Page 31

“I don’t know,” Sam muttered, frowning at her. “I can’t really travel right now with everything going on.”

Scarlett shook her head. “We’re not traveling. We were just gonna stay at a hotel on the beach for the weekend. It’s barely even a thirty-minute drive from the city.”

“Well, that sounds perfect. I’m in,” Tiana said, her wide grin practically daring Sam to argue. She scooted in closer to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “Come on,” she said, squeezing her arm. “It's useless saying no, anyway. You know I’ll talk you into it.”

Sam frowned slightly, before blowing out an exhale. “Okay,” she muttered. “Yeah, sure.”

“Yes!” Scarlett exclaimed, clapping. “I’ll call the hotel tomorrow and see if we can reserve a couple more rooms on the same floor.”

“Great, now that that’s settled,” Tiana said, tipping her glass back and finishing her drink in one smooth motion. She stood, grabbing Sam’s hand. “Let’s dance.”

Sam blinked but didn’t resist as Tiana tugged her out of the booth. With a resigned smile, she downed the last of her drink and slid out from behind the table.

Scarlett took a sip from her own glass, her gaze shifting to Jess. “You guys coming?”

Jess nodded, sliding out of the booth with her usual easy smile before glancing over at Liz.

Liz wrinkled her nose, her scowl mild but firm. “I’m good. Not exactly in the mood to get elbowed by sweaty strangers.”

Sam waited as Jess slipped past her, following behind Scarlett and Tiana toward the pulsing lights of the dance floor.

The music hit like a wave, thudding through the floor and reverberating in her chest. The space was packed, bodies swaying and bouncing to the beat, the crowd pressing in tight on all sides. Sam could hardly move without brushing against someone else.

And yet, none of it mattered. Not the chaos, the crush of people, or the way her shoes stuck faintly to the floor.

Because as her gaze lingered on Jess, her cheeks faintly pink beneath the shifting lights, and Scarlett laughing at something Tiana whispered, Sam felt a rare lightness settle in her chest.

It felt good—better than it should—to just be there, letting go for once.

Sam laughed, the sound bubbling out of her unexpectedly as she caught Jess’ eye. Jess grinned back, laughing along with her.

A moment later, Sam felt someone move beside her, close enough to grab her attention. She turned her head just as a woman began swaying in time with her, then smoothly shifted to press her back against Sam’s front.

The woman shot a playful, coy smile over her shoulder.

Sam hesitated for half a second, but with the last drink finally settling warm in her veins, she let herself fall into the rhythm. She wasn’t looking for anything, but she didn’t mind the easy, thoughtless contact, either. They moved together, bodies naturally syncing to the beat.

As they turned, her eyes swept over the dance floor and landed on Jess and Tiana. Both of them were watching, but in entirely different ways.

Tiana’s expression was predictable. Obvious jealousy that Sam had seen a dozen times before.

But Jess didn’t look jealous—not even a flicker of it. Instead, her gaze lingered, sharp and focused, as if she were carefully assessing the contact between them. There was a quiet intensity in her expression, her blue eyes steady and searching. Then,after a beat, she glanced away, her posture softening, as though whatever she’d seen had given her an answer.

“You guys want another drink?” Tiana called out over the music.

“I’m good.” Scarlett said, her long dark curls shifting as she shook her head.

Jess tilted her head in agreement. “Yeah. I’ll get one.”

“Me too,” Sam added, stepping back.

The woman she’d been dancing with gave her a questioning, faintly disappointed look before sauntering off into the crowd. But Sam barely noticed. She was already trailing after Jess and Tiana as they weaved toward the bar, slipping between groups of people clustered near the edge of the dance floor.

When they reached the bar, Tiana leaned in, catching the bartender’s attention. “Tequila shots?” she asked, a mischievous gleam in her eyes.

Sam chuckled, resting her elbows on the counter. It wasn’t what she’d planned to order, but it also didn’t sound half bad. “Sure. Why not?”

Jess flashed a grin. “Let’s do it.”