Then—
“To what do I owe the pleasure?”
Mallory smirked. "What, I can’t just call an old friend?"
A low chuckle. “Mal, you and I both know you don’t call just to check in.”
She grinned, swirling her wine. "Fair." But she didn’t get to the point right away. Instead, she let the moment settle, let herself take in the ease of this conversation. Because for the first time in a long time, Chase didn’t sound like a ghost of himself.
And that? That was something.
“So,” she started, stretching out her legs. “How’s life?”
"Good." Chase said simply.
"Vague. Try again."
Another chuckle. "Life is… fine. Work is busy, the guys are good, the business is steady."
"Okay, and what about you?" she pressed. "The man, not the businessman. Are you happy?"
Chase exhaled, thoughtful. “I’m—better.”
Mallory caught that hesitation. But she didn’t push.
Not yet—
"And your love life?" she asked casually.
Chase scoffed. "Mal—"
"No, no," she interrupted, grinning. "I need to know. You dating anyone?"
"No." He said bluntly.
Mallory narrowed her eyes. "Let me rephrase—have you even tried?"
Chase sighed. "Damn, Mal."
"I mean, c’mon, Montgomery. It’s been a year. Are you telling me you’ve just been sitting around sulking this whole time?"
"I don’t sulk." He chirped back.
"Debatable," she teased.
Chase exhaled, shaking his head. "Look, it’s not that I haven’t been out. I’ve gone places, I’ve met people."
Mallory raised a brow. "And?"
"And… nothing." He said.
"Nothing?" She asked surprisingly.
"Mal—"
"Are you telling me," she cut in, sitting up straighter, "that you haven’t had so much as a one-night stand in a year?"
Silence. Mallory blinked.
