Love Letters Read Free Page B

think he came ba –”
    “ Oh, Chloe! Get real.” Nicole threw up her hands. “Wake up. That was thirteen years ago. You were eleven, for heaven’s sake.”
    Chloe fell silent. Of course Nicole was right, but what if …?
    “ Tell me how he looks. Does he still have the same heartthrob boyish face?” Nicole asked, despite all her bluster.
    He hasn’t changed. Take that back, he’s amazing. “He looks pretty much the same except he’s much taller now with long hair.”
    “ I bet he’s gorgeous, and you’re just afraid to tell me.”
    Chloe didn’t answer.
    “ So what did he say?” Nicole asked, looking at herself from side to side in the mirror.
    “ He manages the surf shop at the end of Main Street. His brother is competing in the Maverick competition this March. You remember Phil, don’t you?”
    “ Phil Goldman? You mean he’s the one competing? I’d heard the name, but never put the two together,” Nicole said.
    “ I said the same thing. Phil and Josh opened Surfing Buddies last week.”
    “ Wait ‘til I tell Matt that Josh is back. He’ll be happy to see Josh. He was Matt’s best friend growing up.”
    Chloe thought for a moment. She had dated Josh the same time that Nicole had started dating Matt. Nicole and Matt had dated for thirteen years, and they seemed very happy. After Josh left, Chloe had one boyfriend named Adam, which lasted two months. She had dated somebody when she was in college, but that hadn’t lasted. Then two years ago she had met Richard, the only serious boyfriend after Josh.
    Nicole grabbed her purse then they left.
    Chloe was running late. “Who’s driving?”
    “ You are,” Nicole said, following her down the stairs.
    They got in the Jetta and headed for the first stop, the Ritz Hotel. As they entered, Chloe asked Nicole to wait for her by the table in the lobby, while she spoke to the manager about the menu, fees, date and time.
    “ Do you realize how long you took?” Nicole said when Chloe returned to the table nearly an hour later. “I already drank four martinis and I’m buzzed.”
    “ Will you relax? I got all the information I need and now I have to decide on my guest list and the food. I reserved the date for June 15 th, which is a Saturday, at four p.m. I want my guests to be able to watch the sunset while celebrating,” Chloe said, admiring the ocean view.
    “ Whatever,” Nicole said, obviously feeling no pain after the four martinis. “You seem to have it all figured out.”
    “ C’mon, Nic. At least I have one of my tasks down. What do you think I should serve: braised beef or grilled chicken?”
    “ How about a martini,” Nicole said, her face flushed and her eyes glazed.
    “ There will be lots of martinis, but you better stay sober because you’ll be doing our makeup, including my mother’s.”
    Nicole laughed. “You’ve spoken to Suzanne?”
    “ Not yet. That’s last on my list,” Chloe said, looking down at what she had written.
    Nicole raised her perfectly waxed eyebrows. “Suzanne will make sure she’s the fairest of all.”
    “ She better not. This is my special day, not hers,” Chloe said, remembering her childhood. Mom hosted parties at home for Dad’s work and for their friends and often commented about how tacky the wives of Dad’s employees dressed.
    Suzanne, on the other hand, would always dress with matching purse and shoes. She made sure her nails were neatly manicured, her hair freshly blow-dried, and her makeup perfect. At times, she seemed overdressed for the occasion, but she always said, “It’s better to be overdressed than underdressed.” Chloe had to admit, she had learned a lot about quality back then.
    “ If you buy a cheap purse,” her mother had insisted, “you’ll end up spending more because it doesn’t last long. Better to buy an expensive one that you’re sure will last a lifetime.” Mom’s goal was to be number one all the time.
    Nicole patted Chloe’s arm. “Did you hear what I