“At least, finish the sandwich for me,” Paige encouraged as she ran a hand over Lainey’s shoulders before cupping the back of her neck. “Dana, want me to make you a sandwich?”
“No, I’m okay,” she replied, standing up. “I should get going anyway.”
“I thought you were staying, and we were going to cram into this bed together and watch a movie,” Paige said.
“I think I’ll go home and catch up on some sleep.”
“Want to come back later and watch the ball drop with me?” Paige asked. “I’m sure she’ll be out like a light long before midnight, so maybe come over around dinner. We can all eat together and celebrate your birthday, too.”
“Thanks, but I think I need to be alone tonight. We’ll celebrate when she’s feeling a little better.” Dana pointed at Lainey then and added, “Wake your ass up at midnight to give your fiancée a kiss.”
“I will. But call your girlfriend and apologize for being an idiot.”
“Yeah,” Dana said, giving her sister a soft smile. “Hey, I love you.”
“I know. I love you, too.”
CHAPTER 35
Samara got off the plane and quickly headed toward the baggage claim. Thankfully, Kyla had ordered her a car with a competent driver who was standing there, holding a sign that read, ‘Miss Barber.’ He helped her with her luggage and got it stowed, and when Samara climbed into the car, she was very grateful for her assistant, who must have told the driver to have it at seventy degrees for her. He must have had the air-conditioning on so low on the drive over in order for it to still be at the right temperature once they were back inside after getting her luggage.
“I have the hotel address.”
“Actually, can you take me somewhere else instead?”
“Of course. Where to?” he asked.
After the car had pulled up to the building and the driver had helped her with the bags up to Dana’s apartment, Samara realized she might have made a mistake. She hadn’t called or texted Dana to tell her that she was coming, hoping for a surprise, but since she’d already dismissed the driver, after making sure to add a nice tip to the app for his service, it was too late to do anything about it now. She knocked on the door, swallowing her concerns away, and after several more knocks, she knew Dana wasn’t home.
“She’s probably at Lainey’s, you idiot.”
“Iwas.”
Samara turned around and saw Dana standing there in the hallway, holding her keys.
“Hi,” she said.
“Hi,” Dana said back. “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to surprise you,” she replied with a shoulder shrug.
“I thought you would have been here a few days ago,” Dana said, walking by Samara to unlock the door.
“I know. I want to talk to you about that.”
“It’s okay. I get it,” Dana said as she grabbed the handle of one of Samara’s bags and pulled it inside.
Samara took that as a good thing because Dana could’ve easily slammed the door in her face after telling her that she was mad or that they were over.
“You get what?” she asked as she pulled her other bag inside with her and closed the door behind her.
“The pictures.”
Samara stopped, leaving her roller in the entryway while watching Dana pull her other one toward her bedroom.
“The pictures?” she asked, following her inside.
“I shouldn’t have sent those pictures. I wasn’t thinking about your mom. I’m so sorry, Samara.”
