by Simone Elise
There goes my hope he was drunk and didn't know what he was doing. Nope. He knew what he was doing. He was ripping out my heart and jumping on it.
"Get out." His words were cold and hard. "Take your shit as well."
Was he joking? He wasn't seriously throwing me out? Was he?
"NOW!" He screamed when I didn't move. Okay, this was happening. I threw the blankets back and started to quickly gather my stuff up, throwing it into the suitcase and zipping it up.
I looked at him, stunned, while he stared down at me like I was the most disgusting thing on the planet.
"Now, get out." He held the girl up with one arm while knocking the door open wide.
"Where am I meant to go?" The words just tumbled out. He was kicking me out. Chase. The guy I thought was so sweet was kicking me out and wanting nothing to do with me. Not only was he ripping out my heart, he was enjoying it. You know who else was enjoying it? The black head clinging to him; the smug look on her face made me furious.
"I don't care." His words were just as harsh as his actions. He then slammed the door in my face.
Leaving me standing in the hallway in my PJs with nowhere to go.
This time I wasn't crying because I was angry, I was crying because I was hurt because the only man on this planet I trusted had just spat in my face and threw me out. Worst of all, he enjoyed it. I headed for Oliver's room.
But when I reached it, it was locked. Right, I had locked it when I left this morning.
What the hell did I do now?
I ran a hand through my hair and pulled out my phone. I only had one option. It wasn’t the best option, but it was all I had right now.
I dialed Marc's number. It rang and rang. Just when I was giving up hope, he answered.
"Chloe?"
"Hi, can I ask you for a favor?" I sniffled back tears.
"You okay?"
I could hear the party in the background. He must still be downstairs.
"Chase just threw me out of his room and Oliver's room is locked." I stopped, muffling my tears. "And I have nowhere to sleep."
"Where are you?" Marc's voice was kind and soft.
"At Oliver's bedroom door."
"I'm coming."
He hung up.
I locked my phone and slid down the door, sitting next to my suitcase. Could things get any worse?
Whatever Chase and I were, well, that was over. He didn't give two shits about me or my feelings.
I was alone in the hallway until I heard footsteps. I quickly wiped my face.
"Chloe?"
My head snapped up. Marc. He seemed taller tonight, maybe it was because I was looking up at him from the ground.
"Hey." I tried to sound somewhat okay, but failed.
Marc put a hand out for me to take, and I slipped my hand in his and he helped me up.
Standing now, I was level with his chest and because I knew my face was a red-stained mess, I didn't look up at him.
"Come on." He grabbed my suitcase and carried it. He led me down the hallway of doors. "So Chase really threw you out?"
I wouldn't look at him and stared down at the ground as we walked.
"Yep."
"Idiot," Marc mumbled under his breath.
We stopped at the end of the hall, and he pulled out a key and unlocked it.
"You can stay with me." He opened the door. The room was the same as Chase's apart from the unmade bed.
"Thanks. It's just for the night." I walked in.
Marc put my suitcase down. I looked up, meeting his eyes for the first time. My red face, with tears running down my cheeks. Yeah. I was a great sight.
"Don't take what Chase did personally." Marc said softly "He's drunk."
"No. No, he isn't." I sat down on the edge of the bed. "He hates me, but if there is one thing I am positive about is that he isn't drunk. No, he was thinking clearly."
Which just made it hurt that much more.
Marc kneeled in front of me. "He is just angry."
I grunted. "Right, because he has the right to be angry right now."
"No, he is angry about us." Marc put his hands up while my mouth dropped open. "Don't worry, he will get over it."
Should I even care right now? No. No, I shouldn't. It didn't justify how he just treated me. "I don't really give a darn anymore if he does or doesn't."
"Come on, you wouldn't write him off that easily?"
I looked Marc in the face. "I'm done."
And I was. After what he just did, how could I not be? He hated me and he broke my heart, just like I was scared of. I had seen the other side to Chase and it was nasty. It was scary, cold and I never wanted to look at him again and I would never let him look at me with that harsh coldness again.
And if he did? Well, I promised myself I wouldn't let myself get this upset about it again. After all, I should now know better. I had seen the other side now.
But what hurt the most? It was that my worst fear was realized - I couldn't trust men. Chase was just as bad as my stepfather but instead of raising a hand and hitting me, Chase emotionally did it.
I wiped my tears away as quickly as they fell. Yeah, I was done. I was never letting Chase or any man hurt me again.
Chapter 27
Two Weeks Later
Chase's Point of View
I was going through the women and the liquor at equal speed. The boys were making bets on which I would run out of first. As for Chloe, well, I hadn't seen her since I threw her out. Best decision I ever made. Whores were only good for one thing, and I might have forgotten that for a while, but I knew better now.
Marc and I still weren't speaking, apart from the odd grunt here and there.
And I hadn't been up to see Oliver, because I didn't want to see her.
I had been so busy screwing women and drinking myself into an early coma, I hadn't spent time with mom, Jess, and Sammie which was why I agreed to tonight.
Oliver was being discharged tonight, and mom had wanted to spend some time with me so I agreed to dinner with her and the girls at their hotel.
I had just pulled up out the front when I spotted them. They were just getting back from the hospital.
"Chase!" Sammie waved.
I locked my bike and walked over to them. If Sammie had her way, we would be all hitting the clubs tonight which meant another drunk night in store for me and waking up to a woman in my bed.
But this was better than pining over a whore. At least with these women, they didn't lead me on.
Chloe's Point of View
I was checking into reception. Another hotel. Being on the run was difficult. Who was I on the run from? Joe, my stepfather. He had put a warrant out for my arrest. How did I find that out? When I saw my high school photo on TV at the first hotel I went to after leaving that awful clubhouse.
I left early the next morning. I didn't see Chase but I did say a brief goodbye to Marc, but when it came to the McKenzies, I was avoiding them as much as the police.
"Name?"
"Maddie Preston." I handed over my fake ID. It was one of the things I had run away with when I left home never thinking my fake ID would ever come in handy. It had always been in my school bag as I got it off a boy at school but then I turned eighteen and the need for a fake ID didn't exist. I used it as a bookmark.
Now I was relying on it.
I was dressed up, makeup, heels, tight dress, the works. Why? Because on my fake ID, it said I was twenty-five so I had to look older. The makeup, heels and dress did that.
The receptionist smiled at me. "That's all confirmed, Miss Preston. We will have your bags taken to your room."
I was in the middle of saying thank you when I heard a squeal of delight.
Turning around, I couldn't believe my luck was this bad. Just if I had five more minutes, I would have missed this.
Instead I was watching Sammie squeal and run at me and, as soon as I was in arm’s
reach, she engulfed me in a hug.
The air was squeezed out of my lungs.
"Oh my God, Chloe! I thought I wasn't going to see you!" She pulled back. "We are staying at this hotel too. Chase said you liked hotels better, but he didn't say you were at this one!"
Chase didn't even know I was at a hotel so that was a lie. I looked over Sammie's shoulder and, sure enough, I saw the devil itself walking towards me. Please ground, swallow me up.
I wished I could say he got ugly. I wished I could say he didn't appeal to me whatsoever but my luck wasn't that good. He was still as attractive as ever. Tall, dark and handsome.
I quickly looked back at Sammie.
"We expected to see you at the hospital, but you never came up?" Sammie frowned.
Chase's mom, Jess and Chase himself were standing behind her now. Listening.
I put on a fake smile. "I was meaning to, but I heard how well Oliver was doing and I knew he had you lot caring for him," I lied. I had avoided the hospital because I was avoiding everything McKenzie.
"God, you look amazing!" Sammie put me at arm’s length. "Like you are totally hot in that dress."
What do I say to that?
"Um, thanks." I awkwardly stood there, dangerously close to Chase. As far as I was concerned, being in the same state as him was too close.
He might not be ugly on the outside, but I had seen the inside, and that was ugly. Remembering how he threw me out caused me to swallow hard. I had to get away from them.
"Here is your room key, Miss P-"
"Thank you." I cut the receptionist off. I didn't need Chase knowing my business. He would most likely enjoy the fact that I was being chased by police while he was the criminal. I slapped my hand on the room key. "Well, I have to go."
"No, you can't!" Sammie shook her head. "Jess and I both said the only good thing about this trip was seeing you, and we haven't caught up! You must come to dinner with us. Please."
I shook my head.
"Come on, Chloe. It will be fun. Chase is joining us." Jess pressed.
"I've already ordered in," I lied, and I would do a hell of a lot more to get out of this. Sitting down with Chase, his sisters and mother was like going to dinner with Jack the Ripper. I would not do it.
She turned to the receptionist. "Can you cancel that order please? Chloe will be dining with us in the hotel restaurant." Sammie turned to Chase. "Chloe is joining us for dinner."
Chase looked at me coldly. "Great." He said dryly. He didn't hide his excitement. Did it hurt me that he wanted nothing to do with me? Yes.
I was avoiding him for a reason. He had no reason to hate me.
Sammie started to drag me away. I left one very confused receptionist behind, who not only didn't know who Chloe was, but was also canceling an order never placed.
"Chase, you booked us a table, right?" Sammie said, linking her arm through mine.
"Yes, for four," he said coldly. He said four to imply I wasn't welcome. Well, no shit. I knew that, but I was being dragged along anyway. I could tell I wasn't welcome by his very happy 'great' because that was so welcoming.
"One more won't matter." Jess grabbed my free arm and linked up. "We have been dying to know all the details of how the boys are on the road."
Oh, this night was going to get better and better. Who had I killed to deserve this?
Sammie had got us a booth at the restaurant. I went to slide in next to Sammie but then she insisted I sit on the other side next to Chase so she could see me.
Yep. This night was off to a great start. Chase pushed up against Jess so as not to touch me.
So, there was a thin gap between Chase and I and yes, I was very well aware of the fact my dress had ridden up, showing more of my thigh then I would like.
Sammie was going on about what she was going to order and I just put the menu up to block Chase.
Bring on the food and then bring on the end of this evening then I never wanted to see another McKenzie in my life. As nice as the sisters were, their brother was a complete tool. One that broke my heart and broke my trust in men.
***
We were finishing up dinner. The girls had ordered chicken, Chase had ordered steak, and I had ordered a salad, which I moved around the plate and didn't eat.
How could I eat with him next to me?
I was having trouble stomaching food at the best of times since what happened. I had lost weight because of it, and this dress was even a bit loose on me.
We had talked about the weather and I had avoided all questions on the boys. Every time they asked a question, Chase would take a drink of his beer and I would deflect.
Mainly we spoke about Oliver, and what they had been up to.
Oliver got discharged tonight and I was happy for him. I knew he was going mad inside that hospital.
"So," Sammie clapped her hands together and looked at Jess, then back at me. "What are you doing now, Chloe?"
I lit up my phone and saw it was after ten. Having a feeling she was up to something, I thought I better make an excuse up early. "Having an early night as I have a big morning tomorrow." I lied smoothly. I was getting better at this.
"Didn't know whores had early mornings," Chase muttered under his breath.
"What did you say, Chase?" Sammie asked.
"Nothing." Chase picked up his beer.
She mightn't have heard him, but I did. He was the whore. I was still a virgin for God’s sake! He was screwing anything that would move and his little comment made my blood boil.
"Well, cancel that early morning because you are coming out with us!" Sammie clapped her hands together and squealed. "Come on, it will be so much fun."
I didn't remember fun. I remember making out with Chase and sitting on his lap, like I was his. I felt like his. I felt a lot for him and I still did and that's what really hurt the most. I wasn't over him. I couldn't get over him, even though he was completely wrong for me and the most important point - he didn't want me. I pushed my untouched food away from me.
"I can't, Sammie."
"Come on, you can't say no to us!" Sammie pouted. "Oh look, the boys are here!" She stood up and started waving the McKenzie brothers over.
Great, more McKenzies.
I had to get out of here.
"Well, if it isn't Ace."
I knew that voice too well. I looked up and smiled, getting up. "Hey, Oliver." I hugged him. "How's the leg?"
"I can walk." He grinned and let go of me. "How have you been?"
"Good," I lied, but by the look on his face, he didn't buy it, frowning down at me.
He opened his mouth to say something, but Chase cut him off.
"You all ready to go?" Chase slid out of the booth, accidentally touching me, his hand touching my bare back, which was left open from the dress. I took a sharp breath in. Just his touch was enough.
"Sure am." Oliver grinned. "Time to celebrate freedom."
I gave him a soft smile, and Chase moved around me.
"I'll pay the bill." Chase reached for his wallet and went to the counter. No way was I letting him pay for my meal.
I quickly took off after him, reaching the counter the same time as him.
"Can I pay for table twenty?" Chase said to the waiter.
"Can you charge the salad to my room," I looked at my key card. "Room 102 please." I smiled at the waiter and he smiled back.
"No problems. That leaves the total of a hundred and twenty dollars and thirty cents," the waiter said to Chase.
I had nothing to say to Chase, so I walked off. I was not taking anything from him ever again.
"So Ace, are you coming out with us?" Oliver said as I approached them.
I shook my head. "I'll have to give this one a miss. I'm leaving tomorrow."
"What!" This time, it was Oliver and Marc, both outraged.
"You can't leave!" Oliver shook his head. "And if you are, that is even more of a reason to come out with
us."
"Where are you heading to?" Marc asked, crossing his arms, looking extremely pissed off.
"Interstate." I give as little information as possible.
"So, this is goodbye?" Sammie said, looking at me as if I had grown two heads.
"Yeah, I guess it is." I couldn't lie and say it wasn't. I was planning on going up to my hotel room and booking a flight. The police knew I was in the area so if I went interstate, there was less a chance of being caught and dragged back home.
"Oh well, I'm so glad you had dinner with us." Sammie hugged me, then Jess, and then I was passed around the McKenzies as they all said goodbye.
I was hugging Marc when he leaned into my ear. "If you need anything, call."
"I will," I said, letting go of him. "Thank you, for everything."
I had said goodbye to everyone. Oliver's goodbye took a little longer, but it was done. The only person I hadn't said goodbye to was Chase. He was standing behind me, and everyone had noticed I hadn't said a word to him yet.
"Well, have a good night, guys," I said to all of them with a smile. We shared a laugh and then I couldn't put it off anymore. I turned and faced Chase, taking a steady breath in.
"Bye Chase. Thank you. For everything you have done for me." I meant it. He had taken me in when I was in a bad place. He broke my heart but I was stupid enough to give it to him to break.
He opened his mouth, but I turned and gave them a final wave and left. I snuck a glance over my shoulder, and Chase was staring at me. Well, that was it, we were done. I turned around and walked with confidence. If I acted like it didn't hurt leaving him, then maybe I would believe it one day.
Chapter 28
Chloe's Point of View
It was after three in the morning and I still hadn't decided on what flight to take. Did I head to Sydney? Did I head to Perth? Or maybe Brisbane? I didn't know where to go. I wanted to pick a spot that would be the last place Joe would look for me.
I had my laptop open on the bed and the television on. Re-runs were running. I needed to go to sleep.
I switched off the television.
Come on, make a decision, Chloe. Where do I head to tomorrow? Well, today now.
There was a knock on my door. I looked at the alarm clock next to the bed. It was saying 3.25am. Did I order room service? I thought I only thought about it. I couldn't stomach anything anyway as I hadn't been able to stomach anything since Chase dumped me.
