Page 10 of Tangled Up In You

She slid onto a stool. "I would love to start with coffee."

"You've got it." Chloe filled a mug with coffee and then set it in front of her. "So, where are you living?"

"In the apartment over the store."

"What have you been doing all these years?" Chloe asked curiously.

"A lot of different things. Most recently, I was working for a skin-care company in San Francisco. But it wasn't a job I was going to do forever. When I heard about my inheritance, I thought it was a sign that it was time to make a change. So here I am. Impulsive as ever."

"Well, I'm glad you're still impulsive. When you left us in high school, I was really sad, Molly. You were so much fun. I missed you."

"I missed you, too. You were very nice to me. You brought me into your circle of friends the first day I started school here, and I was always grateful for that."

"I just didn't understand why your mom couldn't wait and let you graduate."

"She could never wait. When it was time to leave, she had to go."

"Are you still close with your mom?"

"I stopped following her around the country two years ago, but we talk often, and she still pops up every few months, usually bringing chaos in her wake."

"She did bring the drama," Chloe admitted. "But she was so beautiful, so free. There was something special about her. Whenever she talked to us about our dreams, our goals, it felt like we could do anything. Anyway, I can't wait for everyone to see you again," Chloe said.

"I heard that Hannah and Gianna are here, but that Keira is in Florida with a baseball player?"

"That's right. Keira doesn't even like sports, but she somehow fell in love with a pro athlete. But Dante is a great guy, so I'm happy for her. Hannah is working as a nurse at the medical center. She was gone for a while and then came back. She married Jake McKenna."

"Wait! Her high-school boyfriend? The one who cheated on her and broke her heart? When I left, he was her sworn enemy."

"That vow lasted ten years," Chloe said. "But when Jake came home a couple of years ago, they finally worked their way past the hatred and back to love. He runs an adventure sports company down by the harbor. Gianna Campbell is also here. She's a graphic designer and does web design. She's married to an architect, Zach Barrington."

"A lot of changes," she murmured.

As a group entered the restaurant, Chloe handed her a menu. "Take a look at this. I'll come back to take your order once I get everyone seated."

"I'm going to need to take it to go."

"No problem. I can wrap anything up for you. And it's on the house."

"You don't have to do that."

"Consider it a welcome home present. Oh, and if you're free tomorrow night, you're coming to a barbecue with me."

"I am free, but—"

"No buts. Everyone will be there that you used to know, and they'll want to see you."

"Then I won't say no."

Chloe smiled. "I'm glad you're back, Molly."

"I don't know if I'm back forever," she said quickly, not sure why she felt the need to say that, but she did. "I need to see what I can do with the store before I decide anything."

"Understood, but I think you're going to want to stay in Whisper Lake. The town is much more sophisticated and bigger than it was when you were here. You're going to love it. There's a lot to do and even some interesting men to meet, if you're single."

"I am single, but I'm not looking for a man. I have the chance to own a business, call my own shots. That's what's exciting to me these days."

"There's nothing that says you can't have it all."

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