Page 138 of Summertime Friends

“I’m on my way to a happy hour at LUXBAR. Chloe and I ran into each other out here,” Natalie replies. I know she’s lying. That restaurant is nowhere near where we are. The walk from here to there alone is something Natalie would never do.

“You’re lying, but whatever.”

She shakes her head, disappointed in my response. If she was hoping for me to forgive her and act like everything was okay, she hoped for the wrong thing. Despite how I feel about my situation with Liam now, it doesn’t change what she did or that she hasn’t shown any remorse.

Chloe chimes in, “I love that place. Make sure you get their Mexican espresso martini. I had it when my mom was in town this spring. She thought it was too much of a kick, but honestly, it could have used more.”

“Thanks, Chlo.” Natalie glances between the two of us. “I guess I’ll see you two later. Have a nice walk,” she says with sadness. She turns around and heads toward the restaurant.

Chloe and I take off walking toward the Chicago Riverwalk. It’s one of our favorite places to people watch. Our usual hot girl walks turn into hot girl people-watching. We’ll make it maybe a mile before we sit down along the river. It also usually includes a glass of wine or two—or a bottle. Natalie is also usually included.

My heart slightly hurts when I think about that. Twenty-two years of friendship gone—but I don’t know if Natalie was ever my friend.

“Have you talked to Seth?” I ask Chloe.

“Absolutely not. He called and left a voicemail the other day, apologizing. The apology was an extended elaboration of what he told me already.”

“Was it not one time?”

“Nope! One drunken night led to a month of hooking up. When he was visiting, I thought it was suspicious that he was on his phone so often. He was texting her.” I noticed that, too.

“Did you call him back?”

“And say what? You’re an asshole and a waste of my time. Nah, he doesn’t deserve a response. We are too old to deal with college-aged bullshit. I blocked his number.” She claps her hand in a done-and-dusted movement. “And before you ask me, yes, I am okay, better than okay. I’m happy and ready to go fishing again.”

“Seems like you baited an English boy?”

Chloe laughs. “Cal? No. Hot, but no. We are providing moral support for each other to deal with your shit. Which speaking of. . . are you ever going to hear her out?” Chloe asks.

“But I want to hear about you and Cal.” I pout.

“You just did.” She pokes me in the shoulder. “I’ve given you two weeks to be a bitch about this, but times up.”

“Didn’t realize I was on the clock for dealing with the betrayal of my longest friend.” Chloe says betrayal is extreme as I keep talking, “It’s not that simple, and you know it.”

“Then what is it? Because to me, it looks like you are willingly losing the love of your life and your best friend. Tell me I’m wrong.”

“They lied. Left out pertinent information.”

“So did you,” Chloe reminds me.

“That was different.”

“How?”

“I didn’t have some mastermind plan.”

We’re outside Tiny Tap when she halts and politely grabs my arm. Chloe turns me toward her.

“Look, Em, you’re hurting, and it’s obvious. Since we became friends, I’ve never seen you like this. You’re a shell of the friend Ilove.” I try to speak, but she puts her hand over my mouth to stop me. “I get it—or at least I’m trying to. Natalie lied, whether she had valid reasons or not, but I think—no, I know this was out of love.”

“Out of love? That’s what you are understanding? If she loved me, why would she let herself fall for him?”

“You can’t control who you fall for,” Chloe points out. I roll my eyes.

“Why would she keep this for a year? Why wouldn’t she tell me, or you, when she got back last summer?”

“She probably thought you were happy with Brandon and had moved on.”

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