I take another shuddering breath. Alex takes my hand and holds on tightly.
Something Chloe definitely notices. “I’m glad you two have each other.”
I reach for her with my free hand and pull her in for another hug. The three of us meet for a best friend three-way embrace right in the middle of the sidewalk outside of Reagan National Airport.
“I love you both so disgustingly much.” Chloe says, the first one of us to pull away. She grabs her carry-on and moves quickly toward the entrance, like if she stays any longer, she won’t be able to bring herself to board her plane. But Dominic is already in their new apartment waiting, and Chloe has a brand-new life on the west coast to get to.
“Text me when you land,” I call before she passes through the doors.
“I will,” she says, turning just long enough to blow us a kiss and flash us heart hands before disappearing inside.
I stand there staring at the door, half expecting her to come bursting back through for one last hug.
Alex puts her arm around me. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” I lie.
She tucks me into her side. “Do you want to go get some hot cocoa and visit a bookstore before heading home?”
I nod against her shoulder. “Yes, I do.”
She squeezes me again, making no effort to move.
Chloe leaving is hard. It makes my chest hurt in a different kind of ache.
But Alex staying is like a balm to my splintered heart.
The steam rolls off my scorching hot tea, creating smoke spirals that twist in the winter air. I lean against the banister of my third-floorapartment and pull my cardigan a little tighter over my shoulders. My view overlooks the parking lot, and I watch as someone brushes off their car in an attempt to escape.
The clouds cover the sun, making the overcast sky hazy and hinting at the possibility of a fresh coat of snow. Even though I’m ready for winter to be over, there’s something about snow on Valentine’s Day that’s kind of romantic.
The familiar sound of Betty catches my attention, and I turn in time to see Alex carefully maneuver into one of my two barely plowed parking spots, Tears for Fears blasting loudly from within.
Feeling playful, I scoop a handful of snow off my balcony and launch a lopsided snowball at her back when she steps out of the car.
It misses by a mile.
She looks around, confused, until her gaze lands on me holding back a laugh. “Wow,” she calls out from below. “Good thing you have terrible aim.” She leans back into her car.
When she turns again, my snowball pegs her right in the face.
She freezes, a bouquet of flowers in one hand and a bag of groceries in the other and a face full of dripping snow. She shakes it off and attempts what I believe is a glare. “And to think, I come bearing gifts.”
“Get up here, and I’ll make it up to you,” I promise.
“You better.” She rubs her jacket sleeve across her face, and this time, I know she’s scowling. She marches to the front of the building, and I snag my own set of flowers already in a vase on the counter, along with a wrapped box, and wait for her in the doorway.
“I’m sorry,” I tell her when she makes her way down the hall. Once she reaches my apartment, I produce the flowers from behind my back. “Forgive me?”
“Is this how you plan to make it up to me? I was defenseless.” She puts the grocery bag down just inside my apartment and takes the flowers. She narrows her eyes, but I can see the trace of a smile when she brings the array of roses to her nose.
“I might have another trick up my lingerie for later,” I tease.
“Now we’re talking.” She leans in for a kiss, handing me the bouquet she brought for me. “Happy love day.”
“Happy love day.” I smell one of the peonies and reveal the box I kept hidden behind my back.
Her eyes light up. “Oh, chocolate.”
