Inner Circle

n't entirely her fault. Her day had been a whirlwind of phone calls, last-minute emails, and a nerve-wracking meeting with the curator at the Ainsley Art Museum. She'd been

d paint-streaked jeans and oversized sweaters to the fitted blazer she'd reluctantly donned for the occasion.

re seated in a booth near the stage, laughing over what looked like colorful cocktails topped with fresh fruit. Maya, ever poised, lo

how up!" Jasmine called

s," Maya added with a smirk

't believe the day I've had." She slid into the booth and let out a long

mine asked, leaning i

w I've been trying to get my work into the Ainsley. Today was my big meeting with the curator. And let me tell you, he had a lot of opinio

-speak for, 'We love it, but we're afraid to take

e end of the week. I don't know what more I can do to

r hand. "You'll get it, Chantel. Your work is too

f gratitude. Her friends were always her biggest supporters, eve

other reason?" Maya's eyes sparkled with curi

re supposed to have a coffee date but I stood him up because I wasn't feeling it after the meeting. The

same Caleb you claim you don't like? Sounds like

ith before. He's grounded but not boring. And he actually listens, y

en does a good guy freak you out?

dn't expect this. I've always been the one who keeps things light, no strings atta

someone in. You can still be independent, Chantel. You don't have t

e had spent so much time clinging to her independence, convinced that commitment wou

her lips. "Maybe it's okay to let him in a little. I just need t

figuring it out-one messy,

bright. "And to us, for alway

she knew that whatever happened next-with Caleb, with her career, with everything-she'd be okay. Because she had friends who un