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Chapter Twenty-Two
Sophie sat at Penelope’s table and took a deep breath. She was back in Chicago. As she and Ryder had driven down Lake Shore Drive, the top to her Porsche down, she’d gazed at the skyline that represented everything she’d always associated with home. Her thoughts were overwhelmingly on how glad she was that Ryder was with her.
After they’d settled into their hotel, they’d headed over to Evan and Penelope’s. The four of them had lunch, and then the boys had gone off to meet Shane and play some sport to blow off steam from the car ride to Chicago, and she got to catch up on her girl time.
Everything was perfect.
Sophie grinned at her friend. “First things first. We need to go shopping right this second. I’m in withdrawal.” She held up her hand and started ticking off her fingers. “I want to go to Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Sephora, and Agent Provocateur. If we still have time, we can cruise down Michigan Avenue.”
Penelope laughed. “Let’s digest a bit and catch up. Then I promise we’ll hit the town and you can spend all your money.”
Sophie rubbed her palms together. “I can’t wait. I miss it so much.”
Penelope jabbed a finger at her. “Hey! I think you miss shopping more than me.”
Sophie shook her head. “Not true. In fairness, I’ve seen you more, and we FaceTimed last week. I also called you two days ago and we talked for forty-five minutes. All we’ve missed by me living in Revival is lunch dates.”
Penelope raised a brow. “True. And look at the benefits you get in return.”
“So true.” The dreamy sigh escaped from her lips before she could stop it.
“Hmmm . . . It’s like that, is it?” Penelope picked up her iced tea. “I’m not sure I’ve ever heard you make such a girly sound.”
Sophie wrinkled her nose. “It’s obnoxious, isn’t it?”
“No, it’s great.” Penelope’s voice took on a serious quality. “He really makes you happy, and that’s a good thing.”
Sophie bit her lip. “It’s like he fits me somehow, you know? And he’s up for anything and everything I want to do. I told him maybe we’d go to Great America on Sunday, and he just laughed and agreed. What kind of man would agree to go to Great America on a weekend just to make me happy?”
Penelope tucked a hand behind her ear. “Not many. Evan wouldn’t.”
“Ha! Evan would so totally do that for you, not that you’d ever do anything crazy like go on a roller coaster.”
All prim and proper, Penelope straightened in her chair. “Thrill rides are overrated.”
“Speak for yourself.” Sophie winked. “I’m sleeping with my own personal thrill ride every night.”
Penelope grinned. “I guess that explains the drive to Agent Provocateur.”
“Duh.” She always had to talk Penelope into buying anything impractical, so she patted her friend’s hand. “I insist you shop too, and Evan can thank me later. We’ll get you something super slutty and completely unlike you to shock him with.”
“I’m not sure Evan can be shocked.”
“You’ll have to test the theory.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Penelope tilted her head to the side. “Have you thought about what you’re going to do?”
“About what?”
Penelope shrugged her shoulder. “About your relationship with Ryder?”
“I don’t want to think about it yet, I just want to enjoy what we have now.”
Penelope slowly nodded. “So you haven’t talked about it?”
By unspoken agreement they didn’t discuss their relationship. It was like once they’d decided they were too invested to walk away, they only lived in the moment, not wanting to think about all the reasons they’d been throwing at each other since they met. Sophie shrugged. “We have time, there’s no hurry.”
“Have you considered staying in Revival?” Penelope’s tone was light, curious.
