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“It’s good to see you, too! Come in, come in.”
Dragging my suitcase behind me, I walk into her apartment. I haven’t been here in months––almost an entire year––but it looks the same.
“How was your drive?” she asks.
“It was fine. Long, of course, but I just listened to good music, and it made the trip more enjoyable.”
“Let’s get you a drink,” she says, leading me into her kitchen.
“When will Brianne be here?” The three of us are spending the night at Chelsea’s apartment tonight, and then we’re having a girls day tomorrow. Brunch, pedicures, and then shopping for possible bridesmaids dresses are on the agenda before I go to Stone’s house tomorrow night.
“She’s just getting off work, so she’ll be here soon.”
Brianne works as a hairstylist at a salon in the Tacoma Mall, and Chelsea is a kindergarten teacher. Chelsea’s fiancé is the PE teacher at her school, and that’s how they met. Brianne is single and has no intentions of settling down.
“Are you going to miss this place when you move in with Carson?” I ask as she makes us margaritas. “I mean, you’ve lived here forever.”
“Yeah, I think I will. This has been a great place to live the past five years.” She stirs the contents in my glass, then hands it to me. “But, you know, I’m more excited about living with Carson.”
“What made you decide to move into his loft, anyway?” After she told me their plans for her to move into his place, I never asked why they chose his place over hers.
She takes a sip of her drink, then says, “He has an amazing view of the water from his loft. Plus, it’s a little bigger than mine. It’ll be a good place for us to live a few years before we decide to buy a house.”
“That’s great,” I say, then take another sip of my drink. “I’m so excited for you.”
“Thanks,” she says. “Let’s sit in the living room.”
After we settle on the couch, she asks me to tell her all about Stone, so I do. (Although I know his real name is Alex, it’s easier just to call him Stone since everyone else knows him by that name.) I tell her all about the days we spent together in Seaside, and how quickly our relationship developed. I tell her how much I like him, and how I feel as if I can trust him, which she agrees is huge for me.
“I’m so happy for you,” she says after I finish telling her everything.
“Thanks,” I reply. “It’d be great if you could meet him sometime. I think you’ll like him.”
“Mmm,” she says as she takes another drink. “I actually had an idea I wanted to run by you. What if tomorrow night we go out for dinner and have Carson and Stone meet up with us?”
Although it sounds a little scary to ask Stone to meet my closest friends already, I also love the idea. I want to get my friends’ opinions. If they have any reservations about him, I want to know sooner than later before I get in too deep with Stone.
“That sounds great! I’ll ask Stone if that works for him.”
“I can’t believe you’re seeingtheStone Ryder,” Chelsea says. “He’s been called the next John Grisham! He’s like a celebrity.”
I can feel myself blushing. “I know. It’s crazy, right?”
“How old is he, anyway? He looks young.”
“Twenty-seven. Same as us,” I reply.
“Dang. He got famous fast!”
“Have you read his books? He’s such a good writer.”
She smiles, then turns to reach for something on the side table next to her. When she turns back around, she’s holdingFire and Ice.“I’m about halfway through,” she says. “I’m hooked on it.”
“You’re going to love it,” I tell her. “I finished the book a few days ago, and I can’t stop thinking about it. All I can tell you is that Stone is so damn creative, your mind will be blown.”
Chelsea chuckles as she sets the book back down. “I bet he is… Does he blowyourmind, Olivia?”
She waggles her eyebrows, and I can’t stop myself from laughing.
