Deciding Love (26 page)

Chloe

Nine Months Later…

I didn’t want to think of it as me running away. But that’s exactly what it was.

Moving to California with my dad was the only thing that had made sense to me at the time. As much as I knew I’d miss Cat, there was just no way I could handle seeing Kyle.

So I’d told my parents I wanted to stay together while Dad was in California. While at first they’d seemed suspicious, I’d finally convinced them I missed having Dad around, and that I was okay moving again. If they’d noticed that day that I had been crying or upset, neither had said anything.

Cat and I had both cried over the phone when I’d told her, but I think she had understood. My heart was broken, and it would never be able to heal if just the sight of Kyle ripped it apart again and again.

When I’d gone in early Monday morning to get my records for my new school, I’d run into Hilary in the halls, and the entire encounter had solidified for me that leaving was the right decision.

“I bet you thought you’d be different, didn’t you?” She’d sneered at me.

I had stopped and looked at her, dread washing over me. “What do you mean?”

“Briggs?” She said as though I were an idiot. “He never stays with a girl for more than two weeks. Everyone knows that. You’re no different than the rest of us, even if he paraded around with you more than anyone else.”

I had swallowed the pain and gave her an indifferent look. “I never said I was different.”

“Yeah,” she said with a short laugh, “right. I know heartbreak when I see it.”

That had made my weak facade crumble. And for a moment, I almost thought I’d seen sympathy on her face.

“You should stick with the good boys. Guys like Briggs only ever leave broken hearts behind. You two were never a good match.”

I’d watched her walk away, and still months later her words had stuck with me. When I’d enrolled in my new school, I’d taken her warning to heart, and never looked twice at any guy who fell into the “bad boy” category.

My heart never really healed completely, but I’d given it my best by opening myself up to other guys. I’d even dated one for four months. I’d tried so hard to fall for him, even sleeping with him after the third month. But it just wasn’t the same. My body didn’t ignite under his touch, or ache to be as close to his as possible.

And no matter what I did, when I went to sleep at night, Kyle’s dark gaze would be waiting for me. Always. He wouldn’t leave me.

The six month transfer had been extended to nine, which suited me just fine. The last month of school in California was amazing. I had loved the summer sun and ocean, and I’d even met a few girls that had become friends. Of course, I still considered Cat my bestie, and even flew her out for spring break. It had been amazing. Neither one of us had mentioned her brother, which I had appreciated more than I could say.

“There,” Gus said, fluffing my newly cut hair. It still fell past my shoulders, but it was shorter than I usually wore it, and he had added different shades of brown to it, creating depth and shine. I looked at my reflection, twisting my head from side to side, loving the way the warm tones highlighted my tanned skin.

“I love it,” I said, meeting his eyes in the mirror.

He gave me a big wink. “You, my beauty, are going to have those college boys going nuts over you.”

I laughed. “I doubt it.”

He hummed to himself. “Just you wait and see. But you better make them work for it. Anyone worth having a sweet girl like you needs to prove himself.”

Too bad I couldn’t seem to like anyone enough to give them a chance, I thought. If I’d thought this time away would lessen my feelings for Kyle, I’d been sorely mistaken. The pain was gone, mostly, but my heart still raced whenever I thought of him. God knows what would happen if I ever saw him again. Hopefully that wouldn’t happen.

Cat and I had been accepted to the same University, and would be getting an apartment together, but there was no reason for Kyle to ever visit her, so I was pretty sure I was safe. I was going back to Bloomfield this weekend to spend the two months of summer with my parents at our house. I missed the old place, and Dad was officially done here in California.

Cat and I would be driving up to school together in the new car Mom and Dad had bought me for graduation. As much as I was terrified to go back to Bloomfield, I was also excited to be able to see my best friend, and my brother. Colt never asked directly what had happened with Kyle, but I could tell by the way he purposely avoided the subject whenever we spoke over the phone that he knew things hadn’t ended well.

“When am I going to see you again?” Gus asked as he whipped the cape off me, brushing stray hairs from my shoulder.

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “I’ll try to come back sometime, and when I do, you will be the first person I visit.”

He smiled, his one gold tooth flashing in the light. “I’m going to hold you to that, my pretty.”

The yellow walls surrounded me as I stood in the middle of my old bedroom, my suitcases at my feet. A small smile lifted my lips as I breathed in the familiar scent. I had missed the old house, so different from the modern place we’d had on the coast.

The flight hadn’t been long, but I was exhausted. Cat and I were supposed to meet up for dinner later, leaving enough time for me to have a quick nap.

“Chloe!”

I jumped as the deep voice yelled up the stairs. Giving my bed one last fleeting look, I turned to head downstairs, finding Colt and Olivia in the family room.

“Hey,” I said, surprised to see them.

Colt walked over and wrapped me in a hug, another surprise that had me grinning like a fool when he finally pulled away.

“It’s nice to see you, sis,” he said, chucking me lightly on the chin.

“How did you know I was back already?”

Olivia laughed as she nudged Colt to the side to give me a hug also.

“Your dad called him last night to let us know when you’d be landing. He’s been waiting all day,” she said.

“That’s so...nice,” I said, shocked. I hadn’t expected him to actually miss me.

Colt shrugged, looking slightly embarrassed.

“So, what have you guys been up to?” I asked as we all went to sit.

Olivia sighed, rolling her eyes. “We’ve been running around like mad this week to get ready for Ella’s wedding.”

“That sounds fun,” I said. “I love weddings.”

“Yeah, it’s just a lot of work. We’re having it at the farm, so there’s just so much to do since we’re doing it all ourselves. And Ella’s busy with a toddler running around, so Mina and I have been trying to make it as easy as possible for her.”

“If you need extra help, let me know,” I offered. “I’ll be around until the end of summer.”

“Thanks, girl,” she said. “I’m sure we can manage. So long as Mina and Gage’s brother Cam can start getting along.”

Colt snorted. He leaned forward. “So, how was Cali?”

“It was awesome. We had a place right by the ocean.”

“That’s cool,” he said slowly, nodding his head. “And...you’re okay being back here?”

Shoot. I knew what he was inferring, and I really didn’t want to have this conversation. “I’m fine,” I said, plastering the biggest smile on my face that I could manage. I could tell that neither of them bought it, but they were nice enough not to push.

We talked for a bit longer before they had to leave. When I walked them out, Colt stayed back, pausing at the top of the porch steps beside me.

“Listen,” he started, looking out at the street. “If you run into any problems, I want you to come to me. It’s what I’m here for, you know? I’m your brother. I want to be the one that you can go to when things get tough.”

My cheeks heated even as my chest warmed with his open concern. “Thanks, Colt. I appreciate it.” I took a deep breath. “I know what you’re referring to, and you don’t need to worry. I’m going to be fine.”

He turned his head toward me, one brow arched. “So you’re not going to go running away to another state again?”

I winced. “No,” I said.

He nodded slowly. “Okay. Just don’t forget if you need me I’m here. And I can take Briggs any day of the week,” he said with a smirk.

I chuckled. “That won’t be necessary, but I’ll keep it in mind.”

He leaned in, kissing the top of my head before heading down the steps.

“Talk to you later, sis.”

“Bye, Colt.”

Going inside, I fell back against the closed door and took a deep breath. I was going to be fine, right? It had been nine months, I could handle being in the same town as Kyle Briggs now.

Of course I could. I was stronger than I was when everything had first happened. I’d show everyone there was nothing to worry about.

I threw on a long shirt that fell off one shoulder and some tights, figuring it would get cooler when the sun went down, and it was unlikely Cat and I would be going anywhere fancy to eat. She’d texted me an hour ago telling me to pick her up at the tattoo shop she worked at downtown.

Relief had washed over me knowing I wouldn’t have to go to her house. Yes, I could handle being in Bloomfield again, but that didn’t mean I was anxious to come face to face with Kyle again.

“Where are my flats?” I wondered out loud. Finding one, I rummaged through my suitcase to find the other, when my fingers touched a hard surface at the bottom of my bag. Grabbing it, I sat back on the edge of the bed, staring down at the thin folder in my hands.

Swallowing against the dryness in my mouth, I slowly opened it, slipping out the piece of paper I kept inside. The two pieces of paper were held together by tape, but it didn’t take away from the drawing. I traced the lines of my nude body as I had so many times before. After I’d ripped it apart, I’d caved in and taped it back together as soon as I’d gone back to my room. Did that make me weak? What did it say about me that I had kept it with me this whole time?

I’d only taken it out a few times since, once being right after I’d slept with Jacob, my ex-boyfriend from California. It hurt to look at, and yet it brought back all the amazing things I had felt that day. All the things I thought Kyle had felt too.

Shaking my head, I placed it back in the folder and shoved it into the drawer of my bedside table. Finding my other shoe, I grabbed my purse and headed downstairs to let my parents know I was going out for the evening. No more dwelling on the past.

The tattoo shop was in an older red bricked building down town. The open sign was lit as I walked up to it. It looked pretty cool from the outside so I wasn’t surprised when I walked in and instantly saw a cool, modern interior mixed with antique pieces. The place was packed with people, a few sitting on benches, waiting for their turn. Some were standing at one end of the counter flipping through books of art. All the stations behind the counter were filled already, the buzzing sound of the tattoo guns working to create skillful pieces on skin.

Cat sat behind the counter near the cash register, a phone receiver held to her ear. Her eyes lit up when she saw me, holding up a finger as she spoke back to the person on the other line.

As I waited I walked around the shop, looking at the pieces of art showcased on the walls. It was amazing. Whoever was the artist did some really beautiful work. It was no wonder the place seemed so popular.

I neared an area filled with images of women, some featuring just a pair of eyes or lips, hands clenched against sheets, all images of a women clearly in the throes of passion. As I looked closer, I realized it was all the same woman I was looking at. Not just some woman either.

It was me.

Me.

Oh my god.

My eyes flew through the images again as heat infused my cheeks. When I stared into the one that focused just on a pair of eyes, there was no doubt in my mind that I was looking at
my
eyes.

I took a step back. There was no way.

I turned to look at Cat, already feeling her worried gaze on me, but got caught on the person who emerged from the back room. Kyle stepped out, talking to another guy, who I realized a second later was Rannon.

Rannon didn’t see me, his hands moving rapidly as he spoke to Kyle who had a small smirk on his face as he listened. But it didn’t take long for Kyle’s eyes to find mine as he looked up. That smirk slipped from his face as our gazes locked, his widening only slightly in surprise.

Seeing him brought it all back. Why did I think I could handle this? Just looking at him hurt. My body felt as though a switch had been flipped, buzzing suddenly with that electric energy that only happened when I was around him.

I was in no way ready for this.

I needed to get out of here. I couldn’t be around him. But my feet wouldn’t move, even as I heard my name being called out.

I was so screwed.

30

Kyle

She was here.

“Chloe!” Rannon called out happily as soon as he realized what I’d been staring at. He walked toward her as I stayed rooted to the spot. “What’s up, baby sis?” He said, picking her stiff body up and spinning her around.