Chapter Twenty-eight

Chapter Twenty-eight

Chloe

“Damn, three thousand words already,” I say out loud to no one. Maybe I should get a cat so talking out loud to myself isn’t quite as weird as it is. I double-check that my document saved, close my laptop, and stretch my arms over my head. I’m sitting on my back patio under the shade of an oversized umbrella.

It’s the afternoon, and I spent the last few hours catching up on my social media accounts and writing. I just finished a chapter in record time and now I’m going to treat myself to day-drinking in my pool.

Going inside, I change into an emerald-green bikini and slather myself with sunscreen. As a natural redhead, I burn easily. I’ve yet to hear from Sam, meaning he must be having a really busy day at work again. My plan is to send him some sexy photos of myself in the pool, pushing my personal boundaries of what I consider risqué.

There’s a privacy fence around my little yard, and the two houses next to me are a little lower on the hill. I don’t think anyone can see into my yard, since no nudes have been leaked of me yet and I’ve sunbathed topless more than once.

      I spread out a towel on a lounge chair and untie my top, letting it slip down so just a bit of my nipple is showing. I take a photo and double-check that I’m sending it to Sam and not someone else on accident. Smiling, I get into the pool, letting out a breath of relief as the cool water washes over me. I’m settling onto my big unicorn floaty when my phone dings with a text. I have a moment of panic that I didn’t send the photo to Sam and whoever got the image is replying with a giant WTF.

But it is Sam, thank goodness. This is why I've never sent sexy photos to anyone before. It’s too damn stressful.

Sam: You are so fucking beautiful, Chloe. Hot damn.

Setting the phone back on the side of the pool, I look around and make sure no one is peeking through the slats in my fence. I slide off my floaty, sinking underwater just enough to get my hair wet. I take off my top and use my wet hair to cover my nipples. Then I take another photo and send it to Sam.

 Sam:  I miss you even more now. And I’m fucked…I’m about to go into surgery with you on my mind.

Me: So no more pictures because it’s too distracting??

Sam: I can handle the distractions.

Me: …and I’ll be waiting for my dick pic from you ;-)

Sam: I’m sitting in the hospital cafeteria right now or else I’d whip it out for you.

I laugh, missing him so damn much.

Me: FaceTime me—naked—as soon as you’re home.

Sam: You better be naked too.

Me: Deal. <3

I put my phone down and get back on the floaty, lying back and enjoying my time in the sun. I told myself this would only be a little break since I was on a roll and can easily pick up the momentum and get rolling once again. The warm, dry air of LA is vastly different to the climate my characters are currently dealing with. All I have to do is think about the woods around the lake back home, and I’m there. I can hear the trees rustling, leaves cast in a pale moonlit glow. The smell of the woods surrounds me, and for a second, I’m there—right back in the coven.

Going back did give me the spark of motivation I needed to get my book going, and with the series coming to an end, I feel like it’s only appropriate to finish it in the place that inspired it all.

*

“Hello?” I bring my phone to my ear, unable to keep the grin off my face. I shouldn’t have had that last glass of wine.

“Hey,” Sam says, and his deep voice rattles right through me. “How are you?”

“I’m good.” I swat my friend April away as she leans in, margarita in hand. “Just wrapping up dinner with friends. How was your day?”

There are a few seconds of silence before Sam replies. “Busy. We had a few gunshot victims today along with another bad car accident.”

“Oh, fuck.” His words are sobering. I take another big drink of wine. “I’m so sorry.”

“Nah, it’s fine. It’s what I signed up to do. How was your day?”

“Pretty good, actually. I got to ride Spartan just for like a minute, but then I got a lot of words written and now I’m out with friends. Did you like the photos I sent?” I ask, blushing as my friends all lean in. One glass of wine in and I was telling them everything about Sam, including how I sent him sexy photos today.

“I did. A lot. They kept me going throughout the day.”

“Really?” I sink my teeth into my bottom lip, forgetting for a second that Sam can’t see me. “I’ll be home and alone soon. We can do that naked FaceTime.”

He chuckles. “God, what I’d give to have you naked in bed with me right now, Chloe.”

A rush goes through me just hearing him say my name. “I’ll be back soon.”

“Did you get a time for your meeting yet?”

“I did. Bright and early.” I make a face and take another drink of my wine. “Once it’s over, I’ll find a flight so I can come see you.”

Sam doesn’t say anything. I suck in a breath, thinking maybe he didn’t hear me or something, but he doesn’t ask me to repeat myself. My heart thumps in my chest.

“Yeah,” he finally says. “I’d really like that.”

“Good.” I smile and take another drink. I need it to keep the bad feelings from rising inside of me. “So, do you want me to call you when I get home?”

“Only if you’re naked.”

I laugh and suppress the shiver than runs through me as I remember the way Sam’s body felt on top of mine.

“Deal. It’ll be a half hour or so before I’m home. I’m two hours behind you…you won’t be asleep by then, will you?”

Sam hesitates again. “I can’t make any promises, but I’ll have my phone by me.”

The bad feeling I was trying to ignore comes back full force, making my whole body feel prickly. “Okay, great.” I’m putting on my act like you have your shit together because you’re on live TV classic Chloe act where inside I’m fucking screaming. “I miss you.”

“I miss you, too,” he says before we end the call. I lower my phone and look out at my friends, donning my fake smile that says everything is A-okay. Though really…really, I’m hearing Farisha’s words of warning echoing in my head.