The Powers party had finished their desserts, and a few of them were nursing final cocktails. The middle section was down to three occupied tables, and the area closest to the bar had only one couple left. Things were winding down for the evening. Both Cash and I were off at eight and would leave the restaurant in the hands of Riley O’Brien, one of our assistant managers, and Zinnia York, the sous chef.

I loved Henry’s, loved working here, loved the nonstop energy and the people who came and went, but tonight, I was more than ready to resolve some things with Chloe. I took care of the last of my managerial duties, checked in with Riley, then sidled up close to Chloe’s barstool, where it appeared she’d just finished the hummingbird cake and pushed her plate away. Her flash of a smile, when she saw me, was less than convincing and a lot less genuine than when I’d first seen her tonight.

“You okay?” I asked as she buried her head and dug in her purse, presumably to pay for her dinner.

“Ready to get out of here.”

“Was something wrong?” I sat on the next stool, puzzled. Concerned. “If your food wasn’t right—”

“Food was outstanding, especially the cake.” She didn’t glance up at me, and then she darted her gaze past me, to the end of the bar.

A trio of guys I didn’t recognize were on my other side. Farther down, at the last stool on this side and the one at a right angle to it, on the corner, were Anna Delfico and Olivia London, both of whom we’d gone to school with. They came in at least once a week, either together or with other people.

“Chloe?” I looked back at her.

She pulled out a wad of cash, stuffed it in the bill folder, and as Dakota came back by, she slid it forward with an over-friendly smile. “Thank you,” Chloe said, and then she stood on the side opposite from me, pulled her purse strap up on her shoulder, and raised impatient brows at me. “Are you coming with me?”

Confused, I glanced back at the guys at the bar, who were wrapped up in their drinks and the game on the TV behind the bar. Anna and Olivia didn’t appear to notice anyone else in the room either as they were deep in a private discussion.

I caught up to Chloe, as she was already in the entry foyer, nearly to the front door.

“Have a good evening,” Natalie, Kemp’s little sister and also the host on duty for another half hour, said. “Bye, Holden.”

“Night, Nat. You work tomorrow?” I asked.

“I’ve got the day off. I have a physics test Monday.”

“You’ll ace it. Have a good night.”