Merlot

"You're going to be late!"

Jessica sighed as she replied to her roommate Samantha

"Yes girl I know, I know! I'm just finishing up. I am totally ready to walk out the door." Jessica said.

"OK, good. OMG! I'm so excited for you to meet Josh!" Samantha gushed.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah! I get it jeez it's like you're so obsessed with him. Why are you not going on this date Sam?"

"Ugh, yeah, right....like I could even! Josh would never look at me like that. I mean, come on, I am just plain Jane over here. I am not beautiful and interesting like you Jess." Samantha explained

"Oh Sam, stop it! You are too beautiful, and if you would just learn to open up to people like you do to me everyone could see how wonderful you are!" Jessica exclaimed.

Samantha blushed.

Samantha had always admired Jessica and valued her opinion because she was so bright, and not just in the intelligence way, but like walking, living, breathing, sunshine! Samantha wasn't sure if it was only admiration she felt for Jessica, sometimes she wondered if it might be something more. Which is why she'd set Jessica up on this date with Joshuah. You see if Jessica was out of the house more and her free time was being spent with someone else so much the better for Samantha.

"Hey Jess I'm gonna pour myself a glass of merlot you want one too?" Samantha inquired.

"Ooooh, but I thought I had to hurry as to not be late for meeting Joshua?" Jessica teased.

"Of course I'll have a glass of merlot with you!" she said.

As Sam began to walk toward the kitchen to retrieve the glasses she began to realise just how much she genuinely cared for Jessica and what a great time they always had together how many nights did spend just enjoying each other's company whether it was having some wine and enjoying a quiet night at home watching the movie, Or having too much wine going out and cutting loose Samantha realised one thing for sure...she was never as happy, or as much her true self with anyone, the way she was with Jessica.

When she got to the kitchen she yelled to Jessica

"Hey, do you want to try the new Stone Lantern Syrah or stick with the Wandering Giants Merlot?"

"Let's just do the merlot right now since it's open and I make dinner for us tomorrow and will crack open the SYRAH sound good?" Jessica asked.

"That sounds great!" Samantha agreed

Oh so I was thinking, should I go to the market while you and Joshua are on your date"

"That might not be such a bad idea." Jessica said.

"See Sam, that's what I mean. You're always using that big beautiful brain of yours!"Jessica exclaimed as she took Sam's face between her hands and kissed Sam's forehead with a loud MUAH sound.

Samantha blushed.

Jessica stepped back, brushed her shirt down and said, "OK! Right... So, how do I look?" as she did a little spin.

"Stunning as always." Samantha responded.

Jessica really always did look so beautiful. Even if it was she was just in her sweatpants, rocking the no makeup look, with her hair up.

"Oh, stooooop it! You're just saying that, but I kinda do like this look tonight." Jessica said. "Anyway, lets finish these on the balcony. Oooh, and you can ride with me my Uber and I'll drop you at the store!" Jessica said.

"Now who's using their brain?" Samantha teased with a smirk as she gave just a little nudge in Jess's ribs.

Both girls giggled. They continued with comfortable friendly conversation. Which of course was the usual while they sipped their wine.

Samantha looked at her watch as Jessica's phone alerted her her Uber was 2 minutes away.

"Well, we'd better be on our way." Jessica said, and Samantha nodded in agreement.

As they got into the Uber Jessica enquiried if there was anything special she should know about Joshua and Samantha replied,

"Honestly, I think hes just great, but I don't want to skew your view. So let's just say I think you're gonna love him!"

" Umm, that's a lot of pressure Sam jeez, haha." Jessica giggled.

They pulled up to the grocery store and each girl got out so they could hug each other and And Sam wished Jessica good luck, and informed her should be waiting up for her. Jessica smiled and said, "You'd better!" then gave her a kiss on the cheek and got back into the Uber.

Samantha headed into the store and her brain began reeling.... what was this new feeling that was going on in her head?

Perhaps the wine had just hit her a bit too hard because she hadn't eaten that day.

"Yeah! yeah, that must be it!" she exclaimed, aloud to herself.

She began thinking about what she was going to buy, but she could not help herself as her thoughts began to wander. She began picturing Jessica cooking and realised how beautiful she was while she was cooking. Also, only just now realised that she hums the cutest little tune as she prepared food. Then it hit her! Samantha realised she was in love with Jessica!

As Jessica pulled up to the restaurant she sees a man, who she assumes, is Joshuah. He seemed nice enough, not bad looking, nice smile....she stepped out of the Uber and approached the man.

"Joshua?" she questioned, with a smile.

" Ha, yeah, that'd be me!" he said, as he extended his hand.

Jessica smiled and extended hers as well. They shook, and after a moment of "how-do-you-do" they headed inside where they approached the hostess stand and she led them to a table where the 2 sat down and were told to enjoy. The hostess placed the menus down in front of them, and informed them their server would be with them shortly.

As they begin to make polite smalltalk everything seemed to be going well. The waitress approached the table as they had each made a selection for an appetiser and place their orders and the waitress then asked if they would like something to drink. Joshua said," I would like to get a merlot. How about you Jess?" she said, " that sounds great and responded that she will have the same.

" Very good." the waitress announced and was off.

They continue to try to make smalltalk, but Jessica is realising quickly that she's just not that into this guy, and was all too thrilled when the wine got to the table.

She grabbed up her cup and gave Josh a little cheers and took one big gulp then another.

"Woah, woah... Slow down there girly! I'm not that boring am I? " Joshuah teased and Jessica, a little caught off guard, said "Oh, no my bad! I'm just a bit nervous." They both giggled as the waitress dropped one of the appetisers off the table.

Jessica reaches for a shrimp and begins to giggle.

Joshuah asks what's so funny as Jessica recants a story of one time that she and Sam had gone to an outdoor cafe and had ordered shrimps and this cat had actually jumped up in snatched a shrimp right out of Samantha's hand and it had startled her so bad she let out a shriek causing Jessica to spill her drink down the front of her shirt O may end that does sound funny Joshua said

It really really woz but I guess it would be funnier if you were there sorry moving on to tell me some more about you Jessica said

Joshua begins telling her about his new car and Jessica sips her wine but her mind just can't seem to focus on the words coming out of Josh was mouth she just can't get her mind off Samantha as she continues to super merlot some more she is taken back to a summer that she and Sam had went to California for a week to go wine tasting in Sonoma and they stated a beautiful vineyard they had become so close on that trip that was when they realised they would be friends forever

Isn't that so cool Joshuah ask Jessica shook back into focus HM, oh yeah the coolest she proclaimed The dinner's arrived at the table and Jessica tried her best to focus on Joshuah as do not be rude but she just couldn't get over the fact that she was realising she was in love with Samantha so she ate her dinner as quickly as she could and told Joshua she was starting to not feel so well and that I am not The dinner's arrived at the table and Jessica tried her best to focus on Joshuah as do not be rude but she just couldn't get over the fact that she was realising she was in love with Samantha so she ate her dinner as quickly as she could and told Joshua she was starting to not feel so well and that I And not too sure what's come over me but I think I just need to head home I hope you don't think me rude she explained to Josh oh yeah I know it's cool totally totally understand your health comes 1st like I really had a good time though so maybe we could do this again sometime Joshuah asked yeah sure we could see what's up some other time just go said as politely as she could all the while she waz requesting her Uber home she just could not wait to see Samantha she only hoped that Sam felt the same way as the meal was paid for and the good byes were said Jessica got her 2 minute alert and Joshua walked her to the curb gave her a little Peck on the cheek thinking her for company Jessica thanks him for dinner and for his understanding Then as the ober pulled up just got in and gave a little wave good bye now her stomach was overcome with butterflies she could not wait to get home and the short ride vellacott was taking a lifetime as the car pulled up it barely parked before Jessica threw open the door quickly said thank you and goodbye and practically ran up the walkway to get inside she fumbled with her keys why am I so nervous she thought herself as she burst through the door Samantha exclaimed while your home early without a word just co-op directly across the living Room took samantha's face in her hands and gave her a kiss right on the lips Pull back and said really to me I feel like I'm right on time look deep into Samantha's eyes which were beginning to well up with tears and samantha exclaimed that you are just that you are and kissed her back Shall we have one last glass of merlot