Found You in the Algorithm ~ Sam golbach

38

7:13 AM – Sam's house

Colby is standing in the hallway with a broom like he's about to go to war.
Matt's yelling from the laundry room:

"SAMUEL GOLBACH IF YOU DON'T PICK A HOODIE I'M THROWING ALL OF THEM IN THE POOL."

Nick: "We need candles. Do we have candles? Why do we not have any calming-ass candles?!"

Chris: "WHERE'S THE FEBREZE? SHE'S EUROPEAN—THEY NOTICE SCENT."

⸻

Meanwhile...

Sam is pacing in his room, holding two hoodies, one black beanie, and a handful of visible panic.

Colby storms in.
"Put on that. The ripped jeans, the flannel, the hoodie — the whole look you had in that one haunted Scotland photo. You looked hot and emotionally tormented."

Sam (holding it up):
"This one?"

Colby:
"Yeah. Trust me. That outfit says, 'I might have trauma but I will cradle your soul at 3AM.'"

⸻

He changes.
It works.
Black hoodie layered under the flannel, ripped black skinny jeans, those beat-up high tops that make his walk look chaotic but intentional.
He looks like a wreck you want to nurture.

Nick (passing the door):
"Yeah okay, that's the outfit. That's boyfriend-core. No notes."

⸻

Chapter 39 – "Arrivals: Terminal 3"

LAX, 10:39 AM.

They're all standing near the baggage claim entrance.
Melinda's plane just landed.

Sam's pacing again.
He keeps tugging the sleeves of his hoodie down, then up. Then running his hands through his hair, then messing it up again.

Chris:
"Why do you look like you're about to propose and throw up at the same time?"

Sam:
"Because I'm about to see the girl who literally calls me 'sweet boy' in front of millions of people and somehow it doesn't make me cringe, it makes me soft."

⸻

Then the escalator moves.

And they see her.

There.

Black hoodie, phone in hand, suitcase rolling behind her.
Jet-lagged but glowing.
Green eyes locked on Sam the moment she sees him.

And Sam?

He doesn't think.
He just moves.

⸻

Slo-mo: From the boys' POV

They all watch in awe as Sam drops everything.
He runs.
Flannel flying behind him.
Shoes scuffing on the tile.

Colby (grinning):
"There he goes."

Matt (softly):
"She's gonna leap."

⸻

And she does.

As soon as she reaches him, Melinda drops her bag and runs full force into his chest —
arms flying around his neck —
and he lifts her straight off the ground like it was instinct.

Her legs wrap around his waist.
His hands hold her tight — one under her thigh, the other cradling the back of her hoodie-covered head.

No words. Just breath. Just holding. Just breathing.

⸻

Nick:
"Should we... should we look away?"

Chris (teary-eyed):
"Hell no. I've waited months for this moment and I'm living through it."

⸻

Sam whispers something into her shoulder.
We can't hear it.
But her smile says she did.

And for a long moment —
the noise of the airport fades.
The world fades.
It's just them.