Page 63 of The Library of Second Chances
‘Selfish?’ asked Harry, appalled.
‘Right?’ Chloe nodded. ‘He went on and on about the plans he’d made, as if I hadn’t just told him my mum and dad were . . .’ The word ‘dying’ caught in her throat.
‘Some people have no empathy.’ Harry looked satisfyingly irked on her behalf. ‘What a jerk.’
‘Yeah.’ It still annoyed her when she thought about it for too long. She had ended things shortly afterwards and blocked him on everything. After that, Chloe had been truly alone. Until she had come to Wellbridge. ‘What I’m trying to say is that people can be insensitive. They can’t see past their own needs.’
They had reached Chloe’s front door. The cold was starting to seep into her toes, and she couldn’t wait to get warm. Chloe turned to face him. ‘Sorry,’ she said quietly. ‘You don’t have your car with you, do you?’
‘I’ll manage.’ He smiled and kissed her on the lips. It was a slow, seductive kiss that promised so much more, and Chloe found herself breathless and hot as he held her face, his fingers firm but gentle. His thumb slid along her jawbone, settling delicately on the hollow of her throat.
The question rose to her lips.Do you want to come inside for a bit?But maybe – clearly – he wasn’t ready for that. She wanted to move things along when they were both ready. He wanted to take things slowly, and that’s what she would do. Surely she could control herself.
Even if she could see the spark of desire in his brown eyes as they roamed over her face as though trying to commit it to memory.
‘Goodnight, Harry, I’ll text you tomorrow, thanks for walking me home,’ she said all in one breath. She gave him one last peck on the lips and went inside. His absence felt like she was stepping into a cold room rather than a heated home. She glanced through the frosted window to see his vague shape leaving, hands thrust into his pockets as he took long strides down the street. She watched until he had disappeared around the corner.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
GWEN WAS INand awake, wearing some fluffy pyjamas. There was no music playing and theTVwas switched off. To Chloe’s shock, her sister was reading a book.
‘Are you feeling ill?’ she asked as she set down her bag on the nearby armchair. She rushed to her sister’s side and laid a hand against her forehead. ‘Are you unwell? Should I call an ambulance?’
‘Ha, ha,’ remarked her sister, glancing up as Chloe smirked. She was reading the book she had bought as a replacement for Chloe’s. Which wasn’t surprising, considering they didn’t own any others. ‘I wanted to see what all the fuss was about this book. That library of yours, it’s . . .’ She searched for the right word. ‘It’s actually really beautiful.’
Chloe flushed with pleasure. Even though it wasn’t her library, she still felt a rush of pride. ‘I love it, too. What do you think of the book?’ Gwen wasn’t very far through it. Twenty pages at best.
Gwen pursed her lips. ‘It’s going slowly. I haven’t read a book since, what, Year Ten?Of Mice and Men.’
‘GCSEEnglish. I remember,’ said Chloe fondly. ‘Did you actually read that one, or did you just google the synopsis?’
Gwen threw a cushion at her. ‘What’s wrong with wanting to get back into reading?’
‘Wrong? Gwen, it’s the best thing ever.’ Chloe felt a surge of happiness. ‘I’ve got so many books to introduce you to.’ Already, several titles came to mind. What would Gwen be most likely to enjoy? Fantasy? Romance? Thriller? Maybe smut?
‘All right, calm down,’ Gwen said, as though she could see the shelves flicking through Chloe’s mind. ‘I’m not sure if I evenlikereading yet.’ She gave her sister a knowing look. ‘Besides, I saw a certainsomeoneoutside.’
‘We really need to get darker curtains,’ sighed Chloe. ‘I’m allowed to have friends, you know.’ She slid off the couch and busied herself with her handbag, though she wasn’t entirely sure what she was looking for.
Gwen snorted. ‘Most people don’t kiss their friends.’
‘Gross, you were spying?’
‘Of course.’
Gwen grinned, and Chloe couldn’t stop her reluctant smile either. ‘I got a job,’ said Gwen, and Chloe’s mouth fell open in shock. Gwen looked at her over the book, a glint in her eye. ‘Remember, I was out the other night? And a few nights since then?’
‘On a date, you said the first time,’ said Chloe. ‘And I heard you talking the other morning.’
‘I was on the phone, you muppet.’ Gwen rolled her eyes. ‘The first evening was a job interview, and I’ve been working shifts there. It’s the bar on High Street, the Pride & Pint. You really helped me with myCV, Chloe. I wrote all about mixing drinks that time I was in Barcelona, and they loved it.’
It took a moment for the words to sink in. Gwen hadn’t been out on dates. She’d found a job. All by herself. No wonder she had smelt of alcohol that night. Chloe had assumed she’d been out drinking. But she had been serving it.
‘Gwen, that’s amazing. Congratulations!’ Chloe threw her arms around Gwen’s shoulders and hugged her hard. It was the first time they’d hugged like this in . . . Chloe couldn’t even remember how long. Too long. She squeezed her sister tight, loving the feel of her embrace. She kissed her cheek, whichsmelled of her make-up. A comforting, feminine scent. ‘That is amazing. I’m so proud of you.’
‘It’s just a bar. Nothing special,’ said Gwen begrudgingly, though her cheeks pinked a bit. ‘Anyway, I can start paying towards the bills and stuff. It’s the least I can do. Considering I live here.’ She shifted. ‘As soon as I get my first wage, I’m paying you back for the ingredients and the book and stuff. And we can start splitting the bills.’
‘If you were going to an interview, why did you say you had a date the other night?’ Chloe asked. She hadn’t seen a reason to question Gwen’s explanation for being out. Gwen was stunningly gorgeous, always had been, and could go out with whoever she wanted. Chloe hadn’t doubted that she’d find plenty of matches on whatever dating app she might use. Had it been because she didn’t want to jinx the interview, or was it to protect Chloe’s feelings? Instead of avoiding the topic, she asked her outright. ‘Was it because of my . . . friend?’
