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The hope fell from her face and she shrugged.
Maybe for Christmas. Or her birthday. Or some random day when she’d least expect it. He could surprise her and Jesse with the dog they both wished for.
Because sometimes wishes come true.
And when you love someone you do everything in your power to make sure they do.
“Perhaps a kitten instead?” Taylor smiled.
Make a wish, little bird. Make a wish.
Chloe decided she detested moving. In fact, at that moment, she couldn’t think of anything she hated more. Her little apartment looked like a bomb went off inside. A danger zone with boxes everywhere. Some were taped, labeled, and precariously stacked. Some only half-filled while others were scattered about the place still empty. It was like a nightmare episode of Hoarders. How the fuck had she accumulated so much stuff in the three years she’d lived here?
Armed with a handful of markers, she color-coded the boxes based on where they were going—Jesse’s, Taylor’s, storage, or donations. It was an intricate, daunting process, but she was determined to keep it all organized so when the movers arrived in the morning they could just load and go. She could turn in her keys. Easy-peasy, right?
Except that it wasn’t. Even with Jesse and Taylor here helping her she felt overwhelmed by it all. She surveyed the disarray that surrounded her and thought she might cry.
“Babe.” Jesse came into the room, biceps bulging, carrying two boxes stacked one on top of the other. “Where do you want these?”
She shrugged and he set the boxes down at his feet.
Out of nowhere tears sprang to her eyes. Chloe tried to blink them back because she didn’t want Jesse to notice, but she failed. She felt the burn of liquid saline seeping from the corners. She hastily wiped her eyes and maneuvered her way through a maze of boxes into the kitchen.
What the fuck is wrong with me?
“Babe?” Jesse followed her into the kitchen. Chloe hid her face in the open refrigerator door to wipe her cheeks and get a bottle of water. She felt his arms wrap around her waist from behind and he pulled her in against him. He kissed her neck. “Are you okay?”
No.
She took a breath. “Yeah. I’m just tired and…moving sucks.”
He turned her around in his arms and held her tight. “It know it does, but look…” He glanced around the apartment. “…we’re almost done.”
“It doesn’t look like it to me.”
“An hour tops.” Jesse walked her out of the kitchen and cleared off the pink sofa. “This will have to do. Taylor’s breaking down the bed.” He kissed her forehead and covered her with a throw. “Rest for a bit, Riosin. We’ve got it.”
“But…”
He kissed her. “We’ve got it, babe.”
Too tired to argue with him, she closed her eyes.
The cushion dipped and a hand rubbed her shoulder. Fingers combed through her hair. “Chloe.”
She opened her eyes. Taylor leaned over her and softly kissed her lips. “Time to go home.”
Groggily she sat up and looked around the apartment. The maze was gone. The walls were bare and the boxes were neatly stacked. “It’s all done?”
“All done, cherry cake.” He ruffled her hair. “Come on, Jesse’s waiting downstairs.”
“How long was I asleep?” She didn’t feel quite awake yet.
Taylor stood and helped her up. “Three hours.”
“I’m never moving again.”
He laughed.
