HERS! and had an arrow pointing to Chloe. Neither one could have looked prouder.
“Rick took that picture for us.” Chloe snuggled against Justin’s side and said, “I’ll never forget how it felt to sign the papers and buy that car. I had saved every penny for a down payment, and I was terrified to have that much debt, but at the same time, it was exhilarating to have earned the right to have that loan.”
Justin kissed her temple and said, “I know that feeling.”
“Serena and I celebrated with huge ice cream sundaes, and that evening we sat in my car listening to the radio, looking out over the dunes at the water. It’s one of my best memories. She’s been there for all of my big moments.”
Chloe turned the page to a picture of her and Serena standing in front of LOCAL. Serena held a sign that read SHE GOT THE JOB! with an arrow pointing at Chloe. Around the picture, Chloe had written information about the dates she’d volunteered at LOCAL, the people she’d interviewed with, the date she was hired, her start date for work.
“Serena’s bestie, Mira, took that picture for us the day I was hired. I was so nervous even though I’d been volunteering there. When they called to say I got the job, I cried. I had applied to a few places, just to be safe, but my heart had already belonged to the people there.”
“Did that Rogers asshole hire you?” Saying his name was like scratching nails down a chalkboard.
“Yes. I mean, he made the final decision, but I had to pass interviews with everyone—human resources, Alan, Darren Rogers, who is Alan’s father and the CEO of LOCAL, the board of directors. Why?”
Justin’s jaw clenched.
She touched his cheek and said, “I know he rubs you the wrong way, but you’re not going to get all worked up over him right now. Especially when there’s more to see.” She turned the page, showing him pictures of her, Serena, and Mira huddled together for a selfie at Undercover. “The night I was hired, we celebrated so long we closed down the bar. Rick and Drake had to come drive us home.”
“My girl got a little wild, did she?”
“I didn’t drink that much, but I wasn’t going to take any chances in my new car. Not when all my hard work was finally paying off. I was never the kind of girl who partied or got drunk in college. I was always too focused on getting good grades, volunteering, working for spending money. Doing all the things that would help me to achieve a safe, stable future. There were bumps and bruises along the way, a bad decision or two, but I had made it. For the first time ever, I allowed myself one night of sheer, unadulterated fun. I let everything go that night. I laughed and danced, and we talked to everybody in the bar. I didn’t pick up any guys or anything like that. I was just free to have fun, not worrying about what I had to do the next day or anything else. I had a foreseeable future, and it was the future I wanted. It was an amazing feeling. Almost as amazing as this.”
Chloe turned the page to a picture of her standing in front of her cottage holding a SOLD sign, smiling brighter than the sun. Serena stood beside her with an enormous bouquet of balloons, holding a sign that read IT’S HERS! with an arrow pointing to Chloe. Justin scanned her notes written around the picture, telling the story of how she’d seen the house listed almost five years ago and had fallen in love with it at first sight. She turned the page, showing him more celebratory pictures with Serena, Mira, Drake, and Rick. “That was our other wild night. I figured I earned it.”
“You should cut loose like that more often, make up for all the times you missed.”
She wrinkled her nose. “It seems childish now to need to celebrate like that, but I do enjoy going out with the girls when we can find the time.”
“It’s not childish, babe. I’m not talking about drunk driving and reckless behavior. I’m talking about enjoying life and reaping the rewards of all your hard work. Letting all your responsibilities go for a night. It’s good for your soul.”
“I never see you cut loose.”
“Sure you do.”
“When?”
“When I ride. That’s the thing that allows me to let all the stress and