“oWwowW” After the kiss Helen couldn’t help but chuckle—after catching her breath of course. “Yes it was amazing and now I can say I know you are a great kisser to.” Helen put a hand on Savannah’s shoulder in good humor, chuckling, “Oh, you weren’t too bad yourself, babe.”
Tommy 
Hey babe, I just wanted to check in on you. Tell you I was thinking about you, and that I can’t wait to see you. Stay safe and remember if you need me… Text or Call me.
Helen bit her lip, staring at the screen as a swirl of thoughts filled her mind. Tommy’s sweet words wrapped around her heart, but the memory of Savannah’s lips pressed against hers lingered, leaving an uncomfortable knot in her stomach.
What was she doing? She had always promised herself that she would never let things become complicated, especially not in the whirlwind of the industry. But here she was, kissing people she just met. Tommy had always been there for her, supporting her dreams while keeping her grounded. Plus… Brazil. That kiss. Ugh. But they hadn’t ever labeled anything… barely talked about it. And maybe that was her fault.
Doing okay! Will do!
She typed to Tommy as Josie started speaking. “Oh wowwww, look at you two. How about you get married already? Oh wait, Hellen already likes Tommy.” Helen felt her heart race as Josie’s teasing words hung in the air, a weighty realization that her secret wasn’t as safe as she thought. Sure, she was dating Dave De Haas publicly—everyone thought that was the narrative she was following. But the truth was far more complicated, and Josie’s playful jab felt like the spotlight blazing down on her hidden feelings. Helen babbled, barely above a whisper, “oh—I—uh, it’s not like that,… I’m actually dating—“ but the Josie’s next words gagged her. "Rayla, would you want Hellen to marry Savannah or Tommy?”
Helen felt her heart drop as Rayla paused, clearly taken aback by the unexpected question. The room seemed to freeze in her eyes, a charged silence washing over Helen, and she could feel a sudden chill creeping up her spine. The light laughter and casual chatter faded into the background, and all she could focus on was the unspoken weight of Rayla’s unfinished thought.
A shiver coursed through her as Savannah intervened, the quickness of the gesture both protective and revealing. “She was saying that Tommy and I have a whole flock of pigeons together,” Savannah said, a forced lightness in her tone, but Helen caught the slight tension in her smile, the way her eyes darted to Rayla in an almost silent plea for her not to disclose anything more. Muffled laughter came from the group, but it felt distant to Helen, as if she were underwater, straining to hear through the surface. What had Rayla meant to say? The way she had paused, searching for answers, left a hollow ache in Helen’s chest. Her mind raced, imagining the implications of what could have been spoken aloud.
“OOH, by the way Savannah, I dare you to… Hmm… Send the last guy you talked to a racy pic and tell us who he is if we know him.” Helen wasn’t completely sure who’s it was, but there was a left over shot between Savannah. Normally, that sounded like a dumb idea to Helen. Unattended shot? No. Tonight? Yes. Helen reached over, swiped the shot, and downed it in one go, the liquid warmth spreading through her as a silent thank you for the boost of courage she suddenly needed.
Savannah, seemingly enthralled by the challenge, quickly pulled out her phone. As her fingers danced over the screen, Helen leaned in, curiosity piqued. But when she caught a glimpse of the screen, her breath caught in her throat. She was mesmerized by the screen—-not the sexy photo of Savannah’s body, but of the contact name at the top. Tommy. Just seeing that name made her heart skip, and suddenly, the atmosphere around her intensified. How come he was being brought up more and more?
Helen felt as if she had been hit by a train again, that familiar mix of excitement and dread washing over her anew. She tried to maintain her composure, glancing between Savannah and the phone, but a tight knot formed in her stomach. “Tommy…,” she whispered under her breath, and it was all she could do not to voice the split thoughts racing through her mind, as Savannah dared Josie back.
Helen nearly choked on her drink at the unexpected twist. The playful banter of the evening suddenly felt different now, like they were hurtling down an unexpected path. “What?!” Helen blurted, laughter bubbling up uncontrollably. She had been oblivious to anyone possibly jealous of her kiss with Sav. At the suddenness of it all, Helen decided to roll with the moment. “I mean, we barely know each other, Josie,” she purred, leaning across the table towards her. “We could get to know each other better,” she shrugged. “Maybe over drinks? Or perhaps just a steamy make-out session first?” She leaned back, faking a dramatic pause, then added with a playful smirk, “Do I collect your number first, or will I just get your lips?”