AllFreeNovel
Share Us
When we take her back to her house, it will be the first time that I will have seen her there in over three years. It will be emotional for me to remember that last horrible argument we had but I’m glad I get to make new memories.
“Chloe, when she gets out, please don’t spend all the time around the house with her. We can take turns. Your mother will understand. She’s already told me to make sure you and Cillian get quality time together.”
“You know what I’m like when it comes to Mom.”
“That’s exactly why I’m saying this. Chloe, you just got married. You have your own dance school in the works but, more importantly, you have to spend some time with your man. Look at you. After two weeks you’re still glowing.” She looks me over. “That’s not just the Saint Tropez sun, Mrs. O’Ridian.”
I feel like I shouldn’t get used to that name. “No… it’s not just the sun.”
“I’m glad you can admit that.”
“I can, but I’m not so sure I should be holding on to things like that when I won’t have them in my life past a certain date.”
Roxanne’s shoulders slump. “Oh, Chloe. You’re not okay, are you?”
“I’m fine. I shouldn’t have said that.” I shake my head and lean against the railing, allowing the gentle breeze to lift my hair.
Roxanne slides up to me and leans into my shoulder briefly. “Talk to me. I want to say that you just came back from this gorgeous honeymoon with your gorgeous husband and you should be happier, but I know you aren’t.”
“I’m trying, but… he’s perfect. How am I supposed to do better than him? Or better yet, how the hell do I forget him?” The first time I thought that was after I gave Cillian the eighteen and a half minutes I owed him.
We’re so far away from that time now and with deeper problems.
“You want to stay together?”
“Not if he doesn’t, but of course I want to stay together.”
“And you want to stay married?”
I bow my head, wondering if I’m being silly. “Is it crazy that I want to?”
“No way. I think it would be crazy if you didn’t.”
“Then what’s wrong with me? Or us? I don’t see anything wrong with us that would stop us from staying together.”
She gives me a tenderhearted stare. “Have you spoken to him about this?”
“No. I don’t think I should. I know him. If he wanted to talk about it he would have done so already. We still haven’t even spoken about how we’re supposed to end.”
“You know what? Forget that. This is bothering you. If I were you I’d still find some way of talking to him.”
“I don’t want to spoil what we have going. We didn’t really have any rules going into this, so I have to play everything by ear.”
“Then play this by ear. If you can understand him better, you’ll know where you stand. He seems to adore you. No one can tell me he doesn’t. If things are so good between you two and he hasn’t even given you details about how you’re supposed to end, there will be some reason for it. Something other than business.”
“Do you think so?”
“Yeah. Guys can be dicks sometimes and come up with all kinds of shit to make excuses, but this doesn’t feel like that. I think he values you more than a six-month fling.”
“I don’t know. When Cillian is in business mode he’s different, and I’m no exception.”
“Find a way.” She takes both my hands. “As for now, I want to make cocktails. I think you need one, too.”
“I drank way too much on my honeymoon.”
“Yes, but that was two weeks ago and you weren’t with me. Come, let’s go raid Cillian’s drinks cupboard. I spotted Caribbean rum.”
Before I can even wonder about how she managed to see that when it’s supposed to be locked up, she whisks me away.
