SAMANTHA’S POV

The drive from Java Inc to the house I'd once shared with Valerie was ten minutes– I'd almost raced down to her house, partly because I missed her and knowing who Lucas was, he could show up in front of her door and whisk me away.

Thinking about it alone made my chest flicker with a sense of belonging. I pulled up in the garage after beeping on the doorbell, it swung open.

"Hey–" my greeting was swallowed by an overjoyous Valerie who hugged me as soon as she opened the door.

My goodness. I didn't realize I'd miss her so much until now.

"You better let go of me. Don't let the neighbors think I abandoned you," I chuckled.

Valerie rolled her eyes playfully, "Oh please, not like I care about the neighbors. Come on in…come in," she said, pulling me by the hand into the living room, it was just like I'd left it. Perhaps a little change here and there but overall the warmth of being at home was there embedded in the walls and atmosphere of the house.

I stopped in my tracks, closed my eyes an