I sighed. Maybe I was overthinking this whole thing. Sean liked me. We’d been hanging out, and he had been so warm the entire time. And what could really happen if I dated a famous billionaire. He was still the same Sean. If it meant I got to claim him, it couldn’t be all that bad.
“You’re doing too much, Chloe.”
I straightened myself out and started to head out, but before I opened the door, I had a thought. Did Sean want to be claimed? Did he want to claim me? We just had sex the one time… well, the one night… and morning. But it still wasn’t much. There had been no discussion of any kind of future relationship. I needed to find out what was going on. I decided I would ask Sean where we stood after the reunion.
I left the bathroom and ran right into another problem.
Tyler.
“Chloe! Finally! Are you playing hard to get? We haven’t spoken all night.”
Ugh… I did not want to deal with Tyler’s bullshit right now. Why couldn’t he get it through his thick skull that I didn’t want anything to do with him?
Tyler must have misread my silence because he moved even closer to me, pressing his body into mine. I froze as he kissed me. I was too disgusted to even move for a few seconds, but I found the strength to push him away.
“Jesus, Tyler!” I wiped my mouth, not wanting an ounce of him on me. “I’m not interested, okay! We broke up years ago, and I think the past should stay in the past.”
Tyler’s face screwed up into the ugliest expression. “Why are you being such a tease, Chloe?”
I didn’t even warrant that with a response. I pushed past Tyler and back to the ballroom. Unfortunately, the bully decided it would be better to follow me, yelling mean and derogatory things at me. He didn’t stop when we rejoined everyone. I was so annoyed that I forgot where I was for a second.
“Can you just leave me alone!” I yelled. It was only after I screamed that I realized the entire room had gone quiet. I saw everyone looking at us, and I couldn’t take it. I made a detour for the exit and could hear Tyler still yelling at me, but what, I couldn’t say.
Hurrying into the parking lot, crying, I got into my car and started it. As I was pulling away, I saw Sean emerge from the hotel. I knew I should have stopped and talked to him, but I was too ashamed. I couldn’t imagine what he thought of that display.
I drove off, heading home, and just wanted to be alone.
Chapter Eleven – Sean
I had been talking with some people when I heard Tyler yelling.
“You’re just an old dried-up slut who dangles her pussy in front of guys like a God damn tease.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Everyone had turned their attention to the scene, and that’s when I noticed Tyler was yelling at Chloe. He kept yelling at her. Everything he said was so atrocious. Everyone seemed to be in disbelief, but it didn’t look like they were taking Tyler seriously. He finally stopped when Chloe turned around and told him to leave her alone. Seconds later, Chloe ran out of the ballroom as Tyler continued hurling abuse at her.
Once she was gone, he turned his vicious gaze on me. “Are you gonna run after that slut? You pathetic piece of shit. She’s probably got you wrapped around her little finger like the bitch she is, and you’re too stupid to see it.”
Anger began boiling up in me. How could he be so cruel? I knew Tyler wasn’t a nice person, but this was insane.
“Will you shut up?” I asked him calmly.
Tyler was shocked into silence for a second, but in typical fashion, he kept talking. “What did you say to me?” He asked, his eyes narrowed. “You can’t talk to me like that. You’re just a dumb dork who’s probably getting his dick sucked by the whore of Sewanee.”
I couldn’t take it anymore. I punched him. Maybe it wasn’t my finest moment, but God damn, did it feel right.
Tyler crumpled to the ground, knocked out. I was worried everyone would think I overreacted, but I was surprised when some people started clapping.
“Damn, Sean! Way to do what we’ve all wanted to do for years.”
I didn’t know Tyler was so hated, but it made sense. He was always a bully. However, I wasn’t concerned with everyone else. I needed to check on Chloe. I left the ballroom and made it to the parking lot just in time to catch her gaze before she drove away.
I felt lost. Was this Chloe walking away from me? Sure, I wasn’t planning on us having some grand romantic thing, but it still stung. I considered going back inside or home, but then I took a pause. Chloe was probably hurt and sad. Tyler had just humiliated her in front of everyone. She didn’t need to be alone. Or, at the very least, I was going to ask her myself if that is what she wanted.