The city was still stretching awake when Chloe locked her apartment door, coffee thermos in hand and determination in her step. She'd promised Olivia she'd be there first thing, and Chloe never broke a promise. Especially not when it came to Olivia.
The morning air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of bagels from the deli on the corner. Chloe tugged her cardigan tighter around herself as she walked, mentally rehearsing the pep talk she'd give. Something about strength, resilience, and maybe a few insults aimed at Daniel Brooks's face just to make Olivia laugh.
She was halfway down 7th Avenue when a voice called her name.
"Chloe? Chloe Bennett?"
Chloe paused, blinking in surprise before turning. Striding toward her was a woman in a pale pink coat, oversized sunglasses perched on her head, and a designer tote swinging from her arm. Recognition clicked instantly.
"Vanessa Carter," Chloe said, her eyebrows arching. "Wow. Haven't seen you in… what, three years?"
"Four," Vanessa corrected with a dazzling smile. She looked exactly the same — polished, effortlessly put-together, like she'd stepped straight out of a glossy magazine spread. They'd once been close, sharing late-night talks during college, but life had tugged them in different directions.
They hugged briefly, the kind of hug that was polite but didn't carry the weight of real closeness anymore.
"I didn't know you were still in the city," Chloe said as they pulled apart.
"Oh, I am," Vanessa said, adjusting her sunglasses. "Actually, I was just heading to see my boyfriend."
"That's nice," Chloe said politely, though she was already calculating how late this run-in might make her. "Anyone I know?"
Vanessa's smile widened, sly and almost conspiratorial. "Daniel Brooks."
Chloe froze. The name hit her like a bucket of cold water. She forced her expression to stay neutral, though her stomach lurched.
"Daniel Brooks?" she echoed, careful to keep her voice even.
"Yes," Vanessa said with a dreamy sigh. "We've been together a while now. He's wonderful, really. Steady, ambitious. Though…" She leaned closer, lowering her voice as if sharing a juicy secret. "He's been struggling a little lately. Can't quite lift the brake, you know? He says it has to do with his ex. A girl he dated four, maybe five years back. Apparently, she broke his heart."
Chloe's chest tightened. Every instinct screamed that Vanessa had no idea who Daniel's ex actually was.
"Really?" Chloe managed, her tone light. "Still hung up after all this time?"
Vanessa rolled her eyes, clearly relishing the drama. "Pathetic, isn't it? I mean, who clings to the past like that? But he insists it's complicated. He never names her, but you can tell it still eats at him. I'm hoping he'll finally let it go now that we're serious."
Chloe's brain spun, but her face remained a picture of calm curiosity. Years of being Olivia's friend had trained her well in masking emotions when necessary.
"Well, I hope it works out for you two," she said smoothly, shifting her thermos to her other hand.
"Oh, I'm sure it will," Vanessa replied breezily. "Anyway, it was so good to see you, Chloe. We should catch up sometime."
"Definitely," Chloe lied with a polite smile.
They parted with another brief hug, Vanessa strutting off in the opposite direction, her heels clicking against the pavement like punctuation marks.
Chloe waited until she was half a block away before letting out a slow, shaky breath.
Daniel Brooks. Still hung up on Olivia.
Her mind replayed Olivia's voice from last night — panicked, raw, saying she couldn't live across from him. And now this? He wasn't just back in New York. He wasn't just Olivia's new neighbor. He was still carrying a torch for her.
And dating someone else at the same time.
"Oh, this is going to be a mess," Chloe muttered under her breath, gripping her thermos tighter.
She quickened her pace, determination hardening with every step. Olivia deserved to know, but Chloe couldn't just dump this on her without care. She'd have to ease into it, be strategic. Protect her friend first.
As the morning sun climbed higher, Chloe spotted Olivia's building at the end of the block. Her pulse picked up again, but this time it wasn't just nerves — it was urgency.
She squared her shoulders, pushing down the swirl of thoughts. First things first: coffee, comfort, and a plan.
But in the back of her mind, Vanessa's words echoed like a warning.
Daniel Brooks hadn't let go.
And Chloe had a sinking feeling life in Olivia Parker's building was about to get a lot more complicated.