"Hey girl," Alexa called out, waving me over to their corner of the bustling bar. The scent of alcohol and laughter hung in the air, and I felt a mix of nerves and relief. We had all agreed to meet here—the four of us—so that I could update them on the progress of the debt.
Henry, ever the charmer, grinned and greeted me. "Hey, Miss Samantha Oden," he said, emphasizing my new surname. Alexa must have already filled them in on the details I'd shared with her over the phone.
I rolled my eyes at Henry's theatrics. "Hey, guys," I replied. "And for the record, I haven't lost weight. Just pale."
Connor leaned forward, scrutinizing me. "You sure about that?" he asked. "You look like you've been through the wringer."
"No weight loss," Mai chimed in. "Samantha's always been curvy. But pale? Def
