LOGIN“Hi,” Jessica said, adjusting her clutch in her hand, her smile polite but her eyes searching his face.She stood there in a red sequin dress that caught the light every time she moved. The dress hugged her waist and curved gently over her hips before falling just above her knees. Tiny sequins shimmered like little flames dancing across her body. The neckline dipped just enough to be bold but not loud. When she shifted her weight from one heel to the other, the fabric sparkled under the restaurant lights, and for a second, Jeremy forgot how to breathe.Her hair fell over one shoulder in loose waves, brushing against her collarbone. She looked confident. But if you watched closely, the way her fingers played with her clutch gave away a small hint of nerves.“You made it,” Jeremy said, standing up from his seat a little too fast. He cleared his throat. “I wasn’t a hundred percent sure you’d show up.”
“Hey, guys. New coffee on floor four. Totally worth the trip.”Jimmy’s voice bounced inside the elevator as he smiled, clearly enjoying the attention. He leaned back against the wall like he owned the place.Samadora stood quietly near the buttons, her shoulders tense, her hands folded tightly in front of her. She cleared her throat, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.“Can’t wait to try it,” she said, a little too quickly.The elevator doors slid shut, sealing them all inside. The hum of the ride filled the silence, and Samadora stared straight ahead, hoping no one noticed the heat rising in her cheeks.⸻Conrad’s Office“Holy fuck sticks,” Jimmy said the moment he stepped into Conrad’s office, coffee in hand. “It’s been years since I saw a nine-a.m. ass grab. You did it, didn’t you?”Conrad barely looked up from his desk. “Jimmy…”“Yes, you did!” Jimmy snapped his fingers like he’d
The sound of running water filled the bathroom as steam touched the transparent glass walls. Conrad stood under the shower, letting the warm water roll down his back, trying to wash away the weight of the morning. His shoulders were tense, his thoughts loud, even as the bathroom stayed quiet.“Daddy?”David’s small voice came from behind the glass.Conrad turned slightly. “What’s up, bud?” he answered, calm but tired.“Mary needs you downstairs.”“Alright, I’m coming.”He reached for his towel, wiped his face, and stepped out of the shower. Water dripped onto the tiled floor as he wrapped the towel around his waist. David was still standing there, watching him. Conrad noticed immediately.“You alright?” he asked gently.David hesitated, then spoke. “How long is Mary going to be staying with us? It used to be on and off.”Conrad sighed quietly as he dried the rest of his body. “For a while,” he s
Nice to meet you, Jessie,” he said. “Nice to meet you…” Jessica paused. She didn’t know his name. “Jeremy,” he said. “Jeremy?” she asked again. “Yeah…” “Okay… I’m just out here having a drink with my friend. Ain’t really interested in—or…” Jessica got cut off. “Available? You ain’t available. Gosh, you’re too hot to be single.” He stared at her like he saw the most beautiful woman in the world, smiling sheepishly. “Hmmm,” Jessica responded, wanting to just leave and meet up with Sadie. “Or you’re in a relationship?” Jessica stiffened. Memories of how everything ended with Conrad rushed back—back to the present reality she was trying not to think about. “Screw it… You don’t wanna go out with me. I am a messy mess right now. I just blew up my life… kind of unintentionally. I have a kid, I’m in the middle of a divorce crisis, and even with the divorce, I drove the love of my life away because I was
Three Months LaterRain tapped softly against the window of Jessica’s new apartment. She sat by the sill, staring at the gray streets of New York, thinking about all the choices that had brought her here. Boxes were stacked neatly in corners, some still unopened, and the apartment felt both new and empty. She took a deep breath, letting herself sink into the quiet… until a knock on the door jolted her.Knock knock!Jessica jumped and ran to open it.“Hey, hey!” Sadie’s bright voice filled the doorway. She was grinning, holding a bottle of champagne like a trophy.“You’re back!” Jessica said, laughing, pulling her friend into a hug.“Of course!” Sadie hugged her tight. “And I’m exhausted… but I brought reinforcements.” She waved the bottle. “So… you got a couch?”“I finally unpacked all the boxes. Which means… this is really happening,” Jessica said, laughing nervously as she looked around. “This… is my life now.”
Sadie stood quietly beside the hospital bed, watching Jessica breathe.That alone felt like a miracle.“You scared me,” Sadie said softly, forcing a small smile as she stepped closer. “You scared all of us.”Jessica turned her head slightly. She looked tired—pale, weak—but her eyes were clear. When she saw Sadie properly, her lips curved faintly.“You look worse than me,” Jessica whispered.Sadie huffed out a breath that sounded half like a laugh, half like a sob. “Don’t even start. You got shot. I’m allowed to look terrible.”Jessica reached out weakly, her fingers brushing Sadie’s hand. “Thank you… for staying.”“I wasn’t going anywhere,” Sadie said immediately. “Not this time.”For a moment, neither of them spoke. The machines filled the silence, steady and reassuring. Sadie swallowed, her chest tightening.“I’m just happy you’re okay again,” she said quietly. “I don’t care about anything else right now.”Jes







