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9
Tate regrets the wordsas soon as he says them. Chloe instantly turns red and tries to cover herself. ‘I didn’t mean it that way. I want to, believe me.’
She slides out from under him and pulls her t-shirt on. ‘It’s fine, Tate. I’m sorry I made you feel uncomfortable.’
‘Can you sit down for one second, please. Jesus Chloe, I want to be with you, I really do. I’ve got to tell you something first though.’
That gets her attention. She fastens her jeans and turns to face him. ‘What’s wrong?’
He pulls on his t-shirt too. Being half naked isn’t going to help the situation. ‘Sit down, please.’
She lowers onto the couch and he sits beside her. He absolutely does not want to have this conversation with her, but after being with her, he knows he has to tell her the truth.
He’s disgusted with himself, but a part of him thought if he just had her once, he’d get her out of his system and he could move on. That plan went to shit as soon as he tasted her. Being with her only made him want her so much more. As desperate as he is to let her continue whatever she was planning when he stopped her, he can’t without her knowing who he is. Fact is there’s a strong chance he’s already put the nail in his coffin by not telling her before he touched her.
‘Are you okay?’
Tate leans forward and clasps his hands together. ‘I need to tell you who I really am before this goes any further. I should have told you when we were in your gran’s house, but I chickened out.’
‘Okay, now you’re worrying me. What do you mean who you really are? Is your name not Tate?’
‘No, it is. It’s more about my full name. Fuck it.’ He takes a deep breath and looks over at her. ‘My name is Tate Archer.’
He pauses as she frowns sightly. His name is familiar to her.
‘The band I’m in...it’s called Broken Chords. We’ve had a few number one songs and albums that hit the same spot. I’m... I fucking hate the term, but I’m a celebrity, famous... whatever way you want to put it. Have been for about five years or so. I thought... I really thought you knew who I was when we met. When I realised you didn’t I—’
‘Oh my god!’ Chloe stares over at him like a switch has been flicked as everything he said registers with her. She pulls out her phone and Tate keeps quiet as she confirms what he’s saying. Chloe checks the images on her screen then looks at him again. Usually when someone recognises him he’s met with a very different expression to the one Chloe has on her face. She’s hurt and confused and it’s all his fault. She holds the phone up to him and points to the photo. ‘That’s you?’
‘Yeah.’
‘You’re a famous rock star, Tate. I mean really famous.’
‘Yeah, I am.’
She looks from her phone to Tate then back again. ‘You didn’t tell me. Why didn’t you tell me? Why did you lie to me?’
‘Hang on. I’ve never lied to you, Chloe.’
