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Scarlett hesitated for a moment before releasing a deep exhale. “I didn’t think it mattered. I mean, once you told me you were moving here, then obviously I was going to tell you when the time came. But after the last time, when you guys—“ Scarlett paused, and Sam could tell she was searching for the right words. “When you guys stopped talking, it just seemed like you didn’t want to hear about her. So I figured it was better not to mention anything.”

Sam pursed her lips, leaning forward to rest her elbows against her thighs. “Yeah.”

***

Four Years Earlier.

Sam crossed the busy intersection, wiping a bead of sweat off her temple as the New York summer sun beat down against her forehead.

She narrowly avoided a crowd of people as she stepped onto the next sidewalk. The wet heat she could do without, but the swarms of people were actually sort of enjoyable. There was something surprisingly nice about the packed city feeling. She never ran out of new people to meet or talk to. And those random interactions were something she thrived on.

Her thigh vibrated, and she pulled her phone out as she weaved the horde of people.

When she finally glanced down at the buzzing screen, a wide smile broke out across her face.

“Hey,” she breathed, tucking the phone tightly against her ear.

“Are you done working yet?” Jess asked, excitement pouring through her words. Just the sound of the smile in her voice was enough to send warmth blooming within her chest.

“Just finished.”

“Finally,” Jess exhaled. “Can you meet up now?”

Sam chuckled. “Yeah. Where?”

“There’s a restaurant a couple blocks from my apartment. I’ll send you the address.”

A rustling noise crackled through the phone for a few seconds before Jess’ voice came through once again.

“Did you get it?”

“One sec,” Sam muttered, pulling the phone away from her ear as the new text popped up on the screen.

She copied the restaurant name into her maps app and waited as the directions slowly filled the screen.

It wasn’t close by any means, and paying for a cab was out of the question, given that she’d just sunk most of her remaining money into the new computer she needed.

She lifted the phone back up to her ear. “Okay. I got it.”

“Is that okay?” Jess asked. “Or do you want to meet somewhere else?”

“No,” Sam replied. “No, that’s perfect. Just—uh, give me like thirty minutes to get there.”

The walk took much longer than expected, even after she’d practically jogged the last few blocks. But when she gave the hostess her name, and she led her to a small table on the outside patio, every step was immediately worth it.

Jess sat at a small table, peering out into the busy street.

But when she glanced over and saw Sam, she instantly shot up.

Sam smiled, bracing herself as Jess rushed toward her, throwing both her arms around her neck.

And for the first time in a year, she felt a sense of home.

Jess let out a soft hum, curling her head into the side of her neck. “I missed this.”

“Me too,” Sam breathed.

After another moment, Sam finally pulled back. Jess slid her arms away, trailing one hand down until it wrapped around her own. Then she turned, leading her back to the table.