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I scratch my head. “Why is your girlfriend worried about me looking or behaving differently?”
“She enjoyed our little double date and believes you and Chloe will make a good couple.”
I snort loudly. “You two bailed before the night started.”
After the Kent drama, the four of us went to breakfast the next day. I’d woken up with a sense of relief that morning. My talk with Chloe had answered questions I’d wondered about since our night at the bar.
I joke about sex and our relationship, but deep down, I want more. My feelings for her build the more she lets me in and opens herself up to me.
We shared more in one night at the hotel than we had in weeks. I had been outraged when Kent accused me of using Chloe as my whore. Sure, in the beginning, we’d shared orgasms more than feelings, but sex isn’t all we’re about; it wasn’t ever what I wanted us to be all about.
“We were doing you a favor,” Gage says.
“Or you two are lame,” I counter.
“Yes, mypregnantfiancée was tired, but she wanted to give you two alone time since you hadn’t been out much. When you’d suggested the arcade, she’d found the perfect opportunity for you to have fun without worrying about the curious eyes of Blue Beech residents. If we had been there, it would’ve interfered.”
I grab my napkin and wipe my mouth. “I wasn’t aware they taught relationship expertise in nursing school.”
I appear uninterested but have always appreciated Lauren’s advice about women. She’s played a role in successful relationships in our town.
“She has statistics to back up her claims. Dallas and Willow had town gossip issues. She was an out-of-towner, pregnant with Blue Beech’s attractive widower. It helped their relationship when they got out of town.” He shrugs. “Plus, Lauren offered room service, crime TV, and sex. I was down for whatever she suggested.”
“You’re always down for whatever she suggests.”
“Welcome to being in love, man. Get ready for it.”
I snort.
“I almost shot Lauren’s landlord in the head after he hurt her. You punched Kent after he insulted Chloe. A man only interested in sex doesn’t fight over a chick he’s not falling for. You like your neighbor, and for Lord knows what reason, she likes you. Happiness and possiblyfalling in lovelooks good on you, man.”
I grab my water and suck the rest of it down. There’s no disputing his claims. Even though Chloe and I haven’t labeled our relationship, every token of us having one is there. We spend all our free time together, have expressed our feelings toward the other, and aren’t interested in dating anyone else.
There’s no denying it now.
Chloe Fieldgain is no doubt my motherfucking girlfriend.
I can’t help but smile.
Now, I need to convince her to let her guard down and realize it, too.
Gage yawns and goes for his coffee, but the static of our portable radio stops him. The dispatcher reports a public disturbance call. Gage flashes me a concerned look, and my stomach knots when she states the address.
He tells her we’re on it, and I throw down cash to cover our bill before we jump into the car. Gage flips on the sirens and races toward my neighborhood while I fish my phone from my pocket and dial Chloe’s number.
No answer.
Dial it again.
No answer.
“Any idea?” Gage asks, his eyes not leaving the road.
“Her sister gives her trouble sometimes,” I answer.
“Domestic problems—my favorite,” Gage grumbles.
A beat-up truck is in Chloe’s driveway, and Claudia and Roger are standing in her yard. Chloe is on the front porch, her arms folded in disdain. All attention deviates to us, and I’m positive this calm scene isn’t what it was five minutes ago.
