Kaylani’s Friday night at the casino takes a turn when a mysterious call from Jordyn—the best friend she hasn’t heard from in four years—shakes up her world. Jordyn’s coming back to Miami, and the past she’s been running from is about to catch up with her. But with tensions rising in her own life, can she face the truth and the people who still have a hold on her?
The Hardrock Casino was one of Kaylani’s favorite pastimes on a Friday night. The slot machines were her weakness. She sat in front of those bright, loud, chiming computers for hours, putting in bet after bet until she got a headache.
Some nights she walked out richer than she was when she entered, and other nights she walked out with absolutely nothing. But on any night, she always had a good time.
She was so caught up in the slots that night, she didn’t realize her phone had gone off a dozen times.
Layton hated when she got wrapped up at the casino, because she forgot all about her phone and answering calls.
Kaylani hated how clingy Layton became once they made their relationship official. Since Jordyn left, she thought about leaving Miami too—moving to a new state to start a new life of her own. But over the years, she had grown to love Layton, and moving on got harder to do.
When she finally checked her phone, she saw texts and calls from Layton, talking shit and accusing her of cheating. But the most pressing notifications were from a number she didn’t recognize.
Whoever it was had called three times and left an urgent text for Kaylani to call back. She thought her kidnapping scandal had finally caught up with her and it was time to pay for her crimes, but when she heard Jordyn’s voice on the other end of the call, a sigh of relief was all she could let out.
“How are you?” Jordyn asked. “I know it’s been a long time.”
“Yeah. Nice of you to finally call.” Kaylani wasted no time expressing her frustration.
“Come on, Kaylani. You know how fucked up I was after everything. I just needed some time to myself to figure out my life.”
Kaylani was pissed at Jordyn for disappearing from the world for four years. She thought after everything they’d been through, Jordyn would have at least kept in touch with her.
“I’m coming to Miami,” Jordyn said, cutting into the silence.
“Great. Maybe the stench of this Miami air will help you remember who your best friend is,” Kaylani replied sharply. “And then you're calling like it's nothing. Like everything's cool,” she scoffed.
After four years of no contact, Kaylani wasn’t sure if she and Jordyn were still friends. She felt like she didn’t know how to have a conversation with her or laugh the way they used to. However, in the midst of it all, she was happy that Jordyn had finally reached out.
“You’re my best friend for life, Kay. I’m sorry I haven’t reached out. I just had to get myself together first. Trust me, when I get there, I’m gonna make up for my lack of communication, and we’ll be exactly how we used to be.”
Kaylani fought hard to contain her feelings of happiness and keep up her angry facade, but it was no match for the love she had for Jordyn.
They’d been best friends since they were teens, and no matter how far either of them went or how much time passed, they were always going to be best friends.
“You lucky I love you,” Kaylani said, finally letting her guard down. “How’s the new life treating you?”
Jordyn let out a heavy sigh as she toggled the self driving mode on her Tesla. She was on her way home to prepare for her trip and wanted someone familiar to talk to before catching a flight to hell.
“The new life is everything I wanted it to be. Everything I deserve it to be.” Jordyn smiled as she took it all in. “I have my business. My home. Got over my PTSD and depression. Everything’s good. What about you?”
Life wasn’t all peaches and cream for Kaylani after Jordyn left. She was so energetically misplaced that she hated to even talk about her life. All she did was work, be a girlfriend to Layton, and play the slots. It was the same boring routine every day.
“Shit, maybe I need to move to Chicago,” Kaylani said. “Shit ain’t been the same since you left.”
“What’s been going on? It ain’t like you to be having bad days.”
“I know, right?” Kaylani sighed. “Things just changed. Layton turned into a jealous control freak who’s always breathing down my neck about some shit and accusing me of cheating. I’m just tired and ready for something new, you know? I hate that I actually grew to care about her ass.”
Jordyn knew heartbreak and betrayal all too well. It was the main reason she never wanted to go back to Miami in the first place.
Mega. Polo. Pauline.
Layton was the last person she expected to switch up on anyone. Then again, she thought Mega was the best man in the world at one point.
“Damn,” she shook her head. “I’m sorry to hear that. Shit always ends up being different the minute you start loving someone.”
“Anyways!” Kaylani quickly changed the subject. “What’s bringing you back home? You and Mega getting back together or something?”
“Girl, hell no. I have something to take care of that I really don’t wanna discuss over the phone. I’m booking my flight tonight. Can you pick me up from the airport tomorrow?”
Kaylani thought about the reaction she would get from Layton and wanted to say she couldn’t. But Jordyn was her girl and nothing had ever come between them. Not relationships, not arguments. So she refused to let her fear of Layton’s jealous rage be the line that finally divided them.
“You know I got you,” she said. “Layton probably gon’ trip when she finds out you’re back and we gon’ be hanging out, but whatever.”
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