GabrielI drove to my beach house like crazy; speeding tickets were tomorrow’s problem.All I could think about was getting to my closet, packing a suitcase with my favorite three-piece suits, and going back home.It was funny how the house I was so proud of stopped being the place where I wanted to spend the nights. It stopped being a home that offered peace because there was nowhere I’d rather be than by Chloe’s side.And considering how we met and everything that transpired between us, the apartment above the pastry shop had an allure I could not explain, but there was no resisting its call. It was where I belonged.I wanted to call her from the car and warn her that Molly was back. I didn’t want her to find it out any other way but from me. However, I decided to wait and tell her in person. In the end, Molly’s influence on our lives was undeniable. Fuck, if there weren’t for her, we’d probably never meet. Besides, Chloe couldn’t hide how torn she was about aiding her escape that d
Chloe‘It seems you don’t know him as well as you think you do...’ Molly’s mocking voice rang in my head, repeating those hideous words over and over again.When I saw her hanging around Gabriel’s neck, kissing him passionately, I ordered the driver to return me from where we started the ride. Deep breaths helped me hold myself together and not fall apart in front of a stranger, but no power in the entire universe could’ve stopped my tears from falling.After she left earlier, I did the only thing my scrambled mind could come up with – I called the taxi and headed straight to Gabe’s beach house. I knew he’d be there to pick up some of his things, and no, waiting for him to arrive was not an option. I was too distressed to just sit on my ass and count the seconds until I saw him.But this turned out to be a mistake.Because Molly wasted no time. She had already gotten to him.I bit my tongue hard to keep screams from escaping, but I could do nothing for my bleeding heart. It broke into
Chloe“Hey, Chloe!” Simon shouted the moment I walked into the workshop. But when his eyes registered my appearance, he frowned before he kept shooting questions. “What happened to you? You look like a great flood survivor!”He couldn’t know the truth. In fact, no one could.“Warming up for tonight.” a smile crooked my lip. To my best friend’s unsuspecting eye, I must’ve seemed hungover because he bought my excuse without a blink. After all, we did have a party to attend later.I took a moment to inspect the store, only to find everything in perfect order. Everyone was busy with their tasks, and before I had a chance to get to work, too, Simon jumped in again.“This journalist was here when we clocked in. He said a mutual friend told him about you and recommended he write a story about this place. He’s waiting for you in the front.”I froze, struggling to stay composed. This had to be Gemma’s doing. That amazing woman was so generous to me, and how was I repaying her? Breaking her son
Chloe“What the hell was that?”Oh, fuck!There was no chance I’d destroy my best friend’s bachelorette party with my drama. Yes, if it was her suffering from heartbreak, I’d pause my life to be there for her. And in any other case, I would rush to her to be my shoulder to cry on. But not her wedding, no. I would never forgive myself if I destroyed her happiness.Realizing I never even considered what I’d tell people about why Gabriel and I weren’t attached to the hip anymore, I shrugged and proceeded inside, trying to buy some time with silence.Like a pit bull fixated on a stray cat, Gina followed me to the kitchen as I advanced towards my goal – the champagne that had been chilling in the fridge since yesterday.“Don’t look at me like that!” I chuckled while pouring two high glasses with the bubbly liquid. “We had a disagreement,” what an understatement! “It’s nothing you should worry about.” I tried to brush her off, but unlike Simon, she wasn’t buying what I was selling. Her accu
Gabriel“So, just like that?” Ryan eyed me suspiciously as he leaned against the pool table. “No explanation? No reason?”I shrugged my shoulders in response. There was nothing I could say that I hadn’t already repeated a dozen times.“But why? I don’t get it.”‘Neither do I, buddy. Neither do I.’ I thought, but stayed silent and bent forward to aim the ball.One, two, three… and miss!Dang it!All right. That would be enough drinking for tonight; I pushed the glass filled with amber liquid away and strengthened up. Based on my previous behavior when I had too much to drink, there was no doubt where I’d end up, but tonight that door wouldn’t open no matter how much I knocked.When I started planning Ryan’s bachelor party, I considered organizing a classic clubbing with our friends or even a trip to Vegas, but nothing seemed suitable for the occasion. A few girls and a lap dance sounded like a great solution, but I had a feeling Ryan’s newly discovered infatuation wouldn’t appreciate i
ChloeAlthough I was involved with organizing the wedding from the beginning, my surprise at how the venue turned out was genuinely pleasant. Tables were already set and decorated with a charming combination of white flowers, while the altar and the chairs covered with silk were being placed as we arrived.Gina chose the most prominent spot - the Greystone Mansion. It started as a joke when she declared she wouldn’t settle for anything less than the most expensive venue, and Ryan went and made reservations. Later, she protested and wanted to cancel, but her future husband did his magic and convinced her it was, in fact, the perfect place to say their vows.The hairstylist and make-up artist were already there, and they started working on Gina the moment we entered the apartment preordained for the bride. Even though they insisted on dolling me up, I categorically refused; too much color never looked good on me. So I opted for bolder eyeliner and red lipstick, a combination that never
Chloe‘I warned you,’ stared at me from the screen. What a marvelous ‘good morning.’Cold sweat dewed my skin, and I shivered in angst.The message didn’t need to be signed for me to know who sent it. Molly. Damned Molly and damned be the day I met her.I didn’t have to be a rocket scientist to conclude what those words meant - the dance. Gina’s wedding was big. A few hundred people were present, and it was not impossible she had her ‘spy’ there. Anyone could’ve been her eyes there.Why was Molly so persistent in her endeavor to separate me from Gabriel? Why was she going to such lengths to scare me off? I failed to understand her reasoning, no matter how much I thought about it. Then again, I wasn’t a psychopath, so the chances of me figuring out her thought process were slim to none. Either way, I was seriously starting to worry about what she could do.With my nervousness reaching its limits, I got ready and headed downstairs. The world wouldn’t stop turning just because my life be
ChloeI couldn’t say that the night behind me was easy - it was everything but.However, knowing I did the right thing helped me stay on course and not drown in sorrow. I was sad, and I missed him like crazy; hell, even my bedsheets bore the memory of him… they still smelled of him. But I wasn’t falling apart. I could navigate my life without Gabriel while loving him the same.When I thought about it, it was high time I visited the old family cottage at Lake Alice. I spent many vacations with my parents there, and many great memories tied me to that place. After they died, Grandma and I decided to sell the Seattle house, but I couldn’t say goodbye to the cottage. I hadn’t been there for a few years, and now was a perfectly good moment to revisit the past.Little before 8 o’clock, I headed downstairs, wanting to start early. But truth be told, I was getting eager to see Abby, and that eagerness was not letting me sit still and wait.Just as I had hoped, not an hour later, my coworkers