Kari rolled her eyes as she started singing along to the music.
I watched the city pass by the window and I wondered where Cane was, what he was doing … and where in the world was Simon Powers?
JADA
“That’s it!” I said, reaching over Max’s shoulder and pointing at a little white house with black shutters on a corner lot. It was a cute little house in University Park, an area that Heather raved about. I looked around, feeling like I could like it there.
“Finger out of my face,” Max grumbled and we laughed at him. “I haven’t complained one time, but the Britney Spears marathon put me over the top.”
“You shouldn’t complain at all! You were the one that insisted on coming!” Kari said brightly and I giggled. Max didn’t look as amused as he steered the car into the driveway.
We opened our doors and got out, eager to stretch our legs, as Heather came out of the house, a huge smile on her face.
“Hi!” she shrieked, her eyes glowing. “I’m so excited to see you!” She ran to me and gave me a big hug.
“Thanks for letting me come,” I began, holding her at arm’s length.
“That’s what she said,” Heather said and I laughed. Her sense of humor hadn’t changed at all.
“I’ve missed you.”
We stood in the driveway, the evening sun turning the sky into a web of pinks and purples, introducing each other and catching up on the trip. Kari and Heather had met before and got along really well. I took a deep breath, feeling like maybe things were going in the right direction.
“Hey, not to ruin this little party,” Max said, silencing their chatter, “but I’m starving.”
“Do you all want to go out to eat or do you want to order in? Or I can fix something,” Heather said, raising her eyebrows. “I can bake excellent chocolate chip cookies, but I’ll not guarantee anything else.”
I swallowed hard as memories rushed through me. “Let’s go out,” I said, not wanting to be anywhere near cookie dough.
“I am going to show you the best part of Chicago: deep dish pizza!” Heather said, clapping her hands.
“I knew I was meant to be a Chicagoan!” I laughed as I caught Max’s eye. He flashed me a warning look.
“Do you want to take the rental car?” Max asked, holding the keys tightly.
“No! Are you kidding? We have to take the Metra line and get the full experience! It goes right to Grant Park and it just so happens that my favorite pizza place ever is across the street!”
I smiled at my friends. “Sounds perfect to me. What about Brian? Do you think he’d like to come?”
“Oh, he loves to come,” she smirked.
“Heather! Do you think he’d like to come for pizza?”
She laughed. “I don’t know, but I can ask him!”
“This is a piece of heaven. That’s all there is to it,” I said, leaning back in my chair completely stuffed. “I don’t think I could eat another bite!”
“Heather, you have now ensured that I will be visiting a lot,” Kari laughed. “I’ve never had pizza like this! Does the world not know about Chicago pizza? Why do we not have it in Arizona?”
“You girls and your food,” Max said, shaking his head. “Not that I’m complaining. You just don’t hear women love food like you two.”
I shot him a look. “And your point?”
Max held his hands up. “I didn’t have one!” he said and we all laughed.
“Now I want to show you Grant Park!” Heather said happily, snuggling against Brian. “It’s right across the street and seriously, besides shopping downtown, it’s one of my favorite things about the city.”
“She should really be the Grant Park Ambassador or something,” Brian said. “She tells everyone about it.”
I was happy that Heather had invited him to come to dinner. He was very friendly and seemed to be a decent guy. I knew that he was in a band, but wasn’t prepared for his mohawk when he walked through the door. But any sort of shock from that was tempered by his adorable dimples that appeared when he smiled.
“A park?” Kari asked. “Can I just wait here?”
“It’s not a park like you’re thinking,” Heather explained. “There’s Buckingham Fountain that is the best at dusk—so we should make it for that. And then the bean! You have to see that!”
“Here we go,” Brian muttered. Heather smacked him on the arm.
“Hey! I saw that on TV,” Max said, his interest piqued. “It’s this huge stainless steel piece of art that appears seamless, right?”
“Exactly,” Heather said, obviously happy that Max was interested in her city.
“You’re so hot, yet such a dork,” Kari said, shaking her head.
“Kari!” I laughed. “Be nice.”
“I said he was hot,” Kari said, defending herself.