Page 55 of The Risks of Reuniting

She blows out a breath and sighs for good measure. "It means there are big feelings there. Girls talk about meaningless stuff all the time, but the stuff that they really care about? Not so much. We hold that stuff tight unless we're with our besties – and I love Chloe, but we're not at that level. So the fact that you're around and obviously jonesing for her, and she says not a word about you? Yeah, that's important."

"So no talk is good news?" I clarify.

"It's great news."

We arrive at the base of the hill to see a sedan with a taxi sign painted across the side, parked and waiting. Three of us will need to share the small back seat, and before I realize what's going on, Rachelle has released my arm and is diving for the front passenger door.

"Shotgun," she calls and gets herself settled in nice and comfy.

Cesar leads Chloe around to the other side and opens the door for her, then gestures for her to enter in front of him. He shoots me a look over the top of the car and I nod, climbing in my side so that she'll end up sitting in the middle between us. Cesar and Rachelle are on this. Somehow we've become a team in search of the same end goal. Operation Make Chloe Love Holt Again is underway. We only have a week to make some serious progress, and I'm not sure my stomach will survive the nerve-fest.

Once again I find my thigh pressed up against Chloe's. Last time this happened I ended up professing my love to her, and I'm not going to lie, it's not my favorite memory. I give directions to the cab driver in Spanish,and once we're under way Rachelle dives right into cheerful chit-chat and questions about where we're off to.

"I hope you guys left some room in your luggage for souvenirs," she sings. "I brought an extra backpack just for that purpose. I will go home with an alpaca blanket and a Christmas nativity set. My mama collects them."

"She collects alpaca blankets?" I ask, my tone teasing.

Rachelle looks over her shoulder. "Nativities, and your joke wasn't as funny as you hoped it would be."

I laugh, causing my shoulder to brush Chloe's, and I hold myself there, liking the contact.

"What about you, Chlo?" I ask, turning just enough to meet her eyes. "Any must-haves?"

She sucks in her lips as she thinks. "Well, I don't have a ton of extra space in my luggage. . . "

"No sweat." I pat her thigh. "I have room and we're both going to Salt Lake. Get a few things."

I see surprise flash through her expression. I'm not sure if it's the thigh touch, the reminder that we're headed the same direction, or the offer to pack-mule her things internationally, but she keeps facing forward and nods as her cheeks pink up.

"Alright. Well, it would be fun to bring back a few things for my parents and brother, Allie, and my cousins," she replies.

"Don't forget about Grandma Sue," I crack. "You don't want to be in the dog house."

Her face splits into a grin. "Good point."

"Your grandma would put you in a dog's house?" Cesar asks, his face scrunched up as he processes.

The rest of us laugh as I hurry to explain the saying in quick Spanish.

"Grandma Sue?" Rachelle questions from the front seat, talking over me to Chloe.

I jump in, though, with, "She's sassy and classy and she will expect a gift." Rachelle raises her eyebrows at the way I'm obviously familiar with Chloe's family, and my stomach dips as I wonder if she's told them about me or not. How did the Hayes family react to our breakup? I'm in danger of going down that rabbit hole when I'm determined to keep it light and so I redirect. "There are a few stalls with some items I think Sue would like . . . assuming she's still into expensive things."

Chloe's eyes are bright with humor. "She's timelessly vain."

It's an old joke. Sue loves nice things, but she's warm and lovely too.

"In fact," I press on, "I could see your mom and cousins, and Allie too, really liking some of the necklaces and earrings." Excitement has my words speeding up. "Maybe a T-shirt for your dad and Gavin?" I ask. "Something about terrible Peruvian plumbing?" I turn slightly to face her. "And Rachelle is right about the blankets. You'll at least need one for yourself."

Chloe looks directly at me and her eyes are so deep brown, and rounded, and she looks . . . I don't know . . . happy? Maybe all the things I'm spouting about her family are reminding her of our connection? If so, I'll keep it up.

"Sounds like we have a plan," she states after a pause.

"Yeah, we do." Her eyes draw me in and I have to wonder if my plan is the same as hers. Does she wish we were alone like I do?

Thirty minutes later we pull up to a curb and I watch as multicolored flags wave in the soft breeze along the top of the walls. There are open-air stalls as far as one can see, with a walkway down the center, all offering colorful items, and I've wanted to share this with Chloe for so long that I don't even know where tobegin.

I pay the driver and we all pile out, our gazes pulled every which way, mine mostly watching Chloe's reaction to it all. She has a soft smile on her face and shakes her head slightly, like she simply can't believe what she's seeing.

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