Jill ignored the joke and furrowed her brow. “How do you know about that?”

Sam shook her head. “For someone so smart, you can be really stupid.”

“I’ve proven that time and time again, but why am I this time?”

“I’m your accountant, you nut. I know about all your charitable donations.”

“Okay. But how do you know about the time?” Jill raised her eyebrows and crossed her arms before nodding. “Ah. That blabbermouth of an assistant I have that I’m supposedly running ragged. I can’t believe they—”

“It’s not their fault. It just came up.”

“How much time have you been spending with Ash?”

“That’s not important.”

“Oh, I think it’s very important.”

“You’re right, it is, but not right now. We’re talking about you.”

Jill pinched the bridge of her nose and pointed at Sam. “Fine. But we will talk about this. Got it?”

“I got it.”

Jill headed into the living room, collapsing on the couch and holding her head in her hands. “What am I gonna do, Sam?” she asked, her voice cracking.

Sam sat next to her, rubbing her hand in slow circles on Jill’s back. “What do you want to do?”

“I miss her. So much that it hurts sometimes. Nothing has felt right since I fucked everything up.”

“So then tell her that.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“It can be.”

“No. I hurt her so badly. I can’t get the way she looked at me that night out of my head. The pain in her eyes, the disappointment in her voice. I did that to her. I caused that. Me. She didn’t deserve that. And I don’t deserve her. She’s so much better off without me.”

Sam sat on the coffee table in front of Jill and took her hands. “Stop torturing yourself. You deserve happiness too.”

“But—”

“I’m not finished.”

“Sorry,” Jill muttered.

“You have spent your entire life feeling unloved by those who should love you the most. I know it’s easier to push everyone away, but just stop and go talk to her. Yes, you did something incredibly shitty. Own up to it. Fight for her.”

“What if she just doesn’t want me?”

Sam shrugged. “I guess that’s a risk you’ll have to take. But I’ve seen the way she looks at you. I have a good feeling she’s missing you as much as you’re missing her. You won’t know until you talk to her. So get off your ass and do it.”

“I don’t know.”

Sam softly sighed. “Just think about it, okay?”

She nodded.

“Do you want to watch a movie? Or would you rather be alone?”

“I think alone might be best. I need to sort through some things. Try to make sense of the thoughts racing through my mind right now.”

“Okay. Tell any of the negative ones to fuck off.”