Abby

The atmosphere shifts as our arms untangle. We’re all a little teary-eyed, but none of us say it. Instead,

Chloe reaches for a tissue from the box on her coffee table, and holds it out for me.

“Well, I didn’t expect this tonight,” Leah says, sniffling.

“Yeah, me neither,” Chloe says, dabbing at her eyes too. She looks at me, her gaze still soft but

punctuated by a new intensity. “But I just have one more thing to say: it can’t always be this easy, Abby.”

“What do you mean?” I ask, bracing myself.

Chloe seems to choose her words carefully as she speaks. “I need to know you’re serious about what you

said. Karl gets one more chance, Abby. One. If he messes up again, and you keep giving him the time of

day, then—”

Enter title…

She doesn’t finish, but she doesn’t need to. “I get it,” I say quietly, locking eyes with her. “And thank you.

Thank you for giving me another chance, too.”

Chloe nods, her lips twitching into a reluctant smile. “Well, someone’s gotta keep you on your toes, right?”

“Speak for yourself,” Leah chimes in, picking up her wine glass from the coffee table. “Keeping both of you

in check is like my full-time job at this point.”

A ripple of laughter goes through us, as if the pressure has been released. We settle into Chloe’s plush

sofas, the soft cushions embracing us like an old friend. Chloe refills our wine glasses, and we toast.

friendship,” Leah says, lifting her glass

it’s messiness,” Chloe

understanding,”

the front door of the restaurant, I feel

metaphorically and literally.

exclaims, throwing her hands up

grins, genuinely happy. “It’s good

jokes with a wink, even though it’s been anything

coil in the air. I glance towards the

a moment, and I can practically

Here it comes.

move that leaves me speechless, Chloe walks up to

then takes her hand, shaking it firmly. They exchange a few inaudible

into his ear. He nods, almost imperceptibly, before breaking away and heading

to the kitchen.

the hell was that?” I ask Chloe

nothing. Just a

contain my grin. “You’re incredible, you

me for

orders, invoices, and brief exchanges

my office door, and I

frame.

a sec?”

“Sure. What’s up?”

paper with a name and phone number scribbled on

Alex, is super interested in covering

him, somewhat surprised. “Thanks, Karl. You didn’t have to do

“Just doing my part. Gotta get you some good press,

pulse races a

the female voice says from

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