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“Ahh, a friends to lovers story. Those are always the sweetest. I mean as sweet as a smutty romance novel can make them.”
I laugh at Chloe’s assessment. She’s filled me in on her bookworm status and romance novels are her favorite.
“I’ll think about it,” I reply.
The waiter appears and we place our orders before he gathers the menus and retreats.
“How was work this week? I feel like I didn’t get to talk to you much.”
“Busy. There’s so much to learn, but it’s fun, you know? I love Johnathan, the assistant planner I was assigned to. The other interns are cool, but there is a bit of tension between those of us in the same division. We know that we’re competing for a limited number of job offers at the end of the summer. June is one of the event planning division interns. We share a desk area and she’s nice.”
“I’m glad you’re settling in. I can imagine that the competition for the job offers will be stressful, but you have nothing to worry about. You’re going to kill it and land one of those positions.”
“Thanks. I hope so.” I know it’s going to take more than hope to land a job offer. It’s going to be a ton of work, but I’m excited for the challenge.
“I love that we’re in the same industry. It’ll be fun to have someone to talk to about all the inside news. Griffin is a good listener, but he doesn’t have our passion for weddings, so it’s exciting we’ll have each other,” Emma says, then looks over at Chloe. “Sorry, Chloe.”
Chloe shrugs. “I may not be in the wedding industry but I do have a say in many happily ever afters of the fictional variety.”
“That’s true,” Emma says.
Emma’s excitement is contagious. “And maybe we’ll even be working with the same brides. Hannah mentioned she was going to meet with you about dress options.”
“Yeah, she wants a custom dress and we’ve already started talking about the style. The type of fabric she wants is insanely expensive, which she can afford, but product shortages might make it difficult to get it in time. I had similar issues with getting the lace for Chloe’s dress, but it worked out in the end.”
Chloe sighs dreamily. “I loved my dress. Still obsessed with it. I might wear it around the house just to get more use out of it.”
I laugh.
When the food comes a few minutes later, I start telling them about the true crime podcast that I just started listening to which leads to a slew of other topics including the hot pink pepper spray keychain that I accidentally drop on the floor when I reach into my purse for lip balm. The keychain was part of the collection of women’s personal safety products Griffin got me for graduation.
“Is he that protective of you?” I ask Emma.
“He’s definitely protective, you know, walking on the side closest to the street, and checking in if I’m later than I said I’d be, but he also knows I grew up in the city and am more familiar with my surroundings. You think a pepper spray key chain is being protective?” She motions to Chloe. “Barrett had Chloe’s old apartment building re-done to make it safer.”
Chloe nods. “And demanded I move into his place while it was being done.”
“I think there was also a mouse involved, right?” Emma grimaces.
“Oh, yes, but that was only its first sighting. It’s like Barrett’s presence provoked it.”
I continue to eat my pasta and listen as Emma and Chloe exchange stories about the early days with their husbands. It’s especially fun to hear Emma’s side of the story about her and Griffin. How he’d slept on the floor in her room because she was living with her parents but they needed to pretend their marriage was real by sleeping in the same room.
“That’s why you should give Andrew a chance,” Emma says. “Because you never know how something may turn out.”
“That’s true,” Chloe agrees. “But you also have plenty of time to date, so really you should do whatever makes you happy right now.”
“Hey. A moment ago, I thought you were on Team Andrew?” Emma gives Chloe an exasperated look.
Chloe shakes her head and laughs. “I’m on Team Sophie.”
I point my fork at Chloe and nod my approval. “Preach.”
We finish lunch, Emma gathers her bags and I lead the three of us through the door and out onto the street. I look up and down the street, trying to remember where we are. Just outside the restaurant door, while I’m debating if we need to go east or west, my gaze snags on a black SUV across the street. More importantly the man standing next to it.
Even with traffic speeding past and pedestrians passing in front of me, I can clearly see him.
It’s Hunter.
