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Work had become completely meaningless when our fate seemed to hang in the balance.
It had been three days since Chloe had spent the night with me, after we discussed moving in to this new apartmenttogether. I’d finally convinced her to meet me, and she’d agreed to come to the penthouse.
I paced the living room, waiting for her. The place was bare, and a few days ago, I’d imagined how Chloe would like to decorate it. Now, I tried to convince myself that this was still a possibility.
When the elevator doors opened, I watched eagerly, like a starved dog, while Chloe walked in.
Before I’d met her, I thought I was happy. I knew better now. I knew that being with her made me happy beyond my wildest dreams. I’d always wanted to guard myself from falling in love, but now, I embraced it. I was done protecting myself.
“How are you?” was the first question out of my lips when Chloe took a step inside the penthouse.
I’d clocked her somber mood as soon as she walked in. Her blond hair was down to her shoulders, and her expression, when she met my gaze, was one of vulnerability.
The image of her went straight to my heart, and I enveloped her in a hug. She rested her head on my chest briefly, holding me tight.
She smelled sweet and looked so beautiful. The irrational part of me wanted to trace every curve on her body with my lips.
I settled for kissing her.
God, how I’d missed her the past few days.
“I’ve missed you too,” Chloe murmured, leaving her forehead on my chest for a moment before she stepped back.
I took her hand in mine, and she let me, following me back to the couch.
We sat down, and she didn’t snuggle up to me like she usually did.
I ran my fingers over the back of her hand, asking her questions about Henry while she answered. I took a clearer viewof her as she spoke, noticing she looked a little strained and her voice was unsteady.
Finally, when she finished filling me in, she looked at me. Silence stretched, and the two of us continued to gaze at each other.
She reached into her handbag and drew out the key fob I’d given her days ago. She reached over and put it in my hand.
My heart sank even before she could utter the words.
“Sean,” she said, her voice breaking. I could see the pain etched on her features. “It’s time we end things.”
I stared at the key fob, my heart hammering with the speed of a hundred horses.
“Is this about what happened to Henry?” I asked at last.
“Henry got hurt because I wasn’t around. Again. I can’t risk that happening in the future.”
“So, you can’t risk having a love life anymore?”
She nodded. “I tried it. It was wonderful while it lasted, but I don’t see us going ahead with this. Not when my responsibility is toward Henry.”
I barked a short, bitter laugh. “So, you’re breaking up with me? I was afraid of that,” I admitted. “Which was why I hoped to convince you we could still make something of the two of us. I thought having you and Henry move in to the same building would give you the best of both worlds. And it would give me what I wanted the most—you.”
She looked at me, tears in her eyes. “I never really needed anything from you, Sean, except foryou. Your time. Your presence. This large penthouse was never one of my expectations from you. Nor your money or things that the money can buy.”
She raked her fingers through her hair, looking troubled. “Sean, darling, I’ve seen you provide for many people—fromyour son to your half-sister and mom. But I need nothing from you. I don’t want this gift of a new penthouse.”
I walked over to the windows, looking down at the busy streets below us.
After the scare from a few nights ago, Henry was doing fine. Life should have gone on.
She should have been in love with the idea by now, in love with me, enough that we should be rejoicing. We should be celebrating with laughter, champagne, and sex by that window instead of having a serious discussion.