CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT: CHLOE

I made it.

Somehow, I made it through twenty-four hours with barely exchanging a word with Theo. As I’d thought, he’d been out almost all day on Friday, and the only real conversation we’d had had consisted of me telling him I would be leaving early.

I’d landed late last night and immediately returned to my flat. It was cold and dreary compared to the warmth of Buckley Cottage, and I wasn’t sure that warmth extended solely to the temperature.

Being alone after four weeks of near constant companionship was quite jarring.

Or maybe it was because of the person I’d been with.

Even sleeping had felt somewhat strange, despite how tired I’d been after my rush to the airport. I was so used to Theo being down the hall and hearing him moving about—not to mention that most nights over the past week had been us sleeping together.

Even after our little disagreement on Thursday night there’d been comfort in hearing him shuffling around the cottage.

But now, as I stood in my familiar kitchen, scooping beans into my coffee machine, I was very, very alone.

There was no creaking of floorboards as he walked across the upstairs hallway. No rush of water from the shower or sink. No mumbling about something under his breath as he organised his thoughts.

Even with the sound of the coffee machine whirring to life, it was too quiet.

When had I become so accustomed to Theo being around?

Was I missing him right now?

Shit.

I was.

I was missing him.

I took my cup from the machine and wandered back into the living room. For a moment, I almost turned back to make another cup before remembering that there was nobody to make one for.

There was just me.

Ha.

This was a mess.

To think I’d come back for Aunt Fizz’s birthday to clear my head and end up even more confused.

How was it that I was missing him this much already? How was I going to cope when, in two weeks, our little cohabitation period was over?

More to the point, why was I missing him so much? Was it comfort? Or was it my sneaky little feelings rearing their head?

The latter terrified me. I didn’t want to feel anything like this for him. There was no way me liking Theo romantically would ever end up well—it would complicate every facet of my life.

I said that like having sex with him didn’t do that very thing.

I finished my coffee, sighed, and headed upstairs to the bathroom to shower. Thankfully, I’d bought all my toiletries when we’d arrived in Buckley Heath, so my bathroom was still well-stocked with the necessities.

I showered quickly, brushed my teeth, and shuffled back to my bedroom. I was in no rush—Aunt Fizz’s party wasn’t until later, but I had a very important date with my bed.

Namely sitting on it for the next forty-five minutes in nothing but a towel while I air-dried.

I sat down and grabbed my phone from the pillow. Heidi had said to save her some time tomorrow, but I wasn’t sure I could spend this day alone. I fired off a quick text to her asking if she was around, and my phone buzzed just mere seconds later.

But it wasn’t her.

THE BASTARD: Chloe.

Whoops.

I forgot that was his name in my phone. It’d been such a long time since we’d used it to contact one another given the circumstances.

Still, I smiled. I couldn’t help it. Seeing that old nickname for Theo tickled me, almost as much as him texting me did.

Ugh.

What was wrong with me?

ME: Theo.

What did he want? Why was he texting me? He’d barely spoken a word to me since Thursday lunchtime.

THE BASTARD: It’s too quiet here.

THE BASTARD: I miss you.

Oh.

Oh.

Curse this little fluttering of my heart.

THE BASTARD: You make coffee much better than I do.

Never mind.

ME: And here I thought you were saying something nice.

THE BASTARD: It’s true, though. I do miss you.

I sighed, plopping down on my side, still clutching my phone tightly.

He missed me.

Could I be silly and believe that he missed me the same way I did him right now?

ME: …I miss you, too.

THE BASTARD: I never thought you’d say those words to me.

ME: Well, it’s too quiet, and there’s a severe lack of funky socks in my laundry.

THE BASTARD: Ah, so it’s the potential blackmail material you miss.

ME: I was trying not to say it, but…

THE BASTARD: Life with you is a series of heartbreaks, Chlo.

What?

He was so dramatic.

THE BASTARD: What time is the party today?

ME: Starts at seven, but I think I might go to Aunt Fizz and Uncle Jay’s house before lunch. My place is too quiet.

THE BASTARD: You should adopt a cat when we’re done up here.

ME: I’ve never considered it. You’ve always kept me too busy for a pet.

THE BASTARD: Well, you’ll have all the time in the world since you’re abandoning me.

ME: I see you have a flair for the dramatic this morning.

THE BASTARD: The thought of you leaving me makes me act this way.

ME: Are you trying to be pitiful enough to make me change my mind?

THE BASTARD: Between that and seducing you, I was hoping I had a shot at it.

Ha.

ME: I see you’ve pulled the stick out of your arse.

THE BASTARD: What can I say? Waking up to you not being here was more shocking than I thought.

ME: You’re being very needy again.

THE BASTARD: Only because it’s you.

ME: You know, if you keep saying things like that, I might start getting the wrong idea.

THE BASTARD: That depends on what you think the wrong idea is.

ME: That you can’t live without me.

THE BASTARD: You already know that much is true.

ME: I don’t mean professionally.

THE BASTARD: Who said that’s what I meant?

I bit my lower lip, dragging my teeth across it and snagging a dry bit of skin. I picked at it as I stared at his words, and I winced as I plucked the tiny bit away.

Ouch.

That stung.

THE BASTARD: What time is your flight back tomorrow?

Thank God.

I had no idea how to respond to his last message. Was it a joke? Was he being serious? I didn’t know.

This was much easier.

ME: 6.30.

THE BASTARD: In the morning???

ME: Absolutely not.

THE BASTARD: In the evening???

ME: That’s the only other 6.30 on the clock.

THE BASTARD: Hm.

ME: Hm? What’s hm?

THE BASTARD: Nothing. Have fun with your family. Tell Harvey to call me.

ME: No. I’m not on the clock. Call him yourself.

THE BASTARD: I’m starting to miss the days you’d just say ‘yes, sir’ to everything.

ME: I would, but you told me not to call you sir in bed, so I’m getting out of the habit.

THE BASTARD: …

THE BASTARD: I reserve the right to change my mind at any time, you know.

ME: I’m sure you do.

ME: Sir.

THE BASTARD: You should book an earlier flight.

ME: No.

THE BASTARD: Why?

ME: I’m annoyed at you. :)

THE BASTARD: I know. You have every right to be. That’s why I want you to come back sooner so we can talk face to face.

Shit.

I wasn’t expecting that.

ME: I suppose it would be awkward if we went into work mode on Monday while barely talking.

THE BASTARD: No.

THE BASTARD: I don’t care about that.

THE BASTARD: I just want to apologise properly.

Damn it.

I could cope with him being demanding. I could cope with him being needy. I could even cope with him being petty and childish for unknown reasons. I could cope with him dirty talking in my ear and touching me in indecent ways.

I could not cope with this sweet, considerate version of him.

Neither could my heart.

ME: I should be back by 9.30 tomorrow night. You’ll just have to wait.

THE BASTARD: I’m not very patient.

ME: I don’t know why you’re telling me that. I already know.

THE BASTARD: I can’t believe I was missing you.

ME: Believe me, the feeling is mutual.

THE BASTARD: Can you do me a favour?

ME: What?

THE BASTARD: Harvey said your aunt tries to set you up with guys at her parties.

ME: Unfortunately, he was telling the truth. If I’d had more time, I’d have started a betting pool for tonight’s victim.

THE BASTARD: Don’t go out with them.

My heart skipped.

ME: I never do.

THE BASTARD: Good. Make sure you don’t.

***

“Chloe!” Aunt Fizz wrapped her arms around me, squeezing me tightly against her. “I missed you!”

“I missed you, too, Aunt Fizz,” I said, patting her back. “But I can’t breathe.”

“You don’t need to breathe, my darling, my love, my little sweetie pie.” She rocked me from side to side. “How could you be away from me for four whole weeks?”

“Take it up with Theo,” Harvey said, rocking his chair on the back two legs. “He’s the one who whisked her away to the romantic Lake District for six weeks.”

Aunt Fizz stilled and cradled me, touching her hand to the back of my head like I was some fantasy novel protagonist on the cusp of danger. “He and I will fall out. How dare he take my precious Chloe from me?”

Harvey stared at her. “You do realise you’re my mother, don’t you?”

“It’s a well-known fact aunts prefer their nieces and nephews.”

“I don’t think it is.”

“It should be well-known by you that this aunt prefers her niece. Even that aside, she’s like a daughter to me, so get over it.”

“Aunt Fizz.” I gently poked her back. “Please. I can’t breathe.”

“Let her go, Felicity.” Uncle Jay extracted me from her enthusiastic embrace and pulled me out of her reach. “And don’t provoke Harvey. You know he’ll just bully her.”

I pressed my lips together as Harvey turned his glare on his father.

“Why am I the black sheep of the family?” he grumbled. “It’s the same at work. Everyone loves Chloe more than me. Do you know how peaceful it’s been while she’s been off on her romantic rendezvous with Theo?”

Uncle Jay froze. “What romantic rendezvous?”

Oh, Jesus Christ.

“Stop being a brat!” I gave Harvey a quick smack around the back of the head. “There’s nothing romantic or rendezvous about our business trip,” I said to Uncle Jay.

Look.

It was only partially a lie.

It wasn’t romantic—technically—but there was quite a lot of the rendezvous-ing going on.

At least there had been over the last week.

Uncle Jay ran his fingertips over his goatee. “Mm. I don’t trust that one. He’s rich and handsome. That’s always a combination for disaster.”

Harvey grinned. “Keep not trusting him. I’m sure it was a scheme cooked up by him and his grandfather to ensnare our innocent Chloe.”

I smacked him again, but there was nothing quick or light about this one. “You can talk shit about Theo all you like, but I’ll fight you if you slander the duke.”

Aunt Fizz narrowed her eyes. “She’s right. The duke wouldn’t do something like that. Charles is a lovely man.”

Well.

I wouldn’t put it past him, if I was being entirely honest.

“I wouldn’t go that far,” Uncle Jay said dryly. “Anyway, Chloe, tell us. How is it living with Theo? He’s treating you well, isn’t he?”

That was one way of putting it.

“It’s much better than I thought it would be,” I said, sitting next to Harvey at the kitchen island. “Turns out he’s not a demanding arsehole all of the time; just most of it.”

Harvey buried his face in his hands. “If that’s your opinion of him after four weeks of being together almost every hour of the day, he’s doomed.”

Uncle Jay fixed his attention on Harvey. “Why is he doomed?”

“No reason.”

“Harvey Edward Park,” Aunt Fizz said menacingly, planting her hands on the island and leaning forwards. She glared at him with her chestnut brown eyes. “Why would Theodore be doomed if Chloe thinks he’s a demanding arsehole?”

“I’m thirty-one-years-old. Why am I being interrogated like I’m a teenager who snuck out of their bedroom window?” he grumbled. “It’s none of my business.”

“Then stop talking about it,” I muttered. “Honestly, it’s fine. It’s far from the worst thing I’ve ever done, and six weeks isn’t so long in the grand scheme of things.”

Aunt Fizz softened. “I just get so worried about you all the way up there by yourself. It’s not as though I can rush to you if something happens.”

“Of course, you can,” Uncle Jay said. “I’ll just charter a helicopter.”

Ah.

How the other half lived.

This particular ‘other half’ was my beloved family, but we still lived vastly different lives.

Uncle Jay turned to me and sniffed. “I told you that you didn’t have to do this. I could just hire you a lawyer to force him to accept your resignation.”

Although it wasn’t for a lack of trying on their part.

I held up my hands. “It’s fine. Honestly, I don’t dislike my boss, and I want him to succeed in his position, so it’s okay.”

“Since when you did not dislike him?” Harvey asked, side-eying me. “All you ever did before you left was complain about him.”

“I still complain about him. Just not to you,” I pointed out.

“I’m offended by that.”

“Why? All you ever do is tell me to shut up about him.”

“And I miss doing that.”

Aunt Fizz pressed her fingers against her temples. “Honestly, sometimes I’m very happy you two aren’t real siblings. I don’t know if I could have dealt with your bickering for eighteen years.”

I grinned. “Don’t worry. I might have drowned him by the time I turned thirteen.”

“Well, you’re still young.”

“Mum!” Harvey exclaimed, banging his fist against the table. “This favouritism is getting out of hand.”

Aunt Fizz grabbed the nearest tea towel, twisted it, and whipped it in his direction. “Don’t sit there whining. Aren’t you the one who came here shouting and yelling about that bastard whisking our Chloe away up north?”

I smiled smugly, slowly turning my face in his direction. “Oh? Were we playing at being big brother again?”

Harvey buried his face in his hands. “I really wish you’d stayed up there, you know.”

I leant against him, grinning. “You don’t mean that. You missed me, didn’t you?”

“Like a hole in the head.”

“That can be arranged.”

“Don’t you have anything better to do than harass me?”

“After four weeks of not seeing you?” I said, hugging his arm and squeezing. “Never. Not ever. Nuh-uh.”

Harvey sighed. “Damn it. Welcome home, Chlo.”