Our Love Story

Chapter 45CHLOEI don’t want to say out loud what I think it is.

That would make it real.

That will make it inescapable.

And I’m not ready for it.

The guys know I’ve been sick for the past few weeks, thinking it’s a virus I can’t shake, but I know it’s more than that. And today I’m going to face my problem, headlong.

Just as soon as I get out of bed.

“Chloe?” Ethan cracks open my bedroom door. His dark eyes meet mine, and oh, how I love this man. But he’s not the only man I love, which makes it all so confusing.

Someone is gonna get hurt. A lot of someones are gonna get hurt.

We should’ve thought this all through a lot more.

“Good morning, sleepy head.” He sits on the edge of the bed and leans down to kiss my forehead. “You hungry?

I shake my head, my stomach rolling before I even sit up. “Are you guys headed out already?” I ask knowing the guys planned on spending the day scouting out the surfing competition. The big event happens this weekend and they’re ready to go with guns blazing.

“Yeah, Enzo dad’s gonna be flying in this evening, so we want to be done by late afternoon.” Ethan eyes me more closely. We all thought Enzo’s dad, Leo, would come later this fall, but then he called and changed his plans. Still, he seemed concerned about our arrangement and is staying at a hotel. “You sure you’re going to be okay here alone?”

I yawn, nestling against my pillows. “I’m still just really tired.” Squeezing his hand, I add, “I’m good, I promise.”

“If you say so,” he says. “But call us if you need anything.”

“I’ll probably go for a walk later,” I tell him. “I’m just not a morning person.”

Ethan smiles. “We all know that.” Then he kisses me softly on the lips; the simple gesture causing my heart to flutter. “We love you,” he tells me.

“I love you more.”

He leaves my room, shutting the door behind him. I close my eyes, rolling onto my belly and press my face into my pillow. Something hasn’t been right for a while now. Most people wouldn’t understand that considering I have a life a lot of women fantasize about, but just because I’m loved and adored in ways I never thought possible, doesn’t mean everything is perfect.

In fact, right now I’m feeling pretty damn terrified.

The worst part is that I don’t have anyone to talk to about this stuff. My world is pretty damn small, and right now I really wish I had a best friend.

I’ve never been a girl’s girl before. My life has always revolved around survival. Until recently, things, like going to movies or shopping or getting a pedicure with a girlfriend, were so beyond the realm of possibility, that I never considered them. I was plenty busy making sure I didn’t drown; I didn’t have time to play.

But right now, for the first time in forever, I have a bit of cash, time, and freedom but have no one to call.

– –A few hours later I decide to walk down to the pharmacy, knowing I’ve put it off for long enough. On my way there, I decide to grab an iced coffee.

The morning sun shines down in a perfect way-- everything about this island is just a little too good to be true. I love Honolulu and we’re staying on Waikiki, which happens to be the most glorious beach in the entire world. When I’ve been feeling up to it, I have gone out with the guys to the sandbar or rented a paddle board.

They usually prefer doing things a little more extreme than that, though, so when I haven’t been kneeling beside a toilet, I’ve had a great time soaking up the rays, while they’ve gone around the island shooting raw footage. It’s actually given me time alone to organize the guys’ video release schedule on MeTube and helped make their calendar a bit more useful.

Our days are full, and even though we have the flexibility to slow down a bit, we’re still managing a business. Making sure we’re putting out enough content to create revenue so we can live is a priority.

Thankfully, the guys have created such a solid brand over the last few years that their subscriptions are growing every day, and with each video they upload, there are more viewers. Engagement from fans is through the roof and I can see that they are reinvigorated with their job. Leaving Black Bull was a great decision.

I stop at a coffee stand and order an iced coffee and a blueberry scone. As I am getting a straw for my drink, a woman my age, with pale pink hair, smiles at me.

“Are you from around here?” She reaches for a straw too.

“As of pretty recently. I’m renting a place down the beach for the next few months. We just got in a few weeks ago,” I tell her.