The countdown is on. 10 days left until Matt and his mom are back in Alabama. Not a whole lot of time, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. Which, at this point in time, includes stalking Mr. Purdy's minivan to a ritzy country club with an unlicensed driver.

"Jeez, Teddy, slow down, will ya? You're gonna get us all arrested," Whitney says.

"Do you want me to stay on his tail or not?"

"Obviously," Whitney says. "But you could be a little bit more inconspicuous. He's in a minivan for Chrissakse."

"Hold your horses, see, we're almost there," Teddy says and points to Le Chalet just within our reach.

Mr. Purdy turns on his blinker and gently makes a left turn. Teddy though, in true Teddy fashion, absolutely whips it at the last possible second, practically putting us on two wheels.

"Omg, we're neve gonna get a job here in this hillbilly mobile," Whitney mutters.

"I'm the only one who knows how to drive here, ain't I?"

"That's a pretty loose definition."

"You can drop off us here," Bridgette says, completely ignoring the nonsense between her sister and loving boyfriend.

Teddy does as he's told and the three of us hop out right at the steps of the main building. Looking at it now, knowing what I know about Miss Chloe, I will admit, it is seriously beautiful. Like, wow. Quintessential old southern money. And let me tell you, it is most certainly not a chalet. That would imply it's small and quaint and this place is anything but.

"Okay, I don't want to say this, but I think we may be in Heaven," Bridgette says.

"Seriously," Whitney agrees. "This is like, next level rich girl vibes."

"And to think Miss Chloe owns this place."

"It's..." I start to say, but I don't want to admit it.

It won't say it out loud, but it is...it's impressive. I mean, to imagine the work and savvy it takes to maintain this level of beauty and manage a place like this. The restaurant, the pool, the golf course, the ballroom, it's all hers. She has responsibility over all of it. She must be...

No, I stop myself. We don't like Miss Chloe, remember? She's the bad guy here.

"Okay, enough gawking, girls. Let's get to work. Kiersten, you check out the pro shop, Bridgette you check out the restaurant, and I'll check the pool. One of them has to hire us, right?"

"Right, we got this," Bridgette says. "Let's get to it ladies."

💚

I weave my way through gardens to the pro shop. As I'm closing in on the golf course, I spot Mr. Purdy and Drew walking towards the back nine. I quickly duck behind a peony bush so I don't get caught. They keep walking, not suspecting a thing. Feeling a bit bolder, I peak through the leaves for any signs of Miss Chloe.

Negative.

Okay good, I think. I'm in the clear. I relax a bit, stand up straight, wait until Mr. Purdy and Drew are out of sight, and emerge from the bushes feeling confident in my expert spy skills.

But, my confidence quickly shoots out of my body when I take one step and boom, guess who it is. Miss Chloe.

God, I hate her perfect little golf outfits. They're so freaking cute.

"Oh hello," she says, seeming just as surprised to see me as I am to see her.

She doesn't recognize me at first, but it doesn't take long for it to sink in.

"You know Schaffer," she says. "Kiersten, right?"

"Yes, that would be me."

"I was just on my way to meet them. Do you need a ride?"

"Oh no, I'm good."

That's just what I need. Oh, hey Mr. Purdy. What am I doing here? Oh, you know, just spying on you and your romantic life.

"You sure? It's no trouble."

"No, no, I'm not," I say, struggling to come up with a lie to explain what I'm doing here. "I'm not here to see them. I, uh..."

I wrack my brain, but I've got nothing. I start to think, you know, sometimes the best lie is the truth.

"My friends and I came here to apply for a job."

"Oh, really? Omg, that's amazing. I tell you, it's impossible to find good help these days. You know what, let me finish up with Drew and Schaffer and I'll meet you for lunch with our restaurant manager, Liza. She's the best. You're gonna love her."

Before I get a chance to respond, Miss Chloe pulls out her cell phone and shoots off a text.

"There, done. We'll meet you at 12?"

"Oh, um," I say, honestly a bit confused by the whole exchange.

She's going to call in a favor and treat me to lunch, just like that? That's so...kind of her. And I mean, setting up lunch and making a hiring decision in a second flat? Not gonna lie, kinda a boss move.

"Yes, that would be awesome. Thank you."

"Of course," she says, like it's no big deal. "And feel free to hang out and explore the grounds while you wait. Any friend of Drew and Schaffer is a friend of mine."

She gives me a little nudge and a warm, comforting smile. I hate it, I do, but I'm hit with a sudden surge of familiarity. Like, I don't have a big sister, but with that smile, I imagine that's exactly how it feels. She's a girl's girl for sure.

Oh God, do I...do I like Miss Chloe?

Ugh. This lunch better suck.

💚

It's lobster rolls. Our lunch is lobster rolls. Imported from Maine. And let me tell you, they are freaking delicious. I have never felt so bougie in my entire life.

"Are you girls enjoying lunch?"

"Omg, yes," Whitney says eagerly without hesitating.

"I hear ya," Liza says with a laugh. "Chef Kellis is top of the line. That girl could turn a rubber tire into a 5-star dessert."

"There's dessert?" Whitney says just as eagerly, completely losing any sense of decorum.

Bridgette kicks Whit under the table and sharply whispers, we're on a job interview, remember? But Liza doesn't seem to mind at all. In fact, she seems to relate.

"Of course! That's the best part," Liza says with a wink. "Well, that and the wine. But you girls are too young for that. Oh, there she is!"

"Sorry," Miss Chloe says, quickly shuffling into the table. "Last lesson went long."

"Would that be Drew and Schaffer by chance?"

Liza smiles slyly while Miss Chloe shoots her a look. Whit, Bridgette, and I exchange glances. So, we're not crazy. This is a thing.

"Yes," Miss Chloe says, trying to keep her composure under her friend's light-hearted teasing. "It was."

"Will they be joining us for lunch?"

"I didn't ask. I treat all my clients equally."

Liza doesn't say anything, but I can see it written all over her face, sure you do. Miss Chloe sees it too, and although it's very slight, I notice the tiniest bit of a knowing smile hiding behind her glass as she brings it to her lips.

Yep. Definitely a thing.

"These are his son's friends by the way," Miss Chloe scolds playfully. "Sorry, she's usually much more professional than this."

"That's okay," Whitney quickly pipes up. If it's one thing Whitney excels at, it's gossip. "We love a little girl talk."

"I agree," Liza, who I'm now realizing is more less a grown-up, sophisticated version of Whitney, says with a raise of her Pinot Grigio. "That's what we're all about here. Over 60% of our staff are women. A good portion of which are in leadership positions. All thanks to Chloe."

Chloe blushes and tucks her hair behind her ear in a show of humility.

"It's a team effort. I wouldn't be anywhere without the support of my colleagues. Tell me," she says, deliberately shifting the focus away from herself. "What interests you?"

Whitney, Bridgette, and I look to each other, none of us wanting to go first. I'm kind of hoping that Whitney will be the brave one, but for the first time I think in history, Whitney decides to be the quiet one. So, it's up to me I guess.

"I like to bake," I say with a little shrug.

Liza and Miss Chloe nod to each other, intrigued. Without really speaking, the two of them seem to come up with a plan.

"The club house cafe?" Liza says out loud what Miss Chloe is thinking.

"Definitely," she agrees. "What about you two?"

Whitney and Bridgette stay quiet for a moment before Bridgette bravely pipes up.

"We cheerlead."

"Ooo, athletes," Miss Chloe says. "I like that. Exactly what we need for our lifeguards. What do you think?"

Whitney and Bridgette turn to each other and both shrug in that "sure why not" kind of way. I'm sure of it that Whitney and Bridgette have never thought to be lifeguards, but if the opportunity's there, I mean?

"Great, it's settled then," Liza says. "Now for the fun part."

Liza flags down a server and orders cheesecake and strawberry daiquiris (virgin for us of course) for the table.

It feels wrong, clinking glasses with our sworn mortal enemy. But also, I don't know, Miss Chloe...kind of rocks? Omg, am I team Chloffer?

I think back to that day, the incident, and replay it in my head. I feel that rush, that surge, of smiling at someone and having them smile back. That warm, fuzzy feeling that grows inside your chest just by standing next to them. That itch to grab their hand and hold them tight. Doesn't Mr. Purdy deserve that?

I place Miss Chloe and Emily side by side and think about what they both represent, what they've given him. Let's see, Emily, heartache, abandonment, uncertainty, insecurity, pain. Nothing but pain. Miss Chloe, a new beginning, appreciation, hope and maybe, just maybe, the love and life he's more than earned a right to.

Yep, it's official. I'm team Chloffer.

Omg, Matt's gonna kill me.