Page 56

As much as she wanted to get an energy boost to power through a few more hours of work, she knew that was probably the last thing her body really needed.

“I wish,” she grumbled, closing her eyes as she leaned her head back against the chair. “But I don’t think so.”

She heard Scarlett say something to someone else before she said, “Alright rain check. Get some sleep or something. You need to feel better for the trip next weekend.”

Sam hummed. In the craziness of work, she’d almost entirely forgotten about the bachelorette weekend she’d agreed to.

“Yeah. I’m on it,” she mumbled.

Scarlett said something else she couldn’t really make out before the phone went dead.

And right as she was about to set it back down, it buzzed again, this time with a new text.

Jess’ name popped up.

Jess Miller: Are you home?

She typed out a quick answer.

Yeah. Why?

She waited a few moments, watching as the typing bubble appeared, then disappeared again. She waited another few moments without another text popping up, then set the phone back down.

Thirty minutes later, a light knock on the door pulled her from her daze.

She walked to it, each step an immense effort.

The foggy thought floated through her head that Caleb must’ve needed to drop off some work documents and forgot to let her know.

She pulled the door open, only half aware as the person on the other side came into view.

“Oh,” she rasped, surprised.

Jess looked back at her with a pained smile. “Scar was right. You do sound bad.”

Sam let out a weak laugh, the sound catching in her throat. “I’ve been better.”

Jess held up a plastic bag tied at the top. “I went to that place you mentioned the other day. Brought some soup, in case you were hungry.”

Sam grimaced, pressing a knuckle to her temple to dull the pounding ache behind her eyes. “Thanks,” she mumbled, stepping back to let Jess in. “I don’t really have an appetite, though.”

Jess stepped around her, heading straight to the small kitchen area.

Sam shuffled back to the couch, sinking into the cushions with a low groan as Jess opened the fridge.

“Do you really have no food here?” Jess asked with a laugh.

Sam shrugged, the slight movement sending aches up her shoulders and into her pounding forehead.“Doesn’t make sense to,” she mumbled. “I’m never home.”

“So what would you do if you got hungry today?” Jess asked, coming around the side of the couch and giving her a pointed look. “Starve?”

The corner of Sam’s lip tugged upward into a smirk. “I’d wait for my amazing friend to surprise me with food.”

Jess bit back a grin, rolling her eyes. “Right.” She glanced away, eyes trailing through the apartment. “Tiana didn’t come to bring you anything?”

Sam watched her for a moment, wondering why she would’ve expected her to do that. But maybe that’s the kind of thing a friend like Scarlett would’ve done. Not Tiana, though. It wasn’t her style.

“No,” Sam breathed, closing her eyes. “She avoids sickness at all costs.”