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Chapter twenty-one
Chloe
Staring blankly at my computer screen, I struggle to focus on my work. Thankfully, today, I’m only expected to work a half-day, so I don’t have to struggle for long. Still, I don’t know why I can’t seem to keep my attention on the file of listings I’ve been scrolling through. It’s been a couple of days since the disastrous reunion between Parker and his sister, and I’ve been so busy that I haven’t been able to see him again.
If I’m being honest, I miss him. Maybe I should call him later and see if he’s free to hang out…
The door to the office suddenly opens, and Lauren strolls inside. She stops and looks around, and when she spots me, she grins and hurries over to my little desk.
“Hey, Chloe!” she exclaims. “You’re off at noon, right?”
I nod. “Yep, I am.”
“Want to get lunch?”
“Sure!”
She claps her hands together and says, “Great! I’ll just go sit over there and wait for you.” She points toward the waiting area on the opposite side of the room. I check my phone and see that it’s about fifteen minutes until noon.
“I won’t be long,” I assure her.
Lauren turns, crosses the room, and settles into one of the cushioned chairs. I spend the next fifteen minutes wrapping up as much of my work as I can, and when it’s time to clock out, I don’t hesitate to do so.
Standing, I grab my purse and say, “All right, Lauren. I’m ready.”
She hops up and hurries over to me, hooking her arm through mine. “Great! Want to go to Harry’s? I’m craving clam chowder.”
“Sounds good.”
The restaurant is within walking distance of the real estate office, so we make our way down the sidewalk together. We reach Harry’s and sit at our usual table in the corner by one of the large windows. Lauren orders her clam chowder, one of her usuals when we come here, but when I look through the menu, there isn’t much that actually sounds appealing. It’s weird, because I love this place, but my stomach is feeling off.
In the end, I settle for the club sandwich, though I’m not sure I’ll actually be able to finish it.
As we wait for our food, Lauren says, “Hey, so we haven’t actually had a chance to really talk since my parents’ house.”
I nod, and guilt rushes through me. “I know. I’m sorry. I’ve just been so busy…”
“No, it’s okay, no need to apologize,” she assures me. “Actually, I wanted to apologize to you. I shouldn’t have put you in that situation. That was really awkward for you, I’m sure.”
I wince and shrug. “Well, it wasn’t the most comfortable situation I’ve ever been in.”
“I also wanted to thank you for following Parker,” she continues. “I should have been the one to support him, but I’m glad you stepped in when I didn’t.”
I swallow hard around a sudden lump in my throat. Anxiety bubbles up in my stomach. “Oh, it was nothing. I just knew he needed someone in his corner.”
Lauren gives me a steady look before saying, “And you were willing to be there for him. That was really great of you. Really selfless.”
Crap, the way she’s staring at me and the way she’s talking is starting to make me worry that she knows we went back to Parker’s that night and he screwed my brains out.
I chuckle nervously. “Like I said, it was nothing.”
Thankfully, our food arrives and interrupts the conversation. The waitress sets my sandwich down, then Lauren’s chowder, and leaves us alone again. I pick up my sandwich, but I get a sudden whiff of Lauren’s chowder, and my stomach seems to flip. I set my sandwich back down with a grimace.
Lauren frowns at me. “Are you okay? You got really pale all of a sudden.”
I swallow and murmur, “I’m just feeling a little nauseous. I don’t know, the chowder is kind of setting me off.”
“That’s weird,” Lauren says. “Has it ever bothered you before?”
