by Gina Watson
“You begged and pleaded once more for your clothes.” His voice was raspy. “I teased you. We called you a wet chicken, and we crouched down to walk and flap like chickens. You ran naked all the way home.”
“So you do remember.”
Cal opened his eyes.
She crossed her arms across her chest. “I didn’t think you did. You never speak about the mean things you did to me.”
“Chloe, we were children. I will spend the rest of my life making those moments up to you if you’ll just let me.”
“We weren’t kids in Vegas.” She picked up the gift from the counter. “What’s this?”
Cal shook his head and his shoulders slumped. “It’s me trying to atone, but I don’t think there is anything I’ll ever be able to do to make it up to you. I’m sorry.” A guttural groan was the last thing she heard as he walked away.
Chloe picked up the beautifully wrapped package and took it to the table. She swallowed the lump in her throat as she pulled at the bow atop the package and tore through the silver paper. She set the square white box on the table and removed the lid. Inside was a silver charm bracelet. She pulled it up and inspected each charm. There was a charm made up of three letters, SLP—speech language pathologist. There was a pair of lips and also a golf cart, a nine iron, an ice cream cone, and a chicken. The last charm her eyes landed on was the hand sign for I love you.
Chloe pulled out a card.
Chloe,
What I did was wrong. I would give my right arm to change everything about that night. Hell, I would give my life because I don’t need it without you. If you think you might ever forgive me, I would spend the rest of my life making it up to you. I know I love you. I know I have always loved you, even when we were kids. I guess that’s why I relentlessly teased you. Again, I’m sorry. It was never my intention to hurt you.
Cal
Chloe was numb. She dropped her head on her arm on the table as she thought about her relationship with Cal. She dozed off with the bracelet clasped in her hand, imagining what could have been. She dreamed about them, about their life together. They bought a house and lived in Whiskey Cove. It was the story she always used to write about in her journal, but now it came to life in her dreams.
She woke, startled, and was immediately aware of her stiff neck and shoulders. She saw her keys on the table and the heart clock read 6:30. Shit! Exhausted, she’d fallen asleep at the table, the weight of the jewelry in her hand reminding her of the night’s events. As she palmed the bracelet, she recognized that she was still in love with Cal, with all that love entailed. He wasn’t the boy of her youth. He had changed. He’d been solicitous of her needs and the needs of Riley and Sarah. She’d become teary-eyed watching him read a storybook with the girls, using different voices for the characters. When Riley had reached out to hug him, Cal had kissed her cheek, had told her she was a very special little girl. He genuinely cared for the LeBlanc family and had comforted Chloe through the difficult ordeal of Steve’s illness. God, it killed her to relive those memories. He’d changed and while he still made mistakes, so had she. She wanted to forgive him. She would forgive him. She only hoped she wasn’t too late.
At work, Chloe was preoccupied throughout the day. She’d worn the bracelet and couldn’t wait to thank him properly for it. Her day at work had gone well. Steve had used her communication board to tell the girls he loved them. Sarah seemed to really understand how to use the board. As Chloe was leaving his room, Steve’s gaze went to the words thank you and to the picture of Chloe on the board. She had to leave the room before she broke down and cried like a baby, upsetting the LeBlanc family.
She needed to see Cal and when she got off, she drove straight to his apartment. As she pulled up alongside his truck, she realized she didn’t even have a change of clothes. And she was in her ugly green hospital scrubs. There was no way she was going home now, so she exited her 4Runner and hurried up to his door. She pressed the doorbell and heard him moving around behind the door. As soon as he opened the door, she was in his arms, with him murmuring her name over and over into her ear. He held her close, her legs wrapped around his waist and her arms around his neck. He kissed her passionately and she cried.
Cal wrapped her cheeks in his palms. He whispered, “You came back to me.”
Tears swam in Chloe’s eyes. “I love you.”
“God, am I dreaming? You know how much I love you, right?”
Chloe nodded.
“I’m sorry about the bet; I never meant to hurt you.”
“I know.”
“And all that stuff I did to you when we were kids? I think I only did it because I didn’t know how to handle the feelings I had for you even then.”
Chloe locked one hand in his hair and stared into his eyes, “I know. You were right, we were children. There was always a fire surrounding us, a passion I only feel when I’m with you. We will still make mistakes but reading in your note that you always loved me and that you’ll spend the rest of our lives making me happy, well, what more can I hope for? You’ve given me everything.” She tipped her forehead against his heart. “You are everything.”
Cal went to his knees, wrapped his arms around her waist and squeezed her to him. “God, I thought I’d lost you.” His eyes closed, and he rubbed his face across her stomach. “I will do everything in my power to keep you happy. I’ll try to do it perfectly, but I’m only human and I know I’ll fall short, but I need you to understand—I won’t ever intentionally hurt you. I love you. Please, I need you to know that in your heart.” He squeezed her hips. “In your body.” He gazed up at her. “In your soul.”
Chloe held his face in her hands and tenderly brushed a shaking finger over his lips and then his eyes. He leaned into her hands. When she encouraged him to lift his head again, she smiled. “I know that now. And I certainly don’t expect perfection. Look at me. I almost destroyed the best thing in my life simply because I let my temper fly at a misunderstanding, because I wouldn’t allow you to explain. If you can tolerate my actions, I can certainly do the same.”
“Let’s start fresh, the past behind us.”
She smiled and nodded. “The past behind us.”
≈
Cal’s apartment was loft style and overlooked downtown Baton Rouge. The wall the bed rested against was made of exposed brick. He wondered if it would be unseemly to get Chloe into that bed soon.
“Cal, do you think I can borrow something to wear.”
His brow rose as she kicked off her track shoes and pulled the scrub top over her head and shimmed the bottoms down. She wore thong panties to the hospital? “Can’t you walk around in your underwear?”
Chloe grinned. “I suppose I can, but I thought we might order Thai food. I could see if they offer a discount for answering the door in your underwear. That, or I could get arrested for indecent exposure.”
He tossed a white oxford shirt at her head. She unclasped and removed her bra. Her eyes cut to him, and she gave him a saucy smile, knowing she had his full attention. She raised the shirt over her head and slid into it without undoing the buttons. As her hips danced provocatively, the shirt slid down her silky skin. When she was done, Cal stood directly in front of her with a camera on a tripod.
“Can I record you?”
Chloe shrugged. “What do you want me to do?”
“Just be yourself.” He knew he’d never capture her essence, but he’d been wanting to film her, knew her image on the screen would be breathtaking.
“Okay.”
She walked to her purse and pulled out her brush. Unclipping her hair, she let it cascade down her back and slowly, sensually, she brushed it out. Each curl pulled straight by the brush before bouncing back into place. Once she was done she smiled up at the camera. Then she set about taking in his apartment. He followed her with the camera.
“Geez, Cal, you’ve got an awful lot of equipment.”
She went to his bookcase to peruse his music collection. She found his iP
od on a dock and thumbed through hitting play on Radiohead’s “High and Dry”. She then checked out all the family photos. Once she made it to his bed, she lowered herself to the edge. Pushing with her arms, she slid back to the middle. One of her legs was bent at the knee and the other was pointed straight at Cal and his camera. She leaned back on her elbows, allowing the hair behind her to cascade down her back like the falls of a silver-white river. He loved her hair. Had told her so many, many times.
“Put the camera on the tripod and come over here,” she said, her voice breathy.
Cal did as he was told. He crawled up Chloe’s body as he unbuttoned the shirt she wore, parting it to expose her full breasts. He kneaded and sucked them gingerly before he dipped his head between them, suckling at the flesh there until he left his mark.
“Hey, stop that now.”
“Chloe, you’re mine. You must bear my mark.”
Grinning, she pulled his cotton T-shirt over his head. “Tit for tat.”
She sucked at his chiseled chest, then checked out the effect. Her mark didn’t leave much contrast on his bronze skin.
“I like your jeans,” she told him.
He wore a very worn pair of faded jeans that had holes across the knees and thighs. He knew the kinds of looks he got from women when he wore the jeans to run errands. Didn’t know why they liked them, but that didn’t mean he was unaware. But now he was more interested in what Chloe was wearing. He hooked his thumbs into her panties and slid them down her legs ever so slowly.
Leaving her shirt on but open to expose her breasts, he pulled her to the edge of the bed and positioned himself between her legs. He rose up and checked the angle of the camera. “I want to capture the look on your face when you come.” A blush crept across her body and chest, and her eyes smoked out. She was fucking gorgeous already, but like this she was a goddess. He knelt between her legs. “Put your legs over my shoulder and move that impressive ass to the edge of the bed.”
Chloe did as he said. As soon as she was spread for his view, he groaned and used his fingers to spread her wide. First he simply drank her in with his eyes. Then he inhaled, taking in her essence. Then his tongue licked up her seam. He wedged his shoulders between her legs, spreading her wide. Using his fingers to open her lips, he fucked her with his tongue and rasped his cheek across the exposed flesh of her sex. He went at her like he was consuming his last meal, loving her taste. Loving her breathy moans.
Chloe’s fingers dug into his hair and she pulled at it just enough to drive him wild. She planted her feet on his shoulders and thrust herself up to his mouth. When his teeth grazed her clit, she moaned around his name. He continued to eat at her as if he were devouring the sweetest and juiciest ripe peach until she cried his name and writhed beneath him. When she came, he lapped up all of her tangy juice.
Cal pulled his face away from her and wiped his mouth and cheeks across her thigh. At that, Chloe groaned and reached for him. He stood and undid his pants, sliding them down his thighs.
Her voice was a whispered rasp when she said, “What are you doing?”
“I’m taking off my pants because I’m going to fuck you now.”
Her eyes went wide. “No boxers?”
He smiled. “Commando.”
His erection was hard and reached to his navel. After he’d loved Chloe’s pussy, it was painfully aroused. She watched him, and her tongue darted out from between her teeth to lick her lips.
“Do you like what you see, Miss Mills?”
Lashes lowered, she simply responded, “Mmm.”
Cal grabbed his cock and stroked himself from root to tip until Chloe moaned impatiently. He waited until she grew restless, then he crawled up her body, raised her knees, and tilted her ass so he could see all of her. He rubbed his cock through her moist center and used his hands to guide himself inside, pushing to the hilt. Chloe cradled his hips with her thighs. When he moved, she moved. When he slowed, she slowed. They were in sync. She opened her eyes, noticed the mirror on the ceiling. He felt her core flood with moisture.
Cal watched her eyes widen and then become hooded. “Tell me what you see, Chloe.”
“The light rolls off your muscles when you flex your hips.”
He plowed deeply into her, and she greedily absorbed everything he had to give. They came together when her tight walls squeezed his orgasm from him. They stayed connected as they came down from the height of passion, the camera still rolling. Cal was lost in the depths of her passion filled eyes.
“Chloe, I love you.”
“I love you too.” Her voice was hoarse when she echoed him.
Cal grasped her wrist and pushed the shirtsleeve up, kissing her wrist. “I’m glad you’re wearing the bracelet.”
Chloe smiled.
After eating and more sex to celebrate their newly declared love, they lay in bed, just talking. And stroking one another. And smiling. At least he was.
They fell asleep without fuss, with Cal only waking when a clunk sounded in the darkness.
Chloe pulled out of his arms.
“Hey, where are you going?”
“My phone fell from the stand. It’s buzzing on the floor.”
Cal reluctantly let her go. She reached for the phone and he turned on a light. She silently scrolled through the messages. Cal sensed what was coming.
He sat up in the bed behind her. “What is it?”
“Steve passed away. About thirty minutes ago.”
She curled into Cal’s chest. Her cries started as quiet whimpers, eventually becoming agonized gasps. Cal held her while she grieved. Two hours later she’d quieted and lay dozing in his arms. He laid her head on a pillow and got up to make a pot of coffee. He pulled pastries out of the freezer and heated them in the oven. Then he drew a bath and went to Chloe, pulling the shirt from her body. He carried her to the bath and slowly lowered her into the warm water. He slid in behind her.
He gently washed her hair and her face and shoulders, kneading as he went. Then he washed the rest of her. When he was satisfied, he stood, leaning Chloe against the side of the tub. He retrieved a fluffy white towel from the cabinet and helped her out. He dried her with tenderness, leaving kisses all over her body. He even dressed her. He was beginning to worry that she had gone into shock since she was completely unresponsive, but when he placed a coffee cup in front of her, she sipped from it. Cal knew they needed to get to the hospital. He planned to not leave her side for a second in case she needed something. Anything. He would be there for Chloe. Forever.
6
The days after Steve’s death had all rolled into one until Chloe had no idea how long it had been. Cal had been wonderfully attentive to her needs. Steve’s death had breathed new life into his project and she’d watched him diligently work on the video. Mike, his professor, mentor, and lead on his thesis committee, had come to the apartment to view his work and listen to Cal explain the project. It was clear Mike was blown away by the work he’d already done. Chloe didn’t quite understand how it was to all come together since it was still in the editing phase and resembled nothing of a documentary. Mike told him he had a real shot at winning the Independent Film Fest’s documentary feature film category. And then he went on to say that if Cal were to win, it would have Hollywood calling.
As Mike was leaving, he said, “Be sure to upload your video by the fifteenth. I’m serious—you’ve got a real shot with this, Cal. Judges love it when you pull at the heart strings.”
Cal had been understandably excited. But Chloe was confused and upset, not sure what Mike had meant.
Cal, behind Chloe, wrapped his arms around her. He kissed her cheek and pressed close.
“Hey, are you feeling better?” he asked.
“Are you going to enter that film festival?”
“Yeah, I think so. Did you hear what he said? With this story I’ve got a real shot at winning.”
“Cal?”
“Yeah, baby.”
“I don’t want you to enter St
eve’s battle in some contest, not for personal gain.”
He released Chloe and moved around her, even as she turned, to look into her face. His eyes were wide. His cheeks flushed.
“How can you even think that’s what I’m doing?” He stepped back and crossed his arms. “Chloe, you should think about what you say before you say it.”
When she didn’t say anything, at least not fast enough to suit him, he turned and started putting on his shoes.
“Where are you going?” Had she mistaken his intentions? It hadn’t sounded as though she had. Mike wanted him to feature the documentary about Steve in a contest. Her ears worked pretty well.
Cal wouldn’t answer her, not even when she asked again. He stood, lips tight and hands clenched at his sides. Then he tilted his head forward and rubbed at his neck. It made a horrible popping sound. He slid his keys from the bowl he kept on a console table by the door and walked out.
He simply walked out.
Chloe cried for a while, but then she got angry. She wondered if Cal had used her yet again, used her to get close to Steve. Now that she thought about it, that was when their relationship had started getting serious—right after he came to the hospital that first time. He’d told her about his thesis project after he’d offered to help with the video editing. Chloe felt sick to her stomach. She ran into the bathroom and spilled the contents of her stomach into the toilet. She collected her things and left his apartment.
Later that evening, there was a knock at Chloe’s door. She knew it would be Cal, but she didn’t want to see him. She didn’t want to be reminded of the traitorous things he’d done. Through the door she said, “Go away, Cal.”
“Chloe, don’t be childish. Open the door. We need to talk.”
“Childish!” Chloe yelled, yanking at the door handle.
Cal strode inside. “Have you come to your senses?”
“Not even close.”
“So you agree that you’re being unreasonable.”
Chloe shook her head, slamming her hands to her hips. “What? No. You mixed up my words.”
