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“You didn’t get any of my messages?” he asked incredulously.
“Nope. But listen: the reason I’m calling is that I’m in Seattle and I want to celebrate New Year’s with you.”
“You do?”
“Yes.”
“That’s great, we’re a mixed bunch this year but there’s always room for you.”
“Actually, we’re already a small group of six so we were going to invite some more, and of course you’re the first person I’m calling.”
“But you could all join us,” Christian offered.
“Who exactly is ‘us’?”
“Melody, of course, and her brother Gabriel and his wife Cia. And then there’s my sister Violet and her husband Jake.”
“Oh, so you’re six people too.
“Maybe seven. My sister’s good friend Darren hasn’t decided yet. But we have room and I’m cooking.”
Chloe looked up and spoke to us. “Christian has invited us all to join their party.”
I nodded enthusiastically. I hadn’t seen Violet in a while and I missed her good company. Christian I knew as a cool person and Violet had told me numerous times that he was an incredible cook, so it was really a no-brainer.
Faith smiled and gave a thumbs up, and Logan shrugged as if to say he was okay with anything Faith wanted to do.
“Great, we would love to join your party. It’s going to be me, Faith, and Adam, who you might remember from your birthday party.”
“Adam?”
“Yes, Violet’s date.”
“OhthatAdam. How do you know him?”
Chloe gave me a long glance. “It’s a long story, Christian. I’ll tell you when I see you.”
“Okay, but didn’t you say you were six people?”
“Yes, Faith’s boyfriend Logan and his two brothers are coming too. They’re all Scots.”
“That’s fine. The others will be excited to hear it.”
“Then we’ll see you all in a few days and I’ll bring lots of wine and champagne.”
After Chloe ended the call, she broke into a wide smile and looked around at the three of us. “Are you excited?”
“Aye, my brothers will have bragging rights for a long time back home,” Logan said with a smile.
“It’ll be fun,” Faith added. “I love Violet – she is so sweet.”
“She is,” I agreed and noticed how Chloe’s smile vanished when she made a low comment:
“I guess you would know, since you dated her.”
Faith’s eyes darted between us, followed by another minuscule frown. I remembered Chloe telling me that her sister was studying psychology and figured she was already analyzing the slight tension between Chloe and me. I didn’t have to be a mind-reader to know the burning question on her mind.
?∞?
