“I can’t get you any closer than this,” the driver says when we pull into a cul-de-sac. Chloe’s driveway is gated off, and I remember the code she told me.
“It’s fine.”
“You sure you’re supposed to be here?” The drive looks at me skeptically.
“Yes, it’s my girlfriend’s house.”
“I can’t help you if you get arrested for trespassing,” he goes on.
I grab my bag. “I won’t. Thanks,” I say and get out, having already tipped and rated him on the app as we drove. I get out of the car and stop at the gate, looking at Chloe’s house. It’s up on a hill, and is large and impressive, looking exactly like something you’d imagine when thinking of a celebrity’s house in the hills.
My pulse picks up once I’m through the gate. Lights are in inside the house, and I’m one step closer to my Chloe once again. Walking faster, I go to the front door and ring the bell. A moment later, a man opens the door and looks at me, confused.
“You’re not the pizza guy, are you?” he asks.
“No, I’m looking for Chloe.” Did I get the house wrong? No, this is it. The code for the gate worked and everything.
“Oh,” he says and steps back. I look through the foyer into the living room and see Chloe. But she’s not alone.
She's sitting on the couch, wrapped up in Charles Baldwin’s arms.27ChloeI look up from the couch and see Sam standing in the doorway. His eyes go from me to Charles and back again. I don’t think anything of it until I see the abhorrence on his face.
“Is this why you needed more time?” Brows pushed together, he turns and starts to walk away.
“Sam!” I call, scrambling to get up. My foot catches in the blanket and I fall, hitting my arm on the coffee table. Pain radiates through me, but I ignore it. “Sam!” I call again.
I make it outside and he slows but doesn’t turn around.
“It’s not what you think!”
This time he stops. “Then what is it?” He looks at me, pain obvious on his face. “Because it looks like you went back to the arms of your ex-boyfriend as soon as things got rough.”
“No,” I press, heart racing. I open my mouth to tell him the truth, but it’s not my secret to tell. “There’s nothing going on between us. Charles is my friend and we…we…”
“It’s fine, Chloe,” he says, and sounds so defeated.
“It’s not,” I go on and move toward him. Sam takes a step back and my heart breaks. “There’s nothing between us.”
“She’s right.” Charles appears in the doorway, and Eric, his stuntman boyfriend that joined us for a pity party, stands behind him. “We’re friends and nothing more. That’s all we’ve ever been.” Charles comes down the stone porch steps. “Because I’m gay.”
“What?” Sam asks, looking from me to Charles and back again. Charles has a playboy reputation—with women. Sam’s confusion is warranted.
“I’m gay,” Charles repeats and motions to Eric. “That’s my boyfriend.”
“Charles,” I start. “You don’t have to.”
“I want to. For us both.” Charles steps forward. “Nothing is going on between the two of us and it never has. Our whole relationship was fabricated by Karina, our publicist, to get attention for the show. It worked, and when we were fake-dating, we became close friends. Chloe was one of the few people who knew—and kept—my secret. I love Chloe like a sister, and even if the thought of kissing a woman did appeal to me, I wouldn’t want to kiss my sister.”
Sam’s shoulders relax and he rushes forward, taking me in his arms. My heart swells in my chest, and I wrap my arms around him, kissing him with fervor, pulse racing.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, still shaking.
“Stacey lied. She really is pregnant, but it’s not mine. I wanted to tell you in person.”
I blink, needed a second to process everything. “Seriously?” I blurt, and Sam nods.
“Yeah. There’s no way it’s mine. The last time we were together was June, but she’s only nine weeks along.”
“What a bitch,” Charles says, and I turn, almost forgetting he and Eric are there. The world disappeared the moment Sam took me back into his arms.
“I don’t know how she thought it was going to end,” Sam goes on, brushing my hair back. “I would have found out eventually.”
“So everything is okay now?” I ask, eyes filling with tears.
“It was always okay,” Sam soothes. “Because I love you, Chloe, and our love isn’t fragile. It won’t break easily, no matter what happens.”
A tear rolls down my cheek, and Sam brushes it away with his thumb before kissing me again.
“I love you,” he whispers. “I’ve always love you, Chloe Fisher. And I always will love you.”
“I’ll always love you too.” I’m crying as he kisses me again, dipping me back and pushing his tongue in my mouth. Charles and Eric cheer and Sam straightens me back up, chuckling.