Page 60 of Finding Jess

“Yes,” Tiana answered, rolling her eyes. “But some of us like to have more options than the same plain t-shirts every day.”

Sam huffed as the second suitcase finally slid free, landing on the ground with a dull thud.

“Careful,” Tiana scolded.

“Maybe pack lighter next time,” Sam shot back as she handed Tiana the handle of the bag.

They shut the trunk and made their way toward the resort’s entrance, where tall glass doors glided open automatically. The cool air-conditioning was a sharp contrast to the warm breeze outside.

“Checking in?” A woman asked from behind a tall black marble desk.

“Yeah,” Sam answered with a smile, pulling her wallet out of her back pocket.

A few moments into the check-in process, a familiar voice called out from behind them with a squeal. “You’re here!”

Sam glanced behind them to see Scarlett running up, with Jess laughing a few feet behind. Trailing a little farther back was another woman, shorter and more reserved, her dark mid-length hair brushing her shoulders as she moved. She had a delicate resemblance to Terrence—the same dark rich skin tone and almond-shaped eyes—but the shy, tentative way she took in her surroundings was a stark contrast to her brother’s bold, easygoing presence.

Tiana grinned as Scarlett pulled her into a tight hug, as if they’d been best friends for years.

“This is really nice,” Sam said, as Scarlett pulled her in for the next hug.

“I know, right,” Scarlett gushed, waving a hand around the lobby. “My man has good taste.”

Jess smiled as Tiana hugged her, mumbling something that Sam couldn’t quite make out. But Jess laughed at it, shooting her an amused look.

Then Jess stepped toward her.

“Hey,” she said softly, wrapping her arms around her torso in a gentle hug.

Sam hugged her back, the familiar comfort making her chest flutter in a way she didn’t quite want to name.

Scarlett stepped back, motioning to the woman behind them. “This is Terrence’s sister, Jasmine.”

Jasmine hovered near the edge of the group, hands clasped in front of her as she gave a small, polite nod.

“Jasmine, Sam—and Tiana,” she said, waving a hand at each of them.

Sam smiled warmly at her. “Nice to meet you.”

Jasmine nodded again, her tight smile faltering for a moment before she managed a quiet, “You too.”

Tiana wasted no time as she stepped forward, wrapping her in a big hug.

Sam choked back a laughat the way Jasmine’s mouth fell open in surprise. But luckily, after a moment, she seemed to relax into it, letting out her own soft chuckle.

“Good to meet you guys,” Jasmine muttered, her smile slowly brightening.

“Okay ladies,” the woman behind the front desk cut in. “Your room is all ready,” she said, handing a key to Sam, then Tiana.

“Oh, you guys are in the same room?” Scarlett asked.

Tiana nodded, then narrowed her gaze on Sam. “But if you wake me up at the crack of dawn with your loud ass typing, I’m kicking you out into the lobby.”

Sam snorted a laugh. “You sleep through anything. Pretty sure I could start a motorcycle up in there and you still wouldn’t wake up.”

Tiana waved her off, grabbing the handle of one suitcase while Sam took the other one for her.

“Okay,” Scarlett started, checking her phone. “We have a boat picking us up in like thirty minutes, so drop off your stuff real quick and get your bathing suits on, then meet us out there at the docks.”

---