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The invitation was unexpected. Jenna instantly felt bothawkward and shy. It had been years since she’d made a new friend, she thought.Most of the people she worked with in restaurants were guys, and the friends inher life had all been Aaron’s. She certainly hadn’t kept in touch with herfriends from here—her uncomfortable coffee date had proven that.

She wanted to say it was their fault, but she hadn’t called,either. The question was why. Another area that required self-exploration, shetold herself. Why had meeting Aaron and getting involved with him changed her somuch? It was like he was a star in the heavens and she was simply a circlingplanet.

“It wasn’t supposed to be a hard question,” Violet saidquietly. “It’s okay. I’ll see you in the morning.”

Nothing on the other woman’s face gave away what she wasthinking, but Jenna knew she’d hurt her.

“No, wait. I’d love to get a margarita.”

“You don’t have to.”

“I want to. I got caught up in thinking about my ex. Don’t askme how. Sometimes my brain is a scary place.”

“Mine, too.” Violet smiled. “Let’s go.”

* * *

“I swear, if you can figure out what they put in theirnachos, I’ll give you my life savings.” Violet grabbed another chip as shespoke.

Jenna eyed the plate in front of them, then smiled. “How muchdo you have in your savings?”

Violet laughed. “Not much, but there would be gratitude,too.”

“Well, if there’s gratitude, how can I say no?”

“Seriously?” Violet asked. “You could make these?”

“Sure. Re-creating a recipe isn’t that hard.”

“Maybe not for you. I’ve tried a couple of times and I can’t doit.”

“I’ll show you how.”

Violet looked both pleased and surprised. “That’s really niceof you.”

“Hardly. You’re saving my business. I seriously owe you.”

“I’m helping. There’s a difference.”

Not in this case, Jenna thought, but she wasn’t going to push.She didn’t want to make Violet uncomfortable.

She took a sip of her margarita and glanced around the bar. Itwas big and open, with dark wood beams and ceiling fans. There wasn’t a hugecrowd yet, but she saw plenty of people and conversation.

She felt good, she realized. She had a plan to get the store upand running.

“I like all the changes we’ve come up with,” she said, grabbinganother chip. “Now if only I hadn’t screwed up in the first place.”

“You’re really hard on yourself,” Violet said.

“No, I’m...” Jenna pressed her lips together. “Maybe I am. Anold habit.” She thought about how critical she was of herself. “I wish I couldblame my parents, but I can’t.”

“I know your mom’s great.”

“My dad’s just as supportive. I didn’t grow up feeling like Iwas always wrong. I was pretty normal.”

Violet glanced at her. “Tell me what normal is like.”

“You say that like you don’t know.”

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