Page 59 of Savior
“Then let’s not jinx it, okay?”
She turns onto the main road and risks a glance back at me. “Fine, but I want all the dirty details over lunch.”
“I don’t think so,” I say with a laugh.
“I told you everything when I started dating Gabe!” Chloe shoots me a meaningful look.
I swallow back a laugh. “One thing at a time, okay?”
For the next few hours, Chloe directs the car through the winding streets of Nassau. It’s a small town, so it shouldn’t take long, but Chloe ends up chatting about her family, who’ve always lived here. Then she moves on to her husband Gabe and her step-daughter Emily.
As she talks, I relax into the cool leather seats and let her voice wash over me. Much as I try to admit otherwise, I’ve missed talking to her, and am a little sad when we pull into a small restaurant’s parking lot.
“I didn’t realize how much I missed this place,” she says as she tilts her face to the blue sky and takes a deep breath.
“You don’t come back here often?” I follow her into the restaurant.
“Not as much as I’d like. Ever since this little guy made his presence known, I haven’t had much energy. Besides, the business...” she trails away, her wide eyes coming to mine as the hostess seats us at a table.
I balk, blocking the foot traffic. The hostess glances at me with questions in her impatient eyes.
“I’m sorry,” I say, refusing to sit. “Do you mind seating us at a table facing the front door, please?”
“I—” The hostess catches herself and pastes on a forced smile. “Of course. Please follow me.”
I offer Chloe my arm and a pained look. “I’m sorry, it’s a habit.”
“You don’t have to apologize, Sienna.” Chloe takes her seat at the new table with a perfect view of the front door. Luckily, it’s also located next to the back exit.
We both order drinks from the waiter who appears and disappears a few seconds later.
I sip my ice water as Chloe peruses the menu. “How is the business going?”
Chloe pauses her search, nibbling on her bottom lip. “The business? Oh, it’s going great.” She hesitates and then comes to a decision. “I never thanked you properly for what you did for me.”
“You don’t have to thank me.” I wave away her comment.
Her dark curls swing around her face as she shakes her head. “No, I really do. The travel agency was your baby.”
“Then, I left my baby in very capable hands.”
“You know you can always come back.” Chloe sets her menu to the side and gives me her full attention. “Since you’re back in Florida and everything. I don’t want you to think I’m trying to keep you away from it.”
The waiter comes back and takes our order. Chloe gets two appetizers, an entrée, and orders the desert ahead of time without batting an eye.
When she catches my amused look she smiles, unrepentant. “Eating for two.”
I shake my head, biting back a laugh. “Convenient. I don’t seem to remember any excuses when you ate like this in college.”
“I have a great metabolism.”
As the light mood fades I clear my throat. “I know you aren’t keeping the business from me. I don’t want it, honestly, and I know you’re the only one who will love it as much as I do. I can’t go back there. I thought maybe, with time, but I realized it’s just not what I want anymore. I’m happy here.”
Chloe nods and nibbles a piece of fresh bread from a basket on the center of the table. “I understand. I don’t know if I told you how much I appreciate it, especially when you let me uproot it to live near Gabe.”
“That’s what friends are for.” I try to keep my tone light.
“I’m glad you’re settling in here. You seem happier than I’ve seen you in a long time.”