Page 63 of Finding Jess

Sam shot her a half-hearted glare, and when she looked up, she caught Scarlett staring at her chest and ribs, lips parted slightly.

Sam followed her eyes, peering down at the angry scars cascading across her body. In the cold of the water, they’d takenon a deep purple hue, making them stand out much more than usual against her skin.

Scarlett blinked, slowly closing her mouth, but her eyes remained on the scars. And that’s when she realized that Scarlett was probably the only one in that group who hadn’t seen the full extent of them. She couldn’t blame the reaction.

She remembered the way Tiana had frozen up the first time she’d seen her without a shirt after the accident.

And she couldn’t even bring herself to think about the day Jess had first seen them.

After a moment, Scarlett seemed to snap out of it, catching herself. But she didn’t look away the way everyone else usually did.

Instead, she met her eyes with an intense look, giving her a small genuine smile.

It reminded her of one other smile she’d given her in the past. The first time they’d seen each other after her and Jess stopped speaking.

Not a look of pity. But of understanding. Of caring.

Sam sat down on the towel beside her, and Scarlett immediately put an arm around her waist, leaning her head against her shoulder.

And Sam became all too aware of the way the rest of the group had clearly caught on to what had happened. Tiana and Jess both watched them, each with an entirely different look.

“Sorry,” Scarlett whispered beside her. “I guess I didn’t realize how much—”

“It’s okay,” Sam cut in, wanting nothing more than for the conversation to change to something else.

She took a drink from her bottle, looking off into the distant water.

“I think they make you look badass,” Tiana said nonchalantly. “They make you seem mysterious or something.”

Sam grimaced, twisting the cap back onto her water.

And when she looked back up, she caught the way Jess’ jaw flickered. The look on her face that said she had something to say and was trying desperately to hold it back.

Scarlett seemed to be watching her too, and quickly cut in, asking Jasmine something about her extended family that was attending the wedding.

Some of the tension seeped out of her shoulders as they went back and forth, discussing different family members and how long it’d been since they’d all been together.

And soon enough, Jess seemed to relax back to normal as well, joining in the conversation.

They laid out, talking and enjoying the midday warmth.

But eventually, Sam sat up, ready for the next thing. Laying out had never been her thing. She needed something to do.

“Anyone ready to jump off the rocks?” she asked, blocking out the sun with one hand as she peered up at them.

Jess smirked as she leaned up on her elbows. “I was wondering how long you’d last just laying here.”

“Not me,” Tiana muttered, sitting up and pulling out her phone. “I’ll take pictures though.”

“I’m ready,” Jasmine said, quickly standing.

Scarlett grinned up at her, clearly pleased with how she’d relaxed into the day. “Me too.”

Sam stood, then took Scarlett’s hand, pulling her up.

“You coming?” Sam asked as she trudged through the thick sand past Jess.

Jess looked back and forth between her and the cliff with a slight frown. “I don’t know.”

---