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***

“Want to talk about it?” Emily said softly, as she placed a hand on my shoulder. I twisted my head around to look up at her. She was standing behind the couch.

“Nothing’s wrong.”

“Xavier, you have been staring blankly at the TV for the last half hour.” Emily frowned. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

“I…nothing.” I turned back around on the couch and stared at the TV, which I wasn’t really watching. What was I meant to say? I was sitting here pining for Chloe, thinking about her, wondering about her. I was trying to come up with an excuse to run over and stop her before she left with him.

“Xavier?”

“Chloe, I said I don’t want to talk about it.”

My eyes went wide as soon as I heard the words come out of my lips. Turning around quickly, I saw Emily’s stunned face.

“Xavier, is there something you aren’t telling me?”

Yes.

“No.”

“Why did you call me Chloe?” Her face went tight as she spoke. “Are you having some sort of a relationship with her, Xavier?”

“No.” I stood up from the couch to face her. “Nothing is going on.”

“Xavier, you mutter her name in your sleep. That is, when you sleep here.” She crossed her arms. “Are you having an affair?”

“What do you mean when I sleep here?” I was sure my face was showing the warning signs of panic because I felt it begin to bubble in my chest.

“I wake up in the middle of the night and you’re gone. Are you having an affair?”

“I said no already. I am not having a relationship with Chloe or anyone. She’s my student, Emily.” I kept my face calm, but I saw the disbelief in her eyes.

“Perhaps that is what makes her so interesting. Wanting what you can’t have.” Her voice was cold.

“I am married to you, Emily. You know me.” I hoped that that would be enough because I knew if she kept pushing me, I wouldn’t fight for her. Not when I felt this pull to Chloe, not when I knew I wanted to be with her.

“No, Xavier, I knew you.” She turned her back on me and began to walk away before stopping in the doorway. “I washed your clothes and put them back on top of the dryer for you.”

Saying that over her shoulder, she walked away and I heard her soft padding as she stormed up the stairs.

What did I do? What should I do?

I walked into our foyer, looking up the stairs. I should go up there and tell her I loved her, tell her she meant to world to me. I should lie. For the boys’ sake, for my own sake. She would believe me. It was Emily, and she always saw the best in people.

But instead I turned the doorknob and walked out. I knew there was only one person I wanted to talk to and only one person I wanted to say I love you too and she wasn’t upstairs sobbing with a heart full of hurt.

***

“Is Chloe home?”

Chad looked at me with curious eyes as he held the door open. I wasn’t going to lie and make an excuse to talk to her. I had to talk to her. That was enough for me to come here.

“Yeah, she’s up stairs packing.” Chad eyed me carefully. “Does she know you are coming around?”

“Yes,” I lied, losing my self-confidence. He was after all still her brother. He would protect her from me if needed.

Chad cracked the door open wider and I swiftly slid through. “Thanks, Chad.”