2. Chapter 2
two
T hey boarded side by side—a little surprised, though neither said so—when their seat numbers landed them in the same row. Monroe was seated by the window, Chloé settling in beside her.
“Well,” Chloé said as she fastened her seatbelt, “looks like fate enjoys a bit of continuity.”
Monroe smiled, low-key amused. “Or the airline just groups all the solo women together so we don’t scare the businessmen.”
Chloé laughed, soft and genuine. “A thoughtful system.”
As the plane taxied out, they fell into a companionable silence—the kind that didn’t need filling with small talk.
Monroe stared out the window for a while, letting the countryside slip away beneath the clouds as the plane soared into the afternoon sky.
It was Chloé who broke the quiet again, her voice low, almost hesitant.
“Do you love what you do?”
Monroe tilted her head slightly. “That’s not the kind of question I usually get asked on a plane.”
Chloé smiled, unfazed. “Fair enough. But I am curious.”
Monroe thought about it for a second. “I’m an accountant.”
Chloé blinked, then gave an apologetic little wince. “Ah.”
“Exactly,” Monroe said with a dry smile. “It’s not terribly romantic, is it?”
“I’m sure it has its charms.”
“If it does, they’re hidden well.”
Chloé laughed again. “But you’re good at it?”
“I’m very good at it,” Monroe said, a little sharper than she meant to. Then she softened. “It pays the bills. It gives me flexibility. And it keeps me out of trouble.”
“Mm,” Chloé said, tilting her head. “You don’t strike me as someone who causes trouble.”
Monroe gave a small snort. “You haven’t seen my browser history.”
Chloé chuckled. “I’ll take your word for it.”
Monroe glanced at her then. “And you? You actually like your job, don’t you?”
“I do,” Chloé admitted. “But I chose it for love, not logic. I’ve never been very sensible.”
“That sounds a lot more exhausting.”
“Sometimes,” she said with a shrug. “But it’s better than feeling stuck.”
Monroe let her gaze drift back to the clouds. “I wouldn’t say I’m stuck,” she murmured, “just…in a lane. One I know how to drive. It’s comfortable, I guess.”
Chloé turned slightly, studying her. “You could always switch lanes.”
Monroe smiled faintly. “I think I’m past the age for reinvention.”
Chloé’s eyes softened. “There’s no age limit on starting over.”
Monroe met her gaze, a quiet challenge in her eyes. “Maybe not.”
They fell into a peaceful silence.
Then Chloé glanced over with a teasing grin. “You know, for someone who claims to keep out of trouble, you’re dangerously intriguing.”
Monroe raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “Is that your way of keeping a conversation interesting?”
Chloé’s eyes sparkled. “Perhaps.”
Monroe chuckled softly, relaxing a little more into her seat. “Well, I do like a challenge.”
Chloé leant in just slightly, voice just above a whisper. “Good. Because I’m not known for playing it safe.”
Monroe met her gaze, the flicker of a smile lingering. “Now, that sounds like trouble.”
Chloé’s grin deepened. “Maybe that’s exactly what you need.”
Monroe looked out the window again, the clouds drifting past. “Maybe I’m not quite ready for that kind of trouble.”
Chloé’s smile softened, understanding. “Fair enough. But sometimes…the best things happen when you least expect them.”
Monroe glanced back at her, a glimmer of optimism in Chloé’s eyes. “Maybe.”