Page 2 of Vitamin Sea
“Brunch and some sun,” Liam said firmly. “Let’s bike down. That way we can get in some cycling along the lake.”
Chloe smiled. Typical Liam—he would always find a way to get in a workout.
“Then we can bike to St. Lawrence Market and pick up some things for dinner,” she suggested.
“Sounds great.”
Liam started to rub her leg and shoulder.
“How about charcuterie for dinner?” she asked.
“Sounds great,” Liam replied again.
Chloe had a feeling she could tell him they were having dog food for dinner and Liam would have the same response. His thoughts were clearly focused somewhere else.
Chloe shifted her body and fixed him with a devilish grin.
“What do you say we go back to bed for a bit?”
Liam didn’t reply that time. At least not with words. An answering grin spread across his face, and he stood up before pulling Chloe off the couch and leading her into their bedroom.
???
She lay there in the mess of blankets and a feeling of happiness settled over her. There wasn’t anything missing in her life. She had a career that fulfilled her, a handsome, hard-working boyfriend, a great group of girlfriends, supportiveparents, a lovely home, a lovely life, and a wonderful future mapped out with Liam.
Next to her, Liam sighed, and Chloe snuggled deeper into his arms.
I am the luckiest woman in the world, she thought as her boyfriend planted a kiss on top of her head.
Present
Chapter 1: La Fin
"You are NOT the father!”
“YES! I called it!” Chloe pumped her first triumphantly and put down the tub of vanilla frosting just long enough to take a swig from a bottle of red wine.
“Ahem.”
She glanced at the redhead occupying the seat beside her. Lala raised her eyebrows and split a glance between the T.V., frosting, wine, and Chloe.
Through her half-a-bottle haze, Chloe interpreted her friend’s raised eyebrows and pointed stare as a sign that she wanted in on the pity party.
“Sorry, Lala,” Chloe took another swig from the bottle and then held it out to her in offering. “That was rude of me.”
A look of disgust crossed Lala’s face, and she shook her head.
“Look, Chloe,” she took a deep breath. “I don’t mean to be a bitch and all but fucking pull yourself together.” She sounded exasperated. “It’s been three months. Are you really
going to let him ruin your life?”
Chloe clutched the wine bottle a little tighter and averted her eyes. She looked back on unlocking the condo door and letting Lala in with regret. Nobody likes a killjoy. Not that Chloe had much joy left in her to kill. But still.
“Seriously, Chloe,” Lala continued. “When you’re not crying your eyes out and doing the bare minimum to scrape by at work, you spend most of your time shit-faced, stuffing your face, and watching trash T.V.”
A grimace crossed Chloe’s face, and she turned back to the T.V. Not that she was all that interested inMauryat that moment. It was just a way for her to avoid the conversation that she knew was coming.
Because, of course, Lala was right.
