Page 18 of Summertime Friends

“How was Denver?” Chloe was visiting her boyfriend, Seth, this past weekend. They met during a previous work trip there.

“Ten out of ten. A peak weekend.” She winks at me, taking a sip out of the metal straw.

I laughed at her dad joke even though it was terrible. But that’s Chloe for you, black-cat personality laced with quick ‘dad-wit.’

“Seth wanted to hike the Rocky Mountains. We spent all day Saturday there, and I swear my legs are still sore from the miles. I think he forgets that my daily walk to work isn’t climbing mountains.”

“You don’t walk to work,” I remind her.

“Right.”

“I’m sure he made up for it later, though.”

“A full. . . leg massage was required as payment. Did you get my picture of the pepperoni pizza I sent you?”

“Yes! I was practically drooling. Had to order pizza for dinner.”

“Beau Jo’s!” She uses her hand to do a chef’s kiss. “I wasn’t sure anything could be better than Lou’s or Parlor, but this beats them both. They make in-house honey—it’s gotta be because of that. I already told Seth he’s required to figure out how to mail a pizza here. My life will never be the same after this pizza.”

“Okay, Miss Dramatic,” I tease her.

“Excuse me, but that title is reserved for Natalie and Natalie only.” Chloe and I both giggle at the comparison.

“You met Seth’s college friends, right?” The question comes out slightly more hesitant than I would have preferred. Chloe was nervous about meeting them leading up to the trip.

“Yeah. They were. . . they were great. A lot of fun. It’s impressive that he’s still close with that many of them. I barely have two friends left from college.”

“And whose fault is that?”

Chloe rolls her eyes at me. “Whatever.”

She dated one of her friend’s boyfriends, whom she had a crush on since freshman year after they had broken up. He made the first move and asked her out. Chloe asked her friend if it was okay—girl code, ya know. The friend said she didn’t care, but she did. Spread rumors about Chloe, calling her a cheater and other terrible names. It isolated her from the group.

“Anyway. I haven’t asked Seth yet, but I’m itching to know if they like me. As much fun as they were, I’m nervous they didn’t,” Chloe gushes on with outlandish reasons why she fears they didn’t.

“Chloe, stop! There is no reason for them not to love you. Seth does, right?”

“Yeahhhhh.” She's quick to the 'I love you’ trigger with people, but Seth even beat her.

“Then don’t worry about them. Seth isn’t a bad judge of character when it comes to the company he keeps, girlfriend included.” I give her a reassuring smile. “When’s the next time you’ll see Seth?”

“Next month in San Diego,” I remember now. “Meeting his parents.” She pauses, swishes her head side to side like the thought in her head. “Do you think we are moving too fast? Everything feels. . . I don’t know, feels. . . perfect.” She appears embarrassed to say that out loud. “But—” That’s why. Chloe releases a large sigh, her whole body molding into the couch. “I don’t want to get my hopes up. I’ve never felt this way before. Remember how you were with that London guy? That’s how it is with Seth. There isthis undeniable attraction and connection. . . but what if it’s only hyped up in my head?”

I remember all of it too well because those feelings aren’t simply memories.

I imagine my friend feeling for someone the way I felt about him. It makes me happy thinking she’s found someone, but it also makes me protective. If she knew the truth, would she say it was the same? How could she when, at one point, Liam and I were a supernova about to explode? Instead of creating our own galaxy, we collapsed into a black hole.

And now that he’s back, all of those emotions have me like a dog. Searching for the bone that they buried in the backyard. Liam dug himself into me, and I can’t remember where or how to get him out. It’s there, a part of me forever now.

My heart squeezes. Eyes go soft.

I set my mug on the coffee table right before a small tremble ripples through my hands. Today would be the day I spill on my white blouse.

Chloe recognizes the expression on my face. Before I can respond, she cuts in. “Em. Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to bring him up.”

“This isn’t about me. I’m fine.”I’m not fine,but now’s not the time to monopolize the conversation. “Do you think it’s going too fast?”

“I don’t know.” She plays with a string on her sleeveless blazer.

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