When Angels Fall (Fallen Angels) (51 page)

“You scared? I don’t believe it. What are you afraid of?” She laughed a little.

“That we’re drifting apart.” He kissed her neck.

She turned around to face him and put her arms around him. “It’s just been a couple of tough months. We’ve had a lot to deal with and a lot to think about.”

He put his arms around her waist and gazed into her eyes.

“Nicholas, I love you. Nothing has changed,” she said softly, putting her arms around his neck.

“Are you sure? I mean, your boss has been giving you rides home at night lately,” he teased.

“Yuck, he’s like thirty and creepy. I mean, he’s nice and all, but really, Nick—him?” She laughed.

He smiled at her. “Okay, he is creepy, I will give you that. But there’s something going on I can’t put my finger on. You used to tell me everything, and lately, you have been quiet.”

“I’m still here, with you. I don’t let it bother me anymore. There really isn’t a point to—”

He held her tight against him. “Swear, you still love me like you used to before all this stuff happened.”

She stood on her tip-toes and kissed him like they used to. “Always,” she whispered breathlessly.

“We have to find time for each other, Chlo. We can’t keep doing this.”

“I’m done with inventory tomorrow night, and then things should slow down for me. Baseball is only for another few months, then summer is here. You promised me the shore,” she reminded him, running her hand through his hair.

“Yeah, but you have to get the bikini first,” he teased her.

“I never said I was getting a bikini!” She smacked his arm and laughed. Then, she looked into his eyes. “It may be like this for a while, at least for the next year. Once we start college, it should get better.”

He could feel the urge to touch her come on him and he had to pull away from her. He wasn’t sure why, but he was fighting with himself to be with her. It had started the day his mother talked to him about her. “I have to get you home. It’s getting late.” He knew that if they stayed any longer, he would not be able to fight it.

 
Chloe nodded and took his hand as they walked back to the car.

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The next night, Chloe stared at the clock. It was already past midnight and they were almost done. She recounted the paintbrushes and put them back in their box.

“Chloe, Darling, how much more?” Roger, her boss, asked.

“I think just those boxes and we’re done,” she answered and took down another box while she tried not to yawn.

Roger stared at her and grabbed a pad of paper and a pencil. “You have amazing features. Are you still looking for ways to earn a little extra cash?”

“Yeah, are you going to start another class?” She hoped he was; the money would help out.

“I was going to do an adult class. I will pay you $500 to model for it,” he offered her.

“Really? That’s a lot of money.” She was thinking what she could do with it.

“Yes, so stand up and let me look at you,” he requested.

Chloe stood up and straightened out her skirt.

“Yes, I think you would be wonderful.” He continued to look her over.

“What would I have to do, hold a bowl of fruit or something?” She laughed.

“Silly girl, I would not pay you that kind of money to hold a bowl of fruit. You would be nude of course.”

“Ah, I don’t think Nick would like that very much. So, I’m going to have to say no.” She started counting the next box.

“If you’re so hard up for cash, you would do it. Come on, Chloe, with that body…” he continued.

“Again, flattered, but Nick would kill me.” She smiled.

“Okay, but if you change your mind, let me know. I would pay you cash.”

Chloe pushed the thought out of her mind.

It was after 1A.M. when Roger dropped her off. Chloe went to the door, put her key in, and turned to find the chain across. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” she said out loud. She went around the back and the doors there were locked tight there too. This was going too far now. She looked at her phone to see the time. Shelly was leaving for NY in a few hours. If she waited, she could get in when Shelly left.

Then, looking at what she was wearing, she laughed at herself. She was still in her school uniform and it was a lot colder than she thought it would be. She had no other choice; she wasn’t going to wake Nick up at this hour. She could do it. She went back around front and then looked at the trellis, and thought about trying to climb up to her window but remembered it was locked. Putting her book bag down on the step, she sat down and pulled her coat around her, setting herself up for the long wait.

Two hours later, Chloe couldn’t take it anymore. She was freezing and she couldn’t feel her legs. Her fingers were so numb she didn’t think she could dial the phone, but somehow, she did. It took four times for him to finally answer.

“Yeah?”

“Hey, Baby, it’s me. I really hate to ask, but can you come and get me?” She hoped he wouldn’t be mad.

“Chlo, it is after three. I thought Roger was driving you home.”

“He did, but Shelly put the chain across and I can’t get in, and she won’t answer. I was going to try and wait it out, but it’s colder than I thought.” She was shivering.

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He could hear her teeth chattering through the phone. “I’ll be right there.” Getting out of bed, he thought of telling his parents, but didn’t want to wake them. After getting changed quickly, he got into the car and turned the heat up. This was crazy. They were really trying to force her out now and it was obvious the way they were going about it. It took him ten minutes to get to her house, and when he pulled up, she looked like she had fallen asleep. Nick got out of the car and went to her. “Hey, baby. I’m here.”

“I’m really sorry. I didn’t want to call you,” she apologized through her chattering teeth.

He helped her up and got her to the car. “God, Chloe, you’re like ice,” Nick said, touching her leg that was bright red.

“Just take me home and let me get under the covers,” she asked, not wanting to be at that house a minute longer.

He followed her into her room at his house and started looking for something warm for her to wear. “Do you want something hot to drink, tea or anything?” He was trying to think of anything that would warm her up.

“No, I just want to get into bed,” she answered, taking off her shirt and putting on his top to the Christmas pj’s. She pulled on a pair of stretch capris and started to rub her hands to warm them up.

Nick went and got another blanket for her bed. “Chloe, come here.” He lifted the blankets, and then after getting in with her, he covered her. Finally, she stopped shaking. He held her and dared to ask her about the bruise he’d just seen on her arm. Chloe tried to laugh it off, but he knew now she was hiding something.

“Just tell me what happened. Those are finger marks, so I know something is up.” He hated the fact that she was trying to lie to him about it and blow it off again.

“Shelly has been taking it really bad about not getting pregnant again. She has been taking it out on me, but most of the time, I’m too quick for her. It’s nothing,” Chloe said softly.

Lightly, he kissed her forehead.

Chloe looked up at him.

 
He gazed into her green eyes and touched her face. He could tears in her eyes.

“Nick, kiss me like you used to. If I did something wrong to cause whatever is going on between us, I’m sorry. You were right last night, we have drifted apart

 
“I know, and it’s my fault.” Nick touched her face and kissed her, lightly at first then longer and stronger. “I’ve been so confused about us lately, like if we were rushing things and about what my mom said. And every time we would get close like this, I pulled myself away from you. I’m sorry I did that to you.” He continued to kiss her, wanting badly to forget everything and touch her like he used to.

“I think we both did that, because I wasn’t sure, either.”

“And now?” he asked her honestly, bringing her chin up, so he could see it in her eyes.

“Nicholas, I love you so much. You have my heart. It’s been killing me that we have drifted apart. I know that if this is what you want, then I do, too,” she answered, putting her hand to his face.

He kissed her, letting his hands caress her body. As much as he wanted her, this was not their night. “We said we wanted it to be special, and I want it to be for you, Chloe. I want our first time to be amazing. Give me a little time to plan it,” he whispered to her.
 
“I love you.” He kissed her nose.

“Love you, too,” she answered him and slowly closed her eyes.

*
   
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After she was done with work a few days later, Nick picked her up and they headed back to his house.

Gina was smiling as she announced that the house was full of her ‘kids’ as she put it.

 
Since they were all there, Nick knew he could ambush Chloe about the prom. “So, I was going to get the tickets on Monday,” he said, taking a seat next to her.

“Tickets for what?” She looked over at him.

“Prom. Gabbie brought it up the other day and I’m not going to let you say no,” he reminded her.

Chloe rolled her eyes at him. “Nick, you know why I said no. Please don’t do this to me.”

“Why did you say no?” Claire was curious to know why.

“Because she said she couldn’t afford a dress,” Kevin put in.

“Well, I could now if I really wanted to, but you wouldn’t be happy about it.” Chloe smirked at Nick.

“Oh? And how is that?” He wondered how she’d managed to do that and how much time they would lose now.

“Roger is starting a new class and asked me to model for him,” Chloe said.

“Wow, Chloe, that’s so cool. I could really see you as a model.” Kevin winked at her.

Nick looked over at her. “What would you be modeling?”

“Nothing. Maybe a sheet. So, if you want to push this issue with going to the prom, then I have no problem doing it,” she replied.

“Hey, Mom, can I take art class?” Kevin called to her.

“You would do that? Seriously, you would pose nude for Roger?” Nick was trying to call her bluff.

“Try me,” Chloe answered.

“I have seen some really great art work done with nudes and I hear they make a lot of money,” Claire put in.

“So how much was that class?” Kevin asked her.

“Kevin, so help me God, if you don’t shut up, I will kill you,” he threatened his brother, then glared at Chloe. “There’s no way in hell I would ever let you do that.”

Mark visibly winced. “Oh, wrong choice of words, little Bro.”

Chloe couldn’t believe he just said that. “You won’t let me? Funny.”