“He showed up one day while my parents were at work and Nessie was out, and to be honest, I wasn’t concerned, which almost scares me more, because I want to think I’ll know who I can trust and who I can’t. I invited him inside, offered him some pop, and suggested we watch a movie.” She bites the inside of her cheek as my teeth clench with a level of aggression that is foreign and unbridled as I paint a story in my head that involves my own personal brand of revenge for this fuckface.
“It didn’t get very far. Nessie got home and heard me yelling for help.”
My heart fucking stops, anger pulsing through me in waves.
“And then I accused you of wanting me to take you and then fucking swam up to you in the pool without a stitch of clothes on like a total wanker.”
She pulls her head back and rolls to sit up, her lips tipped toward the sky. “You were a cocky jerk, but you never tried to force yourself on me. There are entire galaxies that separate you and him, and not a single bit of that space has to do with your money. It’s about you wanting to help those less fortunate. It’s about watching you give up hanging out with us as we play and working toward your dream. It’s you knowing how I like my coffee and looking for us when we got lost in the desert. It’s for sending a car for me and having breakfast ordered for us every single morning. It’s for last year when my car was having trouble, and you came to get me to take me to class when Cooper couldn’t, and never expected anything in return. It’s for coming to Thanksgiving the past two years and never complaining about how bad our pies are.” She pauses to smile. “There’s nothing about you that is reflected in him, which is probably the only reason I wanted to like him because I’ve had a crush on you for so long, and I was trying so hard to get over it.”
I sit up beside her, brushing my thumb across her cheek, and she leans into my touch. “I want to be the man you deserve.”
“I feel the same way. I’m terrified that your world won’t accept me.”
I shake my head. “We make the rules,” I remind her.
She twists, landing a kiss on my outstretched palm. “I would never turn my back on you and try to screw you over. Even if we weren’t together, I wouldn’t do that. I know how much you mean to Cooper.”
“I know.” I lean back into the pillow. “I know you wouldn’t, that was me; my insecurities and always expecting the worst.” I remain still, trying to stop the mental image of another guy touching Chloe, forcing himself on her. “Will you tell me his name?”
Silence hangs in the air for several beats as I feel her lie down, the movement drawing my eyes open. She’s pensive, rubbing her lips together as she stares beyond me. “I don’t want vengeance. I want to just forget about it. I don’t even know why I brought it up. Nessie thinks I need to talk about it because it will help me get over it, but I don’t have anything to get over. I don’t want it to impact me. I want to move forward and never think about him or that day again.” Her nostrils flare as she slowly moves her gaze to meet mine. “Honestly, what bothers me most is the idea he’ll do it to someone else, and they might not have someone walk in to help them. That, and I really hate the idea of you thinking about it and it keeping you from wanting to touch me.”
I skim my fingers over her shoulder and down her arm, settling my hand on the valley of her waist.
She props her head on one hand, her elbow resting beside my shoulder. “I love when you lose control, and your hands are touching me with this level of desperation and need that makes me feel how badly you want me. I’m addicted to that feeling. I don’t want him to change that. I don’t want anything to change that.”
“I would pay for the entire lawsuit,” I tell her. “To make you, and others, feel safe. I would find you the best lawyers and put the weight of my family’s name into this.”
“I already know the laws. I looked them up because I didn’t want him to do it again, and Florida requires penetration for sexual assault crimes, and he didn’t make it that far. Nessie yelled, and it startled him, and then I kneed him in the balls.” She grins, but the bright glimmer that hits her eyes when she’s truly amused is missing. “I hate that I dropped this bomb on you, especially in the way that I did.” She hangs her head, and I recognize the shame that mars her features.
I reach for her, hauling her across my body, the surprise making her green eyes flash to mine. “You didn’t do anything wrong, Chloe. Not then, not now. He didn’t take anything from us,” I tell her. “Nothing changes except it’s a reminder how hard I’m willing to work to ensure you’re never scared or hurt again.”
She shakes her head. “It’s not your debt to pay.”
I smooth a strand of hair behind her ear. “It’s not a debt. Even if the fucker hadn’t done what he did, I’d still want that for you because you’re important to me and because I literally can’t seem to breathe when you’re hurt or there’s even a chance of you getting hurt. You carved out a space in my heart, and you did it without me even realizing.” I bring her hand to my chest, allowing her to feel the erratic beat of my heart. “That’s you,” I tell her. “That’s all you.”
Her smile damn near blinds me, and then she’s kissing me, sweetly, gently. I savor the feel of her, the taste of her, the scent of her, allowing each detail of her to consume me completely.
Chloe
I wake up to discover Tyler’s still asleep.
It’s only the second time I’ve been awake before him.
I take advantage of the moment, staring at the hard planes of his cheeks and jaw, the roundness of his lips, the straight line of his nose. His hair is sexy and mussed and perfect, and his bare shoulders are broad, stacked with muscles that I’ve traced my lips and fingers across, and yet, I feel starved to explore every part of him again.
The shower taunts me, having gone untouched since our arrival. I make a silent pact with myself to make sure we spend some time in there before leaving.
I slip out from the covers and make my way to the living room in hopes of finding Cooper. We need to talk and resolve this stupid Ricky situation. Throughout our years of friendship, Cooper and I have only fought a handful of times, and never have I been on the receiving end of the look he shot me last night: disappointment and rage along with a heavy dose of betrayal.
The living room is empty except for a note from Nessie that tells me they’ll meet us at the meteor shower tonight.
I debate whether to text or call Cooper and if doing either would be pushing the boundaries considering he’s out with Nessie, who might feel obligated to choose sides or if doing so would ruin his mood and thus their day.
“Rule one, you’re not allowed to get out of bed without kissing me.” Tyler saunters into the living room, dragging a hand down his still bare chest, allowing me to see every hard muscle. His sweatpants ride low on his hips, and his hair is still sexy and mussed.
“You were sleeping,” I tell him as his hands hook around my waist. “I might have kissed you, and you didn’t even realize it.”
He shakes his head. “I’d know because I’d have felt your lips,” he raises one hand to cup my chin, slowly running the pad of his thumb across my bottom lip, “and you have the sexiest, softest, most erotic lips.”