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“So they were in love.”
“I guess they thought they were. But Anna said she realized how sick it was, and she sent him a letter. She told Thomas it was wrong and she didn’t want to live like that. She said they could either build a life together or he could marry you, but he couldn’t have you both.”
“Wow. She was…she was going to steal him from me.”
“She thought he’d stay with you. She was trying to end it.”
“Well, that certainly didn’t work out very well!”
“I guess he thought she was telling him she was ready to run away. When he called her…she couldn’t believe it.”
Chloe stared out the windshield, stunned by the story. If this were a soap opera, she’d be the villain, the cold fiancée keeping Thomas from his true love.
“Chloe.” Jenn reached for her hand, but when Chloe instinctively drew away, Jenn put her hand back on the steering wheel. Beautiful houses slipped past the windows, white paint glowing in the cheerful morning light. Meanwhile, Chloe was driving through her own personal hurricane.
“He fell in love with someone else and I didn’t even notice.”
“Anna thinks it was more about running away from his mother than it was about her.”
“Well, I’m happy Anna has such great insight into my fiancé. Did she help him embezzle money? Did she steal money from her father?”
“I don’t know. She’s cooperating with the district attorney. We didn’t talk about that.”
Chloe swallowed hard. She stared ahead, not seeing the road. Instead, she saw the DeLorn Limited phone numbers flashing to life on her phone. “His mother,” she breathed. “What?”
“He stole that money from his mother. That’s what the embezzlement charges are.”
“They haven’t said what—”
“That phone call from his mom. That’s what it was about. She’s trying to convince the D.A. that she gave Thomas money, so they wouldn’t charge him for stealing from the company.”
Jenn looked shocked, but Chloe was nodding to herself. “She wants to pay off the bills from the wedding. I’ll bet she’ll try to convince me to testify on his behalf. Jesus, she must be delusional.”
“I’m sorry,” Jenn said, though it wasn’t clear who she was apologizing for. Chloe didn’t respond, and for the last five minutes of their drive, neither said a word. But as the car bumped over the curb on the turn into Chloe’s alley, words were jolted from her mouth.
“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me.”
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I just… I never wanted to see that look on your face. The look on your face right now… I’m sorry.” She was sobbing openly now. “I’m so sorry.”
Infuriated by the urge to wrap her arms around her friend, Chloe got out of the car and slammed the door behind her. If Anna was there, Chloe would slap her face, but slamming the car door was the best she could do in Anna’s absence.
Her conscience tried to tug her back to her weeping friend, but she pushed herself up the stairs and into her sad little apartment.
Her defiance was cheap and easy now that the paparazzi had lost interest, but she still felt a surge of power when she raised the shade on the largest window facing the alley. Dust motes swirled crazily in the light. She hadn’t opened this shade once in the month she’d lived here. Bracing herself, she pushed hard on the window and managed to raise the swollen sash about four inches. That was enough to satisfy her, and she crossed to the facing window and opened that one, as well. A breeze chased over her skin, and Chloe dropped into a chair at the small table and rested her head in her hands.
They’d all betrayed her. Everyone she’d loved most.
And yet the only thing that mattered to her at that moment was the breeze sliding over her skin and the room brightening with the smell of fresh-cut grass. She was too tired to care about anything else, frankly, and she knew she’d feel bad about that later.
But for now she just sat there and breathed and felt comfortable in her apartment for the first time.
When the knock came, Chloe didn’t jump or even open her eyes. “Who is it?”
“It’s Max.”
“Come in.”
The door opened, setting a wave of air curling over her. Nice.
