?” I say while grabbing the other bowl of mint chocolate chip off the coffee table.

“Hey, I said snack. I don’t eat ice cream for a meal. That’s what cookies are for” Liah responds with a grin.