Page 121 of Finding Jess

Jess’ eyes flicked to Sam, then darted away just as quickly. Her body tensed, and for a moment, it looked like she might turn around and flee the opposite direction.

“Hi,” Sam said before Jess could escape, her voice coming out more rushed than she intended.

Jess hesitated, her lips pressing into a tight line before she nodded slightly. “Hi.”

Sam stepped forward, opening the door and holding it for her. Jess hesitated again, then slipped inside with a quiet, “Thanks.”

The line was uncharacteristically short for what she expected at that time in the morning, with just two people ahead of them.

Jess stood in front of Sam, her shoulders stiff and her gaze fixed firmly on the menu board above the counter. Sam studied her for a moment, the uneasy silence stretching between them.

They didn’t need to talk. Sam could’ve waited there in silence, gotten her coffee, and left. She could’ve written it off as just one more bullet on the long list of poorly timed surprises.

Really, it would’ve been for the best. There was nothing else to say between them, anyway.

But still, standing there behind her, catching the faint scent of her familiar perfume, she couldn’t help herself. Even if it was just a few words, she wanted to hear her voice.

“How’ve you been?” Sam asked finally.

“Fine,” Jess replied, the word clipped as she remained with her back to her.

Sam swallowed, trying to keep the conversation going despite the brick wall of tension between them. “How’s work been?”

“It’s fine,” Jess said again, her tone no warmer than before.

Sam bit back a sigh. She didn’t know what she’d expected—that two weeks of silence would be wiped away with a few polite questions?

When they reached the front of the line, Jess stepped forward and placed her order—a black coffee, nothing else. As the baristastarted ringing her up, Sam stepped beside her, pulling out her wallet.

“I got it,” she said quickly, adding her and Caleb’s coffee orders to the order.

Jess glanced at her, but said nothing as she stepped aside to let Sam finish paying.

The barista handed back Sam’s card with a look that felt more than friendly. “Here you go. I’ll remember your order for next time so you can skip the line.”

Sam forced a polite smile, mumbling, “Thanks,” as she grabbed the receipt and moved to the pickup counter beside Jess.

“How’s it been with the wedding planning being over?” Sam asked quietly, not sure if she could handle another clipped response but feeling the need to try.

“Less busy,” Jess muttered.

Sam opened her mouth to say something else, but the barista called out their orders before she could. She reached for the cups, grabbing two at random as Jess picked up the third.

Jess turned the cup in her hands, eyes narrowing as she spotted something written on the side.

Her lips pressed into a tight line, and she rolled her eyes, holding the cup out toward Sam. “This is yours.”

Sam’s brows knitted in confusion as she took it from her. Then she saw the phone number scrawled in black ink on the side.

Jess pushed the cup into her hands before taking a stiff step back.

“Jess—” Sam started, but Jess had already turned, making a quick exit for the door.

Sam rushed to follow, her heart already thudding in her chest. She quickened her pace, catching up to Jess just as she strode down the sidewalk. “Jess, wait.”

Jess slowed to a stop but didn’t look at her, her eyes fixed on the street ahead.

“I’m sorry,” Sam said, the words tumbling out. She hesitated, her breath unsteady as she scrambled for the right way to say how she felt.

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