TWENTY FIVE

The next morning, Chloe showed up at their apartment with her dark tresses pulled back into a tight pony tail, which contrasted with the form-fitting blue jeans and light pink cashmere sweater she wore. Alecia showed her to the kitchen, where she gathered the plates filled with the remnants of the pancakes she had made earlier. Trina sat at the table, fumbling with a napkin, her blue eyes wavering, probably remembering last night. The breakfast had been strained with Ryder not saying a word, but chewing his food slowly and scrolling through the news on his iPad while she and her sister chit-chatted about random topics, which at the moment she couldn’t recall.

After he left for work, Alecia reached for a cup, thinking to pour Chloe some of the hazelnut brew in the coffeepot.

Chloe laid a hand on her arm. “Ally, how are you?”

Alecia stilled and turned to look at her sister-in-law, noticing the lightness in her eyes.

“I’m fine,” she said.<