And if it’s not my kid, why get Chloe upset? But then what…I’ll just casually bring it up years later? Oh, I forgot to tell you that this chick I used to hook up with told me I got her pregnant. I didn’t think you’d want to know. I shake my head at myself.
The weekend. I want the fucking weekend, because I’m terrified that’s all I get.
I turn off the main road and onto the ill-kept street that leads to the lake. Only people who live along the lake use this road, save for the occasional tourist who took a wrong turn when they were heading for the marina. The houses with lakefront property are expensive, and I know the state of this road is a hot topic for them at any town council meeting. While I don’t like my poor car bumping along loose gravel, it brings back memories of coming down this way as a teenager. I had a Jeep then, and used to take Chloe to and from school along with Rory and my brothers.
Chloe always held herself with such grace. She faced her share of adversity for being different yet refused to tell me who was giving her shit. Mostly because she knew I’d beat the hell out of anyone who so much as looked at her wrong, but because she didn’t want anyone feeling sorry for her. She lived by her mother’s last words to embrace who she was and not let anyone make her second-guess herself. I admired the hell out of her for it then, and looking back now as an adult, it’s even more impressive.
Fuck, I don’t deserve her.
“Mmm,” Chloe groans and sits up. Blinking, she looks out the window. “Oh, we’re almost there.”
“What were you dreaming about? You were moaning in your sleep,” I tease, keeping a straight face.
“I was?” Chloe pulls my jacket down and runs her hand through her hair, pushing it back. She inhales and blinks a few times. “I dreamed I left my laptop out in the woods and didn’t realize it until I got back to my dad’s and it started raining. I was moaning?”
“Yeah, it was really sexual and hot. I had to rub one out while driving.”
She turns, one eyebrow raised. “Hilarious, Sam.”
“Admit it, you’re only dating me for the comedy.”
She rolls her eyes. “You’re lucky you’re good in bed.”
“That’s all I’m good for?”
“Yep. And you’ll look good by my side whenever we get photographed and featured on TMZ.”
I laugh, and while I know she’s serious, the concept is still weird to me. I’ve had a totally different connotation of famous people in my head, and Chloe is so down to earth, so easy to talk to and, well, still so Chloe, it’s easy to forget that she’s rich and famous.
“I still think leaking a sex tape is the way to go.”
“I’m sure your boss would just love that,” she shoots right back. “Though I’m not opposed to filming one. On a camera with no Wi-Fi access, that is.” She leans back, wiggling her eyebrows. “Then we can watch it together.”
“Fuck, I love you.”
Yawning, she stretches her arms out and reaches over, resting her hand on my thigh, fingers sweeping over my cock. We’re only a few minutes from her dad’s house and a light rain is starting to mist down on us. It takes all I have not to speed.
“Really?” Chloe scoffs when we pull into the driveway. “Neither my dad nor Wendy left a porch light on. Why not put a sign out that says no one is home, come rob me why don’t you?”
I chuckle. “Living in big cities has hardened us, hasn’t it?”
“I suppose, and being a single woman in a big city has made me even more paranoid than I was before, and I always was a little paranoid.”
“I remember you calling me a time or two when your dad was working late.”
“Oh yeah.” She smiles. “Seventy-five percent of those times I really did hear weird noises. The other times, I just wanted you to come over.”
“I feel taken advantage of.”
“You wish I’d taken advantage of you,” she says, and we both laugh. I put my BMW in park and let my hand fall, taking hers for a second and lacing our fingers together.
“I do.” I bring her hand up to my mouth and give it a kiss. “I really do. If I could go back…fuck.” I swallow hard, refusing to let my mind wander right now. We have the weekend and then Chloe’s world is going to come crashing down around her.
“Hey, we’re together now.” She squeezes my hand and it’s in that moment I realize how much I need her. I was worried what telling her about Stacey would do to her and her alone, but I know, without a doubt, losing Chloe will break me, and even if there was a way to put the pieces back together, without her in my life, I wouldn’t want to mend my broken heart.