“He’s in a gang?” Alex’s hand clutches to her chest in horror. “Woah, that’s a lot, Chloe.”
“I don’t know if it was a gang…” I trail off because it’s the truth. I don’t know, which means I can’t guarantee that he hasn’t been in a gang. Oh God. “I don’t know what it was really. But it wasn’t something that Ted ever really wanted to be involved in.”
“So, I’m taking it this was years ago?” I nod in agreement. “And you haven’t seen him since.” Again, I let her know that she is correct. “And then all of a sudden he crashes his bike outside of your house.”
“It was all of a sudden. I didn’t know that he was coming, but he did live next door…”
“Do his parents still live there?” I shake my head no. “Right, so don’t you think it’s a bit weird? Like, it could be some sort of scheme or a plan. He might be trying to get you involved...like, with his criminal activity.”
“Ted would never do that.” My instinct is instant. “Ted would never do something like that to me. We have too much history, he cares about me too much.”
“I’m sure that’s true,” Alex continues in a calm tone. “Of the Ted that you once knew. But clearly, if he’s been involved in crime then he isn’t going to be that person anymore, is he?”
Hmm, that’s true. In her typical way, Alex has thrown the most obvious truth in my face and forced me to see it, even if I don’t want to. This one is harder than any other to swallow, but this is why I need her. I’m going to have to take some time to process this. I have to unpack this before I see Ted after work.
“So, you really think that he might be doing something bad here?” I can’t keep the sadness from my voice. “You think that I need to be careful with him? Because he has been staying at my house…”
“What?” Alex practically screams. “Chloe, have you lost your mind? You have always been the most sensible person that I know, but right now, you’re acting like a crazy person. You can’t have a criminal living in your home.”
I check around to see if anyone is watching, but somehow we both managed to continue this conversation without anyone else noticing. Either that or they are purposely not looking so that they can listen in.
“I’m just trying to be nice, Alex, and he’s always been important to me. I have to help him…”
“You don’t have to do anything. Not with a criminal, anyway. You don’t owe him anything.”
She’s freaking out which is worrying me now, but this is because she doesn’t know Ted, she doesn’t know the man that he is deep down. He’s not a bad person, he might have gotten mixed up in something messy, but I know the man. And I know for an absolute fact that he wouldn’t do anything to hurt me. I mean, he’s the one that has been trying to get away from me since he woke up in the hospital.
“I think that it will be fine,” I try my hardest to reassure her, not that she’s looking at me with any confidence whatsoever right now. “It won’t be for much longer, just until he gets himself back on his feet.”
She eyes me suspiciously. “I don’t know, Chloe. I don’t know about this at all. It doesn’t sound good. I can’t help myself. I’m scared for you.”
I pull her in for a grateful hug. “I know that you only have my best interests at heart, Alex, and I do appreciate it. But honestly, it won’t be for long and it’s fine. I think that Ted might be trying to pull away from that life anyway.”
“Well then, you should worry because a life of crime isn’t easy to get out of.”
Oh God, she might well be right about that.
Chapter 10 – Ted
This is weird. I pace around Chloe’s, unable to calm down. I can’t do this, I shouldn’t be here.
It isn’t anything Chloe has done, she wants me around and she wants me to enjoy myself, it’s me. I can’t shake off the paranoia that someone is coming for me, but who? We’ve done a lot of bad things over the years to a lot of bad people. It could be anyone.
“It’s safe here,” I whisper to myself. “It’s safe. No one knows that I’m here.”
I guess a shower will help me calm myself down. And I can wash my clothing while I’m in the shower which will make me feel better. I always feel better when I’m clean. More like myself.
“It’s just like old times.” The silence is too much for me. I need to talk to myself.
The washer is the same place it always was which helps me. I watch it for a while, swirling around aimlessly, and I can’t help but think that this is a metaphor for my life. Stuck in the same damn cycle for six years, not knowing how to get out.