“You mean the staged suitor appointments Simms set you up on?” She snorts. “Yeah — those don’t count.”
“Fine,” I mutter, wishing I could steer the subject away from my love life. Unfortunately, I know better — the more I try to avoid talking about it, the harder Chloe will press for details. I sigh. “It’s not like there are many options around here to choose from.” I gesture around the barren courtyard, its snow-covered paths lacking any signs of life — plant or human. “This place is a ghost town.”
“And when was the last time you called Alden?”
I press my lips together.
“Mhmm. I thought as much. I know he’s been calling you. Asking to come visit. Why aren’t you letting him?”
“It’s complicated,” I mutter, Carter’s face flashing through my mind unbidden.
“He’s hot. You’re hot. He’s single. You’re single.” She shrugs. “Seems pretty simple if you ask me.”
“I didn’t.”
“Cranky, cranky! You know, one of these little white pills would do wonders for your disposition.” She waggles her fingers. “Come on, just give it a try.”
“I’m all set.”
With a sigh, she pockets the pills again. “You know where to find me if you change your mind.”
A breeze kicks up, sending a rush of cool air across the terrace. I shiver and pull my jacket a bit tighter around my body. Chloe, dressed only in a thin sweater, pushes abruptly to her feet.
“Come on, let’s go in before we freeze to death. I promise not to tease you about the fact that I know nuns with more exciting sex lives.”
“Youknow nuns?”
“My social circles are wide and varied.”
I roll my eyes as I rise and follow her inside, shutting the glass terrace doors behind us. When I turn, I find her sprawled on my bed — her red hair splayed across the gold duvet, designer heels dangling off the edge as she scrolls through the tablet that controls my suite’s sound, temperature, and light settings.
“Make yourself at home,” I say, voice wry.
She taps the tablet screen and music begins to drift through the bluetooth speakers mounted in the ceiling. I recognize the song from my new playlist — ‘Castle’ by Halsey — and can’t help bobbing my head to the beat as I walk to the bed and plop myself down beside her. For a few moments, we listen in silence.
“Is it because you’re in love with him?” she asks abruptly.
I glance over, stunned by her question. My heart begins to pound. “What?Who?”
“You, pushing Alden away. Is it because you’re secretly in love with that guy Owen? Your childhood friend. The one you don’t see anymore.”
I swallow hard, not sure whether to be relieved or annoyed that she’s so off-base. “No. I’m not in love with Owen.”
“Then why push Alden away? I don’t understand it.”
"Maybe he’s not my type.”
“That’s not possible. Have you seen the guy? He’severyone’stype.”
“Fine! So he’s hot!” I scoff. “That doesn’t mean I’m required to go out with him, or anyone else for that matter.”
“Actually…”
I narrow my eyes at her. “What?”
“Nothing.”
“I know that look. It’s not nothing.”