Page 50 of Finding Jess

As she read through, making notes on the latest developments around an issue they’d been working through, Jess trudged back toward the table.

“Sorry,” she muttered, sitting back down in the chair, her eyes still fixed on her phone as she typed something out.

Sam watched her for a moment before closing her laptop. “Everything okay?”

Jess continued typing, her brow furrowed. Then finally, she sighed, setting the phone back on the table, faced down. “Yeah. Just something with Liz.”

Sam nodded slowly, waiting for the frown to leave Jess’ face.

It didn’t.

“Do you need to go?” Sam finally asked, hating the disappointment she felt just at saying those words aloud.

Jess looked down at her phone, biting her lip as if contemplating. Then, eventually, she blew out a deep breath. “No.”

A beat passed before Jess looked up at her. Apprehension laced her features, like she was trying to decide whether or not to elaborate.

“We just—” Jess started, before pausing. “Liz wanted to go look at an apartment today.”

Sam remained quiet, trying to figure out why that would’ve been a problem.

“For us,” Jess continued slowly.

“Oh,” Sam blurted, the realization catching her off guard. “I thought you liked your apartment, though? Didn’t you just move in?”

Jess sighed, some of the tension leaving her face as she slouched back in the chair. “I do. And yeah, I did.”

Sam’s brow furrowed. “But you want to move somewhere else?”

“No,” Jess replied, irritation lacing the word. “I told her I didn’t want to go look at it. But I guess she made the appointment, anyway.”

“Ah,” Sam muttered with a slow nod, as everything finally fell into place.

Jess pursed her lips, glancing off to the side. “Yeah.”

She knew she might not enjoy hearing the details of their relationship, but still, there were questions she wanted to ask. Questions to help Jess talk out whatever was upsetting her. Although, given their past, she might not have been the most appropriate person to ask.

But that’s what they were to each other now—friends. And if she wanted that to work out, then that was something she’d need to work through.

“So you guys are moving in together?” Sam asked, mustering the best smile she could.

Jess gave her an almost appreciative half smile that made it clear she knew what she was trying to do.

Then the smile fell as she replied, “No. We’re not.”

Sam’s brows knitted together as the small understanding she thought she’d gained faded back into confusion.

Jess looked away again, like she was deciding what she should or shouldn’t say.

“Sorry,” Sam said. “I didn’t mean to ask—”

“No,” Jess cut in, shaking her head. “No, it’s okay.”

The phone buzzed on the table, and Jess’ eyes flicked down for a split second before looking back up and giving her a tight smile. “You didn’t do anything wrong. I just—I’m not sure it’d be fair to Liz to talk about our issues with..”

“Me?” Sam finished as Jess left the unspoken word hanging in the air.

Jess frowned. “Anyone.” She let out a deep sigh, running a hand through her hair. “But yeah.”

---