I rolled away from Sam to take a look at the clock beside my bed. Even though I immediately missed the feel of his bare skin against mine, I jumped up in alarm. “I’m going to be late for girls’ night, if I don’t get going. I need to get dressed and go meet Court.”

Sam sat up. His dark, shiny hair was slightly mussed. He looked ridiculously handsome. “Can I come with you?”

“You want to come to girls’ night?” I was surprised that he would want to join us. “I don’t think Court would like that.”

“Seth gets to come.” He stuck out his lower lip and batted his eyelashes.

He was impossible for me to refuse. “Okay.” I grinned at him before adding, “But if I get even an inkling that Court doesn’t want you there, you have to leave.”

“Deal,” he agreed, before jumping up to put his clothes back on.

It was a nice evening, so we decided to walk to Joe’s. We didn’t chat much because I was oddly nervous about taking Sam to girls’ night. It felt like my two separate worlds were colliding. I relished the feeling of Sam’s hand at my back, gently guiding me into the restaurant as he held the door open.

Court was sitting at the bar counting her tips from working the lunch shift. Joe looked up from behind the counter and waved a greeting at us. I was surprised about his friendliness, until it dawned on me that he probably thought that Sam was Seth. I could only imagine what his reaction was about to be when he realized he was actually welcoming Sam into his business, not Seth.

I smiled at Joe, trying not to let my nerves get the best of me. Court turned to see what Joe was waving at, then hopped off her stool to join us at our usual booth. Somewhere along her path, she figured out that I was with Sam, not Seth. “Oh, hi, Sam.” She gave me an odd look.

I was about ready to say that Sam wasn’t staying, in order to give him the hint that I didn’t think Court approved of him joining us, when Seth walked in with Jessie. “Look who I found lurking out in the parking lot.” He said the words boisterously, indicating Jessie, as he walked up to the booth. He whirled around an extra chair and plopped into it, leaving the empty space in the booth beside Court for Jessie.