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After a few moments of silence, she looked up at him.

He gave her a small, understanding smile. “Do whatever you think is best, then. You know I’m with you, whatever you decide.”

Chapter four

“Wow,” Sam mumbled, looking down at Scarlett’s engagement ring. “It’s even bigger in person.”

“I know,” Scarlett replied with a grin, her hazel eyes sparkling. “I’m still not used to wearing it. It feels weird. But like—good weird? I would’ve been happy with anything, but Terrence wanted to go all out.”

Sam leaned back in the leather chair, the murmurs of people in the small coffee shop floating around them. “I still can’t believe you’re getting married.”

“I know,” Scarlett said, exhaling as she swiped her glossy, dark brown braid over one shoulder, the ends brushing against her fitted denim jacket. “I can’t believe I’m never gonna be single ever again.”

Sam chuckled. “Yeah, I sort of thought you’d never get married.” She reached forward, picking up her mug and taking a small sip. “I mean, who else is gonna take me to crazy beach parties every summer?”

Scarlett shot a mischievous look over the edge of her cup. “Oh, I’ll still be taking you. I just won’t take anyone home afterwards.”

Sam smiled, shaking her head. “Well, I’m happy for you. Terrence is a very lucky guy.”

“I know,” Scarlett said, taking another deep drink of her coffee. “So you’re for sure coming to the wedding, right? I know you’re busy with work and everything but—“

“I wouldn’t miss it.”

Scarlett paused before a genuine smile tugged at her lips. “I’m glad you’re here,” she said, setting the cup down and reaching across the table to give Sam’s hand a light squeeze. “I missed you. A lot.”

“Me too,” Sam replied with a smile.

She was glad. Really glad, actually. It wasn’t until she’d seen Scarlett that morning that she fully realized just how much she really missed her. Even if they called and texted, there was no substitute for seeing one of her best friends in person.

Sam took a sip of her drink, glancing once around the coffee shop before looking back at Scarlett.

And this time, she wore a new, almost teasing smirk.

“What?” Sam asked.

“So, who’s this Tiana girl?”

Sam cocked her head. “How did you—“

“Oh please,” Scarlett interrupted with a wave of her hand. “Jess tells me everything.”

Sam hummed, not entirely surprised. “She told you she showed up at my office a few days ago?”

Scarlett nodded. “Yeah, but that’s the boring stuff. I wanna hear about the apparently beautiful girl you had hanging off you.”

A dry laugh huffed from Sam’s lips. “I wouldn’t say she was hanging off me.”

Scarlett shot her a pointed look, one brow arching.

The coffee cup turned in her hands as she cleared her throat. “She’s a friend. We were really close when we were younger. Still are, I guess. We just don’t see each other much anymore.”

Scarlett stared at her, slowly cocking one eyebrow. “And?”

Sam chuckled, swirling her drink. “We had a thing for a little while when we were in a foster home together.” She paused, taking another sip of her coffee. “We hook up sometimes when we see each other. But it’s nothing serious. Never has been.”

Scarlett hummed, as if searching for a lie in her words. “Yeah, I’ve heard that line before,” she mumbled.

Sam smirked, keeping her eyes on the drink. “She’s a good friend. You’d like her. She kinda reminds me of you, actually.”