Page 69 of Finding Jess

Sam burst into laughter, looking out into the back parking lot area filled with dumpsters where the path had ended.

“Maybe we should’ve taken our chances with the creepy beach walk after all.”

Jess shook her head, laughing along with her. “Yeah, maybe.”

“Wanna head back?” Sam asked, eyes drifting over the dingy yellow lighting of the mostly empty lot.

Jess’ laughter died off as she let out a long exhale. “Not really.”

Sam looked at her, watching the way her eyes stared off into the distance. Like she needed that night. That time alone—or—alone with just them.

Sam stepped ahead, stopping at a spot on the curb in front of the bushes. Then she sat down, nodding beside her for Jess to do the same.

Jess arched one brow, her eyes flicking to the curb once before bouncing back to meet Sam’s stare.

“We’re at a beautiful resort and you’re fine with just sitting in the back on the ground by the dumpsters?” she asked with an amused smirk, but even before half the question had left her mouth, she’d already dropped down, sitting beside her.

Sam shrugged. “You said you didn’t want to go back. So unless you changed your mind about taking our chances with the dark beach, then..” she trailed off, waving her hand in the air around them.

“I’m not sure this is any less creepy than the beach,” Jess muttered, her nose wrinkling as her gaze drifted over the parking lot.

Sam rested her hands on the ground behind her, leaning back until she peered up at the star filled sky.

“How many cities did you move to after New York?” Jess asked suddenly.

Sam turned to her with a curious smile. “What’s with all the questions tonight?”

Jess shrugged nonchalantly. “I don’t know,” she muttered. “I guess I just keep thinking about all the stuff we never talked about.” Her throat bobbed as she swallowed, eyes flickering down at her lap. “Things I never had a chance to ask.”

Sam frowned, feeling a pang of guilt twist in her gut. She knew what Jess meant—there were entire years of silence between them, a chasm filled with all the things left unsaid. And now it seemed like Jess was trying to bridge that gap all at once.

Sam let out a soft sigh, her gaze drifting across the yellow light of the parking lot. Her eyes landed on a discarded styrofoam cup near the base of the dumpster. She had an idea. A way to ease the tension and turn that conversation into something lighter.

She walked toward the cup, plucking it off the ground, then turned it over, emptying the small bit of remaining liquid onto the ground.

“Thirsty?” Jess mumbled, her face contorting in disgust.

Sam set the cup down on the asphalt, then made her way back to the curb.

“Let’s play a game.”

Jess raised an eyebrow, the curiosity in her eyes replacing some of the unease. “A game?”

Sam nodded, bending down to scoop up a handful of small pebbles from the planter behind them. “Yeah,” she said, grinning as she held one out to Jess. “Make a shot. You get to ask a question.”

Jess’ lips quirked up into a smile, amusement dancing in her eyes. “And if I miss?”

“Then it’s my turn,” Sam replied, settling back onto the curb.

Jess glanced at the cup, then back at Sam. “You’re making this up as you go, aren’t you?”

“Obviously,” Sam said with a laugh. “But you wanted to ask questions, so here’s your chance.”

She held one pebble out to Jess, then nodded toward the cup. “Lets see if you still have those beer pong skills.”

The corner of Jess’ lips quirked up in a small smile.

She tossed the pebble. It skittered across the ground, missing the cup by a few inches.

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