Page 4 of Finding Jess

Every word and sound instantly evaporated as Sam stared into the doorway.

Jess stood there, eyes wide and lips slightly parted as she stared back.

“Funny story,” Liz continued with a chuckle as she peered down into the bag, “we actually knew each other when we were kids.”

Tension instantly thickened the air. Sam’s pulse quickened, but she kept her expression neutral—or tried to.

“Hi,” Sam said, her voice low and even, a faint edge of disbelief slipping through despite her best effort.

Jess’ lips pressed together into a thin line, her eyes narrowing slightly, like she was bracing herself. “Hi,” she replied, her tone flat and clipped.

Liz arched one brow, looking between them both. “Do you guys already know each other?”

Sam looked back at Jess, who seemed to finally be emerging from the daze she’d entered.

“Yeah,” Jess replied, blinking as she shook her head slightly, long wavy blonde hair drifting across the top of her tight whiteblouse. “Yeah, we—“ Jess trailed off, her eyes flitting back to Sam, as if asking a silent question.

Sam cleared her throat, reaching a hand up to scratch the back of her neck. “Highschool,” she said, forcing a smile as she looked back at Liz. “We’re friends from high school.”

She glanced back at Jess just in time to see an unreadable look pass over her face.

“Oh,” Liz said with a surprised grin. “Wow! What a small world.”

Sam gave a slight nod, unable to muster a response.

“So how long has it been, then?” Liz asked, looking at Jess. “High school was what—eight years ago, right?” She looked back at Sam then. “So it’s been eight years since you’ve seen each other?”

Sam’s eyes skipped back to Jess, who met her gaze for only a split-second before returning to Liz.

Jess offered a smile that somehow wasn’t a smile at all as she said, “Four years since we last saw each other.”

Sam watched her carefully for another moment before tucking her hands into her pockets to keep them from fidgeting.

Liz nodded, and Sam wondered if she was picking up on the way Jess’ smile seemed to stay miles away from her eyes.

The brief silence that settled between the three of them would’ve been the perfect chance to excuse herself. She could have easily lied and said she’d gotten everything she needed for the day and left.

But something else deep down inside wanted her to stay.

“I didn’t know you were living here now,” Sam said, trying to keep the words light, as if she was talking to any friend she hadn’t seen in years.

Jess looked back at her, and by the look on her face, she could tell she was attempting to do the same.

“It hasn’t been long. Less than a year.” Jess gave a small shrug that made the ends of her blonde hair sway. “Scar always talked about how much she loved it here, and I needed a change.” Her eyes flicked away for a moment before locking with Sam again. “I got a job offer here and decided to take it.”

Sam gave a small nod, suddenly wishing she’d returned the missed calls from Scarlett that week sooner. If she had, Scarlett definitely would’ve given her some type of heads up.

“I’m sure Scar’s happy to have you here,” Sam said.

“We’re all happy to have her here,” Liz said with a smile as she wrapped one arm loosely around Jess’ waist.

And with that, whatever was keeping her there suddenly reversed. Now instead, it wanted to get away—beggedto get away.

“Well, I think we covered enough for today,” Sam said as she managed to force her professional persona back into place.

“Oh, good,” Liz replied with a sigh of relief. “I really didn’t want to miss cycling tonight.”

Jess turned toward her with a quizzical look. “Cycling?” she asked, her voice lowering a few notches. “I thought we were going to see that movie after you finished work?”

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