But she didn’t stop him, so he’d never know.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Fourdayslater,Chloecurled up under a blanket on the sofa watchingSay Yes to the Dress. The only time she’d gotten up was to take care of her most basic needs. She still wore the same clothes—leggings and an oversized sweatshirt—as when Theo had left her apartment. She hadn’t combed her hair, brushed her teeth, or showered. If she Googled the definition for “hot mess,” she’d find her photo.
Pizza boxes and Chinese take-out containers littered the coffee table, and she pushed them aside to find the tissue box. She’d cried after every bride found her dream wedding dress and was marrying the love of her life. They were so happy, bursting with excitement for their big day and beginning a new life. How fucking fabulous. She knew she should turn the show off. But for some sick reason, she liked torturing herself. She should binge reruns of Seinfeld to make her laugh, but her face felt like stone. Would she ever be able to crack a smile again? She doubted it.
The buzzer for the foyer door rang. Had she ordered takeout? It was hard to remember. The days were blurring together. The buzzer sounded again, and she pushed the blanket off her lap, got up, and padded barefoot to the intercom. Chocolate wrappers crinkled under her feet. “Yes?” she said into the speaker.
“Chloe, it’s us. Open up,” Daniela’s no-nonsense voice came through the crackly speakers.
Chloe took her finger off the button and groaned. Aw crap. Her friends were downstairs. She’d been avoiding their calls and text messages. She should have known they’d eventually show up.
The buzzer rang again. “I’m busy. Can you come back another day?”
“You are not busy,” Daniela said. “We’ve had a client meeting for today on the books for the last six months.”
She glanced at the clock and then at the calendar in her phone. Daniela was right: they had had a meeting planned. “Can we reschedule? I’m sick.” And she was, heartsick that is.
Hazel’s voice came over the speaker next. “That’s what we’re here for! I’ve got some good old-fashioned kosher chicken soup, guaranteed to knock any illness out of you.”
“And assuming that’s not the real problem,” Blair added archly, “I’ve got five pints of ice cream with your name on them.”
Chloe almost laughed. Her friends were like a force of nature; she was lucky to have them. But even her friends couldn’t help her now, all she wanted to do was wallow in her grief until she became numb. “Go away.”
“No, Blair and I will stand here pressing this button all damn day until you let us in.”
Chloe leaned her forehead on the wall and squeezed her eyes shut. She wanted to be left alone. Knowing her friends, they’d do what they threatened until they drew the attention of either the super or a passing cop, and wouldn’t that just be a steaming pile of dung on top of an already shit sandwich? “Fine,” she sighed and pressed the button to unlock the foyer door.
Giving the living room a quick glance, she contemplated tidying up in the couple of minutes it would take for her friends to arrive. Eh, screw it. She was too spent to even think of picking up a single take-out container.
Rapid knocking hit the door. Chloe swung it open. Blair, Daniela, and Hazel charged inside, stopping short at the mess in the living room. They turned to face her, and their eyes widened with shock as they scanned her disheveled state.
“This is worse than we thought,” Hazel whispered in Blair’s ear.
“Are those noodles in her hair?” Blair whispered back to Hazel.
“When was the last time you showered?” Daniela wrinkled her nose at Chloe.
“Or even eaten a decent meal. I’m glad I brought the soup.” Hazel glanced inside an empty take-out container.
“And the ice cream,” Blair added.
“Is there a reason you’re here? I’m in the middle of something.” She had to get back to watching the brides cry tears of joy while she cried tears of misery.
“We’ve come to check on you. Make sure you’re okay,” Hazel said. “You haven’t been answering your phone.”
“Or your texts,” Blair added.
“Or your emails,” Daniela finished.
“I’m fine.” She tried to smile to reassure them so they could leave, but her mouth wouldn’t budge.
“You’re not fine.” Blair went to wrap her arms around her. Chloe stepped back. If Blair comforted her, she’d fall apart. She’d cried enough; she didn’t want to fall apart too.
“You are definitely not fine. Look at this place!” Daniela motioned to Mount Take-out Container on the table.
“Yes, I am. I’m always this messy.” She waved her arms to take in the room. “Why would you think otherwise?”
