Chapter Four
“Dude, wake up.”
Sam turned onto her back and registered Meg standing over her. Half a second passed before she remembered where she was.
“We’re meeting Lexi at the coffee shop in twenty minutes. I know you want in on that.”
“Fuck, my bag is at Lexi’s.” She sighed heavily, her hangover hitting her full force. “I left it there last night before we went out.”
“Nope. She dropped it off this morning before she went to the gym.”
“There is a God.” Sam rubbed the sleep from her eyes and sat up on Meg’s couch. “What time is it anyway?”
“Just after ten.”
“Wow. I was really out. I hope I wasn’t in your way down here.”
“Not at all. I got up when Reina and Melinda left about eight, then I went back to sleep. I only got out of bed like a half hour ago when Lexi texted me.” Meg pulled the blanket off her. “Hurry up and get in the shower. I know you’re going to need at least a few minutes to primp yourself for Lucy. I remember how you operate.”
“I hate you.”
“Correction.” Meg backed away as she started folding the blanket. “You love me for not letting you sleep through this golden opportunity and for waking you up in time to get yourself all jazzed up. Thank me later. Now, go. I can only hold out for so long. I need coffee.”
Twenty minutes later, Sam crunched the ice underfoot as they walked the short distance to Lucy’s Coffee Bar.
Meg broke the silence. “So I’m guessing since I found you on my couch fully clothed, there was no love connection with Melinda.”
“Nah, dude.” Sam shrugged. “She’s a nice girl but I wasn’t feeling it. I don’t think she was either, to be honest.”
“No?”
Sam heard surprise in Meg’s voice and was flattered at the subtle compliment. She shook her head in response. They were quiet for a few more steps before Sam gambled on a dicey subject. “I think that Melinda might be into Reina.” She checked a look at Meg’s demeanor and was relieved that Meg wasn’t surprised at her well meaning heads-up. “You picked up on that, I gather.”
“Sure did.” Meg tapped at a chunk of ice with the tip of her boot, sending it skittering along the sidewalk ahead of them. “I actually said something to Reina about it,” she said. “She blew it off.” Meg shrugged. “I’m not even sure how I feel about it, which is the worst part.”
“Still hung up on your ex?”
“Not hung up,” Meg said.
Sam couldn’t help but notice that Meg’s tone, while not quite defensive, sounded more than a little uncertain.
“What happened with you two?”
“Me and Sasha?” Meg watched a car whiz past them. “It’s complicated,” she said, thrusting her hands in her pockets. “Actually, who am I kidding? It’s not. I was really into her. Her, not so much.”
“No, come on,” Sam countered, not quite believing Meg’s scarce summary. “She seemed interested last night.”
“That’s the thing with Sasha. You never know what you’re going to get. One minute she’s in love with you and the next she’s making out with your colleague in the middle of the hotel lobby.”
“Ouch.”
“Yeah, that’s putting it mildly.”
“Sorry, dude. How long did you guys date or whatever?”
Meg looked at the empty street as they waited at the crosswalk. “Almost a year, but on and off.”
“I’m sensing you guys don’t keep in touch.”
Meg harrumphed and her breath came out in a cloud against the cold air. “I haven’t seen her since we broke up. Until last night. You know, five seconds before my girlfriend showed up. I know that sounds bad and I don’t mean anything by it. Honestly. It just might have been nice, I mean…” Sam heard Meg struggling for the right words and felt her frustration. “I guess I would have liked to talk to her a little.”
“Fucking timing, though. Brutal.” Sam pushed open the door and smiled to herself when she heard the bell ring underneath the music coming through surround sound. The coffee house was warm and inviting, and unlike her last visit, it was packed. She spotted Lexi sitting at the end of a couch, her belongings strewn across several cushions, clearly trying to reserve the real estate for her friends.
“Jesus, I thought you guys were never going to get here.” She waved them over emphatically. “These college kids are vultures.” Lexi stood up and gave them both genuine hugs.
Shaking free of her winter jacket, Sam turned to put it over the arm of the couch, completely surprised to see Lucy right next to her. “Hi,” she said, cringing a little at the enthusiasm she heard in her own voice.
Lucy didn’t miss a beat. “Hey there, Sam Miller.” She touched Sam’s shoulder and gave it a little squeeze, throwing her off her game even more. “Morning, girls,” she added, tossing a nod at Meg and Lexi. “Sit down,” she said. “I’ll bring over some coffee.” She looked right at Sam. “Milk and sugar for you, hon?”
Lucy’s use of the endearment surprised her, even in light of their spirited conversation the other day. The level of attention was exciting and she knew it showed when she stumbled over her response. “Sure. Actually half-and-half, if you have it. And three sugars.”
“I should have guessed.” Lucy grinned, seeming to be on the inside of a private joke. Sam knew her confusion must have showed when Lucy clarified her comment. “It’s always the tough ones. Hard as nails on the outside, but give ’em a strong cup of java, and they curl up in fetal position.” She hung her head and frowned in mock disappointment.
Sam found her footing and got in the game. “I just like my coffee like I like my women.”
“Which is…ridiculously sweet?”
“Don’t forget creamy.”
Sam let her face relax into a smile at her friends’ laughter. Her comment was over-the-top and she knew it, but Lucy shook her head and smiled, promising to return with their drinks shortly. Sam didn’t even try to hide it as she let her gaze follow Lucy all the way back to the bar.
“I knew you guys would hit it off.”
“Settle down, Lex, it’s just flirting. Completely baseless. I’m sure it’s all just part of business.”
“She doesn’t flirt with me.”
“You’re married.”
“Meg, does she ever flirt with you?” Lexi challenged.
“No. But thanks for pointing that out. You know, just in case my confidence happened to be on the high side this morning.”
“Oh, stop.” Lexi dismissed her with a wave. “Like you don’t have enough women falling over you right now.”
Meg shook her head dramatically. “I’m not even going to pretend I know what that means.”
Sam loved the easy camaraderie her friends had. She wasted no time getting into the mix. “Oh, yes you fucking do.”
“Nobody was falling over me last night,” Meg countered. “Sasha said hello, that’s it. And Reina, Christ, I don’t know what the fuck is going on with us right now.”
“Well, you worked something out when you got home,” Sam added with a smirk. “I slept right underneath you, don’t forget.” She saw Meg’s cheeks redden and reached over to clap her shoulder. “I’m just teasing, buddy. But seriously, your mattress springs are shot.” She pulled away just in time to beat Meg’s playful punch, and in doing so bumped against Lucy’s leg just as she arrived with their drinks.
“Whoa, sorry,” Sam offered, awkwardly touching Lucy’s thigh as she tried to make up for her gaffe.
“It’s okay. It’ll take more than that to get me on the ground. Maybe after your coffee. Although for you”—she scrunched up her nose—“with coffee that wimpy, it might take two cups.” She placed a tray of muffins on the small table in front of them. “The scones are blueberry, the muffins are cranberry orange. They’re vegan. Just the muffins, the scones are regular. I’m curious what you think. Enjoy, ladies.”
“That was totally flirting,” Lexi said, reaching for a scone.
Sam didn’t bother to deny it. She loved the chase. Sure, she’d only seen Lucy two times and she still thought this might be part of her schtick with new customers, but there was an energy between them, she’d picked up on it right way. Whether it was just a game or something more remained to be seen. She was thoroughly looking forward to the play by play, but that part she kept to herself.
“Did you guys have your meeting with Kam Browne yet?” she asked, changing the subject.
“Oh my God, I can’t believe we didn’t tell you,” Lexi said as she shielded her full mouth with her hand. “Kam wants us to, like, run some of the socials.”
“What does that mean?” Sam asked, giving a muffin a try.
“You know the socials, the parties that are open to everyone. Even people who don’t live at Bay West.”
“Duh, Lex. I haven’t been gone that long. So she wants you guys to work the door and stuff?”
Meg fielded the question. “Kam wants us to be in charge of them. Maybe that includes working the door—I didn’t even think about that.” She shook her head, obviously considering the possibility, then continued. “We’re supposed to come up with themes. She’s hoping for some fresh ideas to bring in new blood. Then do the marketing, advertising, stuff like that. Holy shit, you should help us.”
“You totally should,” Lexi echoed. “You’re a graphics genius and Bay West’s website could use a serious makeover.” She did a tiny cheer with her hands. “Oh my God, would you do that for us? Put in links to different social media platforms and stuff? You are way more tech savvy than me and Meg.”
“Sure, yeah.”
“We should maybe check with Kam before making any major changes,” Meg said, sounding a little nervous.
“Are you kidding, she’s going to love it.” Lexi rolled her eyes. “We’ll run everything by her, Nervous Nellie. But quit being a pussy. She’s looking for us to take charge here.”
Sam swallowed the last of her coffee. “Any news on a vacancy there, by the way?” She put her empty mug down. “I would hate to miss being part of all this because I’m in jail for murdering my parents.”
Lexi responded through her laughter. “No, I’m afraid. Bay West is at full capacity. My mom said she heard some rumors that there may be one or two units on the market soon. I know we talked about renting, but would you ever be able to buy if the opportunity came up?”
She took a second to consider. She’d been traveling on the company dime steadily for almost five months. Given her per diem stipend and not having to pay rent, she’d socked away a nice little nest egg.
“That would be ideal,” she said. “But isn’t there a waiting list for when units come up for sale?”
“Sam, you know the entire board. And you’re going to help revamp Bay West’s image. I’m fairly certain you’ll jump to the top of the list.”
“Politics and nepotism are alive and well at Bay West, I take it?”
“It’s not just for rich white men anymore,” Lexi quipped.
“To the new lesbian mafia,” Meg added, lifting her coffee cup in the air.
Sam felt her smile cover her face. “So I have a shot of getting back in?”
Lexi tilted her head to the side, a full grin emerging as she drawled out her coy response. “Oh, I’d say there’s a definite possibility.”