Part 22 (1/2)

”I... may have told her that Trixie was still around.” Her smile vanished into thin air, replaced with a lopsided frown. It was clear. She wasn't thrilled. This wasn't the pouty look she normally put on when she was upset. This was a full frown, anger rooted deep. ”s.h.i.+t, Chloe, I had to tell her something,” I said, backing myself up. ”She asked me if I was still seeing Trixie, and I said yes, just so she'd back off. She knows me well. She knows I'm not going to 'seem' happier unless there's a reason behind it.”

”But... why Trixie? Why couldn't you just say you met someone else? Someone new?”

”Because she would have asked me who that person was. Chloe, she asked me if I'd seen you since you'd gotten back. I said yes, and somehow she went straight into telling me I was acting happier. I thought surely she had a clue-that's one sneaky, smart-a.s.s girl-but I backed it up with the first thing that came to mind. Saying I was still with Trixie.” I tried reaching for her, but she pulled away, leaning back. Climbing off the bed, her feet landed on the floor, and she stood tall with her eyes trained on me.

”Theo, I just can't believe...” Her sentence fell short. She didn't say anything more. There was much more she could have said. She knew I couldn't bring her name up around Izzy. That would have definitely had her thinking.

”Chloe.” Her name came out in a groan as she backed away, going for her clothes. She slipped out of my T-s.h.i.+rt, picking up her dress and bra. After hooking the bra, she slid into her dress, and I sat up. ”Chloe, what else was I supposed to say?”

”You didn't have to say Trixie,” she muttered hurriedly, eyes avoiding mine as she picked up her bracelets off the nightstand.

”Well what the h.e.l.l else was I supposed to say? I never told Izzy I was going to break it off with her.”

”Okay.” Her response was simple, and for some reason, it got under my skin. I hopped off the bed, yanking on my briefs. I stood before her, but she spun for the door while struggling to latch her bracelet around her wrist. I caught her before she could go, gripping her face in my hands.

”Chloe, stop.”

”I need to get home.” She still avoided my line of sight, clutching the bracelets in tight fists.

”Stay with me a little longer,” I pleaded, and she finally looked up. I expected sympathy, understanding, but no. This clearly bothered her. More than I thought. So much that she started talking crazy-bringing s.h.i.+t up that had nothing to do with the previous debate.

f.u.c.king women, I swear.

”Theo... are you kidding?” she scoffed. ”Don't you see? I'm not even supposed to be here! I wasn't supposed to be sleeping with you in your bed. Trixie is supposed to be there, according to you and Izzy.” She shook her head and wriggled out of my grip. ”It's just... it's not fair. It not fair to me. All of this... it's just so f.u.c.king wrong.” She backed away but looked at me once more. ”We're supposed to be better than this.”

My next argument, I couldn't help. The words ran right of me. ”Chloe, what did we agree upon when this first started? Huh?” I demanded. ”You're getting too emotional and unstable about this-”

I realized instantly that I shouldn't have said it. It p.i.s.sed her off even more. Her cheeks tinged red, brows furrowed, and in less than three seconds, she was out the door, zooming down the stairs.

I hurried after her, calling her name, but she didn't dare stop. She slipped into her flip-flops and fled my home as if it were a crime scene, rus.h.i.+ng across the street to safety.

I stopped at my porch. It was daytime. Neighbors were surely out, and all of them were nosey f.u.c.ks. I couldn't be seen running after her like this-s.h.i.+rtless, in only my f.u.c.king briefs. ”f.u.c.k!” I barked before walking back inside and slamming the door behind me when she was no longer in sight.

f.u.c.k me. Why would I say that s.h.i.+t to her face? As right as I was, it was wrong to rub it in like that. She obviously cared about me. She was sensitive, and I was supposed to be the one to make sure her emotions were never tampered with.

”d.a.m.n it,” I growled beneath my breath. I gripped the edges of the marble counter when I entered the kitchen, staring forward at the sunlight that beamed through the patio door, sparking my polished floors.

I was right and wrong, like every man on the planet when it came to women.

Her dinner plate from last night sat in front of me. No trace of food was visible, but the white china reminded me of her. Her nakedness and the soul that ignited mine and turned it into a furious blaze all night long.

I was stupid, with only one thought playing ping-pong in mind.

I hope she comes back to me.

EIGHTEEN.

I rushed across the street without so much as a glance back, barging through the door that led straight to my kitchen. I dropped my keys on the first counter I came across, pinching the bridge of my nose with blunt pressure.

Tears were coming.

I thought I could fight them.

I was wrong.

I covered my face with my hands, swiping aggravated wetness away before anyone came down and spotted me. I dropped my hands, but when I happened to look to my left, someone unfamiliar sat at the counter with a cup of coffee in hand.

He had a natural tan complexion, similar to mine, eyes just as soft as someone clearly related to him-grey and filled with curiosity. He looked tall, with a broad chest and wicked, chiseled features. Dark, curly hair that was cropped and cut perfectly around the edges. Professional. Clean. His looks were sort of intimidating, but there was a kindness that orbited around him, proving I couldn't judge on sight.

He was just about to take a quick sip of the brew, but I was sure my entrance caught his full attention. I gasped, pressing a hand to the heart of my chest. ”OhmyG.o.d.” The words flew out my mouth like a torpedo. My face turned as red as a cherry.

He put on a smile that seemed genuine and somewhat t.i.tillated. He was concerned, but by the way his eyes roamed my body, he clearly liked what he saw. I ignored his ogling. I'd become used to it after spending three years in a college full of h.o.r.n.y, young men.

This guy looked like he'd just graduated college, not the age of twenty-nine like Margie had mentioned. He must have landed his teaching job very young. Lucky man. He had a youthful yet attractive face. I pulled my s.h.i.+t together, clearing the remainder of tears from my face and waving in his direction.

”Hi,” he said then mashed his lips together. He studied my wet eyes. The urge to ask what was wrong with me was most likely on the edge of his tongue, but I was glad he didn't bother.

”Uh. Hey. Sorry.” I swallowed hard. ”You must be Sterling.”

”Yes. And you must be Chloe.”

”Yep.” I felt super awkward and really stupid.

”Hmm.” He made a noise, almost like a small laugh. ”Great to meet you, Chloe.”

He started to stand from the bar stool with his hand stuck out, but I fidgeted and he came to a swift halt. I wasn't up for handshakes or touching. He caught the hint, taking his seat and picking up his coffee again. He looked away from me. ”I should go up to my room, let you finish your breakfast.”

”Oh yeah. Please, go ahead. Don't mind me.” He encouraged me to go. I was glad he didn't make me feel any more pathetic. I collected myself, told Sterling it was nice to meet him, and then scampered out of the kitchen, hurrying up the stairs and into my bedroom. I could hear Margie in my dad's room, arguing with him about getting dressed.

I didn't have the time or patience to deal with that right now. I decided it was best to allow Margie to handle her job alone. After all, it was her job. Even if the son she hadn't seen in three years was drinking coffee alone downstairs, most likely awaiting her presence.

Poor boy.

I felt sorry that he had to witness my outrage as well as listen to my father's stubbornness. I had no doubt he wondered where Mom was. I wouldn't have been surprised if he'd considered the Knight family a little dysfunctional.

Entering my room, I shut and locked my door behind me but hurried to the window, almost tripping over my blue rug just to make it across. His window was open, the curtains pulled aside, but he was nowhere in sight.

G.o.d, he was a jerk.

I couldn't believe he'd said that to me. Me? The girl that made him feel everything. I didn't mean to boast, but he made me feel alive too. And to say that right to my face? And then use Trixie's hoe-a.s.s as his excuse?

No. I just couldn't deal.

Why did it have to be this way? Why couldn't things just be simple and easy? Why couldn't I just have them both? I could have told Izzy that I was sleeping with her dad, but there was a large risk of losing her. She wouldn't have respected that or tolerated it. Plus, Izzy spoke her mind a lot, a trait she clearly got from her father.

She wouldn't have sugarcoated anything. Not her feelings. Not how stupid we may have looked together. Not even how our friends.h.i.+p would surely be over.