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“No,” Sam said quickly, straightening up. Now that she’d had Jess there with her, the thought of her leaving felt lonely.

“I’m good,” she said, the words tumbling out in a muffled rasp. “Not tired.”

Jess cocked one eyebrow. “You’re lying.”

Sam smirked, letting her eyes close as she pulled the blanket up around her chest.

And when she heard Jess’ footsteps moving through the apartment a moment later, she couldn’t muster the energy to open her eyes to see what she was doing.

“Put this between your arms,” Jess’ soft voice said a few moments later.

Sam cracked her heavy eyes open, seeing Jess standing in front of her, holding two pillows.

She smiled, her eyes blinking lazily. “You still remember that?”

A look of something resembling hurt flashed through Jess’ eyes. And maybe if she felt better, she’d be able to figure out what she’d said that was wrong. But even then, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to figure it out.

“Of course I do,” Jess answered, holding one of the pillows out.

Sam pulled her legs up and turned her body until she was laying across the couch. Jess placed one of the pillows between her open arms, then motioned at her knees.

Sam spread them, taking the second pillow and placing it between them.“You forgot the third one,” she mumbled. And even through the thick feverish fog, those words felt familiar. Some memory they might have shared in a different lifetime.

“You don’t need it. Just lean your back into the couch,” Jess replied, her eyes trailing over the setup. After a moment, she nodded with a satisfied look, then sat down in the small space that was left.

Sam let her body sink into the couch, every inch of her aching and heavy, but something about Jess being there took the edge off the fever’s grip. She pressed her cheek into the cool pillow, Jess’ leg resting lightly against her own.

For a few minutes, they stayed like that, the sound of the movie a low hum in the background. Sam’s thoughts swam in and out of focus. But she kept herself awake—aware enough to still feel Jess’ presence beside her.

“Sam?” Jess’s voice cut through the haze, soft but steady.

“Hmm?” Sam mumbled, eyelids fluttering open.

“I’ll still stay if you want, but you really need to sleep,” Jess said, her voice dropping to a near whisper.

Sam exhaled slowly, letting those words sink in. She hadn’t realized until now how much she needed to hear them. That she didn’t have to keep pushing herself. That someone would be there. And that she wasn’t alone.

She shifted, settling deeper into the couch, the weight of the blankets and pillows a welcome pressure on her sore body. “Kay,” she mumbled.

Jess shifted beside her, adjusting her position on the couch, but Sam felt the warmth of her still there, still close. And that was enough. More than enough.

Sam’s breathing slowed, her body finally surrendering to the exhaustion that had been clawing at her for days. But this time, as she drifted off, she didn’t feel the usual isolation pressing down on her.

Sam cracked her eyes open, watching her for a long moment, not having enough energy to tear her eyes away from the one thing that brought her some sense of calm relief.

Jess glanced down, a soft smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Chapter fourteen

The front of the resort slowly came into view, its grand windows gleaming under the late afternoon sun. Sleek glass doors reflected the lush palm trees that lined the entrance, and the faint sound of water trickling from a nearby fountain mingled with the low hum of cars idling in the drop-off area.

“Fancy,” Tiana crooned from the seat beside her, leaning her head out the open window to get a better look.

The car slowed to a stop under the large canopy, and Sam leaned forward from the back seat, thanking the driver.

She hopped out of the car, meeting Tiana at the back to grab their bags. Sam pulled out her one small backpack before helping Tiana with her two large suitcases.

“You know we’re only here for the weekend, right?” she mumbled, struggling to pull the second suitcase out.