Page 105 of February

“Hey,” Monica replied and opened her arms to hug her friend. “It’s busy, huh?”

“We’re in Carnival season. It’s only going to get busier.”

“I thought that was really in March.”

“Starts in February. I’ve learned to love it. We get a crazy number of tourists, yes, but it’s a lot of fun for locals, too.”

“You grew up here, right?”

“I did,” Sophie replied and smiled. “It’s what made it so easy to move back. Don’t get me wrong, I miss New York at times, but I love it here.”

The hostess yelled Sophie’s last name, and they were sat quickly at a small table in the corner that almost butted up against another table for two. It reminded Monica of the cafés she’d spent time in when she’d been in France.

“So, how is it going with the company you’re buying?”

“Oh. Well…that’sinteresting,” Monica said. “But it’s not something I can’t really get into. Arnette is publicly traded, and it’s not a done deal.”

“Shit. Right,” Sophie replied as she looked down at the menu. “But it’s been interesting? Is that why you’re going to be here for longer?”

“Sort of,” she said as she picked up a menu from the holder on the table. “It’s more about something else.”

“Oh?” Sophie asked.

Monica picked something quickly from the menu and put it down. Sophie, apparently, had also made her decision and dropped her menu as well.

“I met someone.”

“Met someone? You mean,someone?” Her friend lifted an eyebrow.

“Yes,” Monica said, laughing. “I haven’t been with anyone since Lily.”

“Then, you’re definitely due,” Sophie replied, leaning over the table. “Someone in New Orleans, right?”

“Yes, which makes things complicated because she lives here, and I live there.”

“You haven’t talked about how that could work? Do youwantit to work?”

“It’s really new,” Monica said as their waiter arrived.

They placed their order for drinks and salads, and the waiter left them alone to continue their conversation.

“So, you don’t know if you want it to continue?”

“I feel like I do. She’s not at all what I expected.” She chuckled. “Honestly, I thought I’d had my shot at love, and I was going to be alone or maybe date a little but not have anything serious. I’m probably taking over for Dad and–”

“Probably? Last we talked, which was, like, a few days ago, you weredefinitelytaking over for him, and likely, soon. Did something change?”

Monica sighed and said, “Not specifically.”

“Okay. Well, the woman you met, doesshewant it to continue?”

“I think so. The way she holds me, Soph…” Monica closed her eyes for a second to picture Bridgette holding her that morning in the hotel room.

“And the sex is amazing, I assume?”

“We haven’t yet,” Monica said.

“Oh. Really? Why not? You only have until you leave, right? What if you decide to do long-distance, but you haven’t done that yet, and she visits you in New York, and it’s bad?”

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