“That’s awfully nice of you. Have you ever left for that long before?” Lena asked.

  “No, I don’t think I’ve left ever.” Summer shrugged. “I don’t think I’ve had a vacation since we started this thing seven years ago.”

  “Summer, you deserve a break. If your brother gets a long one, I’d say you’re due for one yourself.”

  “Maybe, but it’s not a big deal.

  “You say that a lot. That things aren’t a big deal,” Lena said.

  “I do?” Summer’s eyebrows lifted.

  “You do,” Lena confirmed.

  “Um… hi, you’re Summer Taft, right?” A woman stood at the end of their booth and looked down at Summer.

  “Yeah.”

  “I saw you here but didn’t know if I should come over. Can I maybe get you a refill?”

  “No thanks, I’m fine.” Summer looked across the table at Lena. “Right, babe?”

  Lena was taken aback by that, but only for a moment, before she realized what Summer was doing.

  “Right.” Lena looked up.

  “Sorry, you were here with a group earlier, so I didn’t know you two were together.” She started walking backward. “Sorry.”

  Lena and Summer smiled before Summer rolled her eyes at the whole thing.

  “How often does that happen to you?” Lena asked her.

  “Getting hit on?”

  “Yeah.”

  “That wasn’t exactly getting hit on,” Summer began. “That, what she just did, happens a couple of times a week or usually at least once a night if I go out.” She pointed at the woman who had migrated to the bar. “That is what I call hitting on the name and not the person.”

  “You think it’s just because of who you are?” Lena questioned.

  “If someone approaches me with my full name, I generally don’t let them buy me a drink.”

  “Doesn’t that prohibit you from meeting someone you might really like?”

  “Maybe, but I don’t want someone just walking up to me like that. I’d prefer they just ask my name, even if they know it. Maybe that’s weird though.”

  “I can understand, I guess.” Lena lifted her empty glass a few inches off the table and then placed it back down. “Well, I should probably be going. It’s getting late. And I’ve reached my drink limit for the night.”

  “Me too. I have some house searching to do this weekend. I’ll give your friend a call tomorrow to see if he can help,” Summer said.

  “Good. Let me know how it goes.”

  Lena slid out of the booth and stood. Summer did the same, and they were suddenly standing face to face. They were the same height, Lena realized, or at least very near that. Summer’s eyes sparkled a little in the lantern light. The Lantern used actual lanterns as a part of their décor, and many of them hung throughout the room. Lena had to guess that many of the people that hit on Summer weren’t just hitting on her because of her name. The woman was even more attractive up close and in person than she was in pictures Lena had seen online.

  “I will. Thanks for the help. Hopefully, I can find a place soon.”

  “Of course,” Lena replied. She considered something. “I have an idea. I’m still terrible with women and really want to avoid the loud chewers with three kids from now on. You seem to want to avoid a certain group of well, groupies.” Lena said and listened as Summer laughed. “Am I wrong?”

  “No, I’ve just never thought about it like that before.”

  “What if we help each other out? We can go out together one night. Maybe here, or maybe somewhere else, and act as a wing woman for the other. I’ll even go to straight bars for you if you want. I don’t really know how it works if you’re bi and all your friends are lesbians.”

  “We go to Windy’s and BBZ’s sometimes too,” Summer said of the other two bars they frequented. “And I like the idea, but I don’t think we should limit ourselves to just bars.”

  “That’s probably a good idea.” Lena nodded her head to the side to indicate they should start walking out. “Where else do you meet people outside of work and school?”

  “God! Who knows?” Summer questioned as they made their way to the door. “Bookstores, libraries? Is that even where smart people hang out anymore? I’d like a smart person, preferably. Do bookstores still exist?” She laughed as they made their way outside, typed something into her phone, and looked back up at Lena.

  “I think there are still a few around. There’s the farmer’s market downtown. I bet people meet people there,” Lena replied.

  “People meet people at a farmer’s market?” Summer seemed skeptical.

  “I don’t know. It sounded right.” Lena laughed at herself.

  “I just called for my car. We’ll drop you off if you didn’t drive.” Summer nodded toward the street.

  “You don’t have to do that. I can grab an Uber or a cab.”

  “Why?” Summer looked back at her. “My car’s here. Don’t hold it against me. I’m not one of those crazy rich people. I just hate driving in the city.” The car pulled up to the curb and Summer opened the door. “Come on.” She motioned with her free hand for Lena to join her.

  “Okay, but if we’re going in opposite directions, it’s on you,” Lena told her and climbed into the car.

  CHAPTER 3

  Summer had the driver drop Lena off at her house just outside the city after he dropped her off at her apartment. She’d had a good time with everyone. It made the long day seem not that long at all. She’d enjoyed listening to Ember and Eva banter with Hailey and Charlie, and even noticed that she was now more a part of it than before, meaning that the tight group of friends had opened up to her. They now shared their own inside jokes and histories. She smiled at that thought.

  She’d had friends in high school and college but lost touch with practically all of them thanks to the company. She’d always felt like she was missing something in her life. She was missing adult friends. She’d found that with these women, and now there was the new addition of Lena to that group.

  When Summer saw Lena walk into the bar that night, she’d actually considered excusing herself from the table and walking over to wherever she ended up to try to talk to her. Lena had this wavy blonde hair that was at about her shoulders. Her eyes were a color Summer hadn’t ever seen before. They were blue, but not just blue. They were teal, maybe, or something similar. They didn’t look real. They looked almost magical, as if Lena was really a character from a fantasy film and she’d soon reveal superpowers, or her wings would appear. Then, Lena joined their table. Summer found it hard to look away from Lena the entire night, though. It was even more difficult because she also couldn’t exactly look at Emma either. She hated this awkwardness between them. It was juvenile. She knew they needed to address it. She liked Emma. If Emma wasn’t still hung up on that wretched ex-girlfriend, Summer thought they might have had something after that night, but Emma had some things to work through before Summer would even consider that, and she had no clue if Emma was even considering it herself.

  ◆◆◆

  She called Hayden the next day. He was available to meet her for coffee. So after readying herself in her casual hooded sweatshirt and jeans, she headed out to the coffee shop. Hayden was a good-looking guy; Summer had to admit to herself as she walked into the small café and took in the man who stood upon seeing her arrive. He was likely around 6’2 and definitely dressed for a meeting with a potential client, which made Summer feel like maybe she should have dressed a little better herself. He was wearing a gray pinstripe suit with a tailored jacket and a white undershirt with a light blue tie. His hair was between blonde and brown and had been coifed back with gel. His eyes were kind and brown.

  “Miss Taft, I’m Hayden Lewis. It’s nice to meet you.” He held out his hand for her to shake.

  “You too.” She felt vastly under-dressed and definitely wished she’d done something more with her hair other than just pull it back into a lazy ponytail. “Thanks for meeting with me so soon.”

  “Of course.” He motioned for her to sit down first, which she did. He followed and opened the case on his iPad. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to just hear a little about what you’re looking for, take some notes, and if I know of any listings right now that fit, we can look at those on this first.” He motioned to his iPad. “If not, I’ll get to work, send you what I find later, and we can arrange to see the ones you’re interested in.”

  “That sounds good.”

  Summer listed off some of the amenities she had in her Palo Alto house that she’d also like in Chicago. She added a few to the list and made sure to stress that she wanted something in the city and that a condo would be perfect. Hayden nodded and took his notes. They reviewed three listings he thought she might be interested in, and she only wanted to see one in person. They’d go out on Monday afternoon to see it, and he’d keep looking to find what she wanted.

  “What’s making you relocate to Chicago?” Hayden asked as he sipped on his coffee.

  “It makes sense for my business. We have our new office in Detroit too. I’m actually planning to buy something there as well. Do you handle anything outside of the city or do I need to contact someone else for that?”

  “I haven’t worked in Detroit, but I can put some feelers out there for you and at least get you some listings you might be interested in. My office has a sister office in Ann Arbor. That’s only about forty-five minutes away. I can work with them to find you something, I’m sure.”

  “That would be great. Thanks,” Summer replied and finished the coffee. “I should head out. I have some work to do. Thank you for this though.”

  “No problem. It’s a part of the job.” Hayden stood when she stood. “I’ll be in touch, and I’ll see you on Monday.”

  ◆◆◆

  “Hey, Seth,” she greeted her brother.

  “Hey, Sum.”

  “Where are you now?” she asked.

  “Prague.”

  “Prague? Prague is nowhere near Thailand.”

  “I decided to come here on a whim. I’ve never been before. It’s amazing. You should come.”

  “I can’t. I have to run the company you started,” she replied.

  “We started.” For some reason, he felt it important that Summer take credit for starting the business with him. “And no one is stopping you from taking a vacation. You know you’re the boss, right?”

  “Sometimes it doesn’t feel that way. When are you coming back?”

  “I’m going to spend a couple of weeks here. I’ll be back, and before you say anything, I’ve already booked my flight.”

  “That doesn’t mean anything. How many flights have you missed because you decided to stay somewhere longer?”

  “I know I need to get back, Sum. I’ve been traveling a long time. I’m ready to come home too.”

  “Well, there’s something you should know then, before it hits the news on Monday. I’m moving to Chicago.”

  “You’re already in Chicago.”

  “I know. I’m buying a place here and making it my primary residence.”

  “Oh, is stuff really picking up there or are you worried you need more of a presence at the new office?” he asked.

  “I just like it here. I have a good group of friends. I enjoy the people in the office here. Plus, it’s closer to the other office. I’ll still keep my place in Palo Alto, and I’ll go to that office when I need to, but I want to live in Chicago.”

  “Okay, Sum. Whatever you want works for me. Should I move to Chicago?” he asked.

  “If you want to move to Chicago.”

  “I don’t.”

  “Then, don’t move to Chicago, Seth,” she replied with a shake of her head.

  “Then, I won’t. I’ll just crash at your place whenever I’m in town.”

  “I’m getting a one-bedroom house then to avoid that,” she joked.

  “Sure, you are,” he replied sarcastically. “I’ll just crash on the couch then.”

  “I’ll buy the most uncomfortable couch I can find.”

  “And I’ll replace it when you’re out of the house.”

  “I give up.”

  Seth laughed, “Hey, I should go. My friends are ready to head out.”

  “Friends? You’re traveling alone, Seth.”

  “Not anymore. I met these two British guys in Thailand. They’re here with me. We’ve been having some fun.”

  “Picking up girls?”

  She knew her extraverted brother well. While Summer was the one not to use her notoriety, Seth was somehow the opposite and used it whenever it suited him.

  “Sometimes,” he admitted. “But we’re just doing a guy’s thing right now. Anyway, I’ll call you next week, okay?”

  “Have fun. Be safe, Seth. I’ve seen the movie Hostel. People know you’re a rich American. They’d pay millions to kill you.”

  A couple of hours into working, she received an email from Hayden with more listings for her to check out. She put the web page on her smart TV and scrolled through the pictures of the four different condos he recommended. She messaged him back that there were two she was interested in seeing as soon as possible, since they’d just popped up on the market.

  She went back to work for another few minutes before deciding to message Lena a thank you. She texted a quick message and decided to go workout at the apartment’s gym. She dressed and headed downstairs, placing her headphones in her ears and turning the phone’s downloaded music on so she could drown out the other sounds of the world around her. She was exhausted by the end of her workout and ready for a shower. After that, she changed into something she could go grocery shopping in and grabbed her keys to lock up.

  She heard the familiar ping of her cell phone text notification and picked it up. She smiled at Lena’s reply and walked to the corner market where she could pick up a few things she knew she needed. Her phone rang again later as she was preparing a pasta dinner for herself. She gulped when she saw it was Emma Colton calling.

  “Hey.”

  “Hi,” Emma replied.

  “What’s up?” Summer tried to appear casual.

  “I just thought we might want to talk,” Emma said. “We haven’t since that night, and things are weird now.”

  “You noticed, huh?”

  “Yeah, I noticed,” Emma replied with a small laugh. “I don’t want it to be, but it is.”

  “I know. Neither do I,” Summer said. “What are you doing now? I’m cooking pasta. You want to come over for dinner, and we can talk?”

  “I can be there in twenty minutes.”

  “I’ll see you then.”

  Summer boiled the water, moved to the small living room to place the throw blanket back over the couch, and plugged her laptop into the makeshift desk she’d bought and put together herself next to her TV stand. Living in this tiny apartment reminded her of a time when she didn’t have much, and despite the claustrophobic feeling she sometimes had, it was also comforting to her. She hated what her mother’s death had done to her father because she’d loved her father, and that man was gone. He’d been replaced with a pod person who was barely even there. Summer hated that he was still in so much pain, but he’d lost the love of his life, and she couldn’t fault him for missing her. Summer missed her mother too. She’d wished every single day that she could somehow have her back. She wanted to tell her about the company, school, and she wanted to get her advice on the people she dated, like any daughter would, but she couldn’t.

  “Hi,” Emma greeted her while holding a bottle of red wine. “I couldn’t show up empty-handed. Sorry.”

  “You’re apologizing for bringing wine?” Summer lifted an eyebrow. “Come on in.” Summer smiled at her and motioned for Emma to come into the apartment.

  Emma passed her the bottle of wine and glanced around the open space.

  “I already opened that bottle.” Summer pointed to a bottle of red that had been a gift from someone a few months ago, but she couldn’t remember who’d actually done the giving. “We’ll save this one for later.”

  “Okay.”

  Emma and Summer carried bowls to the coffee table together. Summer returned to the kitchen to grab the bottle and two glasses. She poured a generous amount into both glasses, feeling like they could both probably use the alcohol.

  “Should I start or should you?” Summer questioned after moving pasta around in her bowl for a few minutes while watching Emma do the same.

  “I don’t know. I’ve never done this before,” Emma said. “I guess I just wanted to clear the air between us because it feels awkward now. I don’t want it to be.”

  “Neither do I,” Summer said. “I don’t regret what happened. I hope you don’t think that’s why I’ve been avoiding bringing it up. I wouldn’t have left that morning if I didn’t have to for my meeting.”

  “I know. I don’t think that,” Emma replied.

  “What do you think?” Summer asked.

  “That it probably shouldn’t have happened, but it did,” Emma revealed. “I was in a pretty bad place after what happened with Eli. I think I just needed someone to talk to, and you and I got along so well.”

  “And it just happened?”

  “I don’t regret it either, but it probably wasn’t a good idea then.”

  “No, I guess it wasn’t,” Summer said. “I am sorry we haven’t talked about it since, though. That was stupid. We’re adults.”

  “I know.” Emma set her bowl down on the table. She’d yet to take a bite. “But here’s the thing.” She turned to face Summer on the couch. “I do like you. I did then too. I think you’re smart, beautiful, and funny. That’s why it happened. It wasn’t just because I was trying to get my ex out of my system. I want you to know that.”

  “I do, but thank you,” Summer said.

  “Do you think you’d want to go out for real?” Emma asked. “On an actual date?”

  “Oh.” Summer set her bowl down next to Emma’s on the table. She’d yet to drink her wine, and she’d begun to regret that. “Emma, I don’t know.”