“Hey, I know it would involve hanging out with me, but if you want you’re welcome to come back to my brother’s place. My cousins are over there and we were doing a Friday the Thirteenth marathon. We were partway through Jason X when I left and we were gonna watch Jason Takes Manhattan next. You’re welcome to join us.”

Amanda glanced toward the bed and considered the sleep she could desperately use. And then she thought for a moment if what she really wanted was to be alone. “You sure your family won’t mind? I don’t want to just bust in on their movie night.”

“Nah, it’s all good. For real, if you want to come, come. The rest of the dogs are there, hanging out.”

“Oh well, why didn’t you say that?”

“So you’re coming?”

“Yeah, why not.” Amanda grabbed her purse and double-checked that she had her keycard. “Lead the way.”

“Alright. Let’s go, Poppy.” He scooped the dog off the floor and tucked her under his arm. Amanda followed as Sam opened the door for her. She stopped before she stepped out into the hall.

“Listen. It’s not that I don’t want to spend time with you. I just—”

“You don’t have to explain. I read my cousin’s copy of He’s Just Not That into You when I was in high school.”

“No, Sam,” Amanda laughed. “I just didn’t expect to see you again. And not so soon. Not under those circumstances. It was a lot to process while trying to be present for Helene and Ignacio.”

“I get it.”

“Sometimes you’re—you have no vision for something and then it lands in your lap twice. I was overwhelmed.”

“So was I, but I just rolled with it.”

“Hmmm,” Amanda replied. She could admit to herself that maybe Sam was also handling this wild situation as best he could. Maybe she wasn’t the only one feeling a little out of sorts. “Did you know you were inviting me down here for Valentine’s Day weekend?” she asked with a smirk.

“When I invited you, no, I didn’t, but my brother let me know I was potentially playing myself, but hey, here we are.”

“Here we are.”

“Pals.”

“Pals.”

“Who might sleep with each other again.”

Amanda rolled her eyes and started walking down the hall, back toward the lobby. “Let’s go, Tex.”

“After you.”

Chapter 11

Chapter 11