Now, though, I liked my new sister-in-law. She was warm, friendly, funny, and she and her new husband, Zane, were so in love it could make a girl rethink her anti-forever-love policy.

Two servers delivered our food, including the four newcomers to the group, and conversation flowed at both ends of the table, with Holden having no trouble keeping my parents and their friends engaged, while Hayden and I talked business—Holden’s little sister was sharp and entertaining, and she asked a lot of questions about the hotel. Work, of course, was my comfort zone for topics—much safer than whether Holden and I were going to pop out any kids.

I ignored the little jump in my pulse at the thought of that, because it wasn’t a possibility. I didn’t have kids on my radar and never had. They didn’t go with demanding careers, at least not for me. A woman could do both if she wanted to, but I’d never wanted to. I didn’t want to be the mom who left before her kids were awake to go catch a plane and then FaceTimed them from another part of the world more than she saw them in person, and that’s how it would be if I was at the helm of Marks International.

I was halfway done with my scrambler skillet when Anna Delfico and her friends stood from their table to leave. I’d had one eye on them as well as Magnolia since we’d been seated. I wasn’t sure why. I knew Magnolia wouldn’t attack me when I was ensconced in the Henry family, and Anna and Olivia and their group, like Holden had said the last time I saw them, had never been mean girls. Still, they intimidated me even now, made me feel like a bumbling idiot even from across the room. It was unwarranted, I thought as I glanced down at my designer cross-body bag and clothing that I knew was on trend. On the outside, I wasn’t a bumbling idiot. In business, I wasn’t a bumbling idiot. In Nashville, I could don a mantle of confidence with the best of them. I needed to get over this crap even if I had to fake it till I made it.

I needed to do that ASAP, apparently, because instead of heading to the exit, the four of them made their way toward our group, all smiles and calling out greetings to the Henrys and stopping in the center, opposite Holden and me. My heart was racing like a scared rabbit’s.

“Congratulations, you two,” Anna said with what appeared to be a genuine smile. “Exciting news! And Chloe, it’s really good to see you.”

Holden and I said thank you at the same time, and then I added, once my brain caught up, “You too. It’s been a long time.”