Chapter 29: Two of a Kind

For the next few minutes, we just ate.

The food was better than either of us had expected, which probably helped keep the conversation from immediately drifting back into anything too serious. Nicole seemed perfectly content with that, taking her time with her burger while occasionally glancing at me across the table.

I mostly kept eating, enjoying the fact that there wasn't anything I needed to say.

At least, not right away.

Nicole took another bite, chewed for a moment, then looked up at me.

"So..." she said, swallowing. "How's Chloe doing?"

"She's fine."

Nicole nodded, taking another bite before looking at me again. "How did she take everything?"

"Pretty well, actually."

She tilted her head slightly, that little smile on her face saying she wasn't entirely convinced. "You're serious? She took it well?"

"Yeah." I took another bite, chewing before adding, "She even said she's rooting for her future sister-in-law."