Page 24 (1/2)
"You were good with her," Tara said "I iven her the room key and stayed out of it"
"No, you wouldn’t," Maddie said "You were the first one on board when I was running away froed Tara, then reached for Chloe’s hand, pulling her in close, too "I called Jax Told hi in, that we need this room done yesterday He said he’d do it at material cost only, and that I could pay the labor later"
"I’ll pay," Chloe said, trying to figure out how long was long enough to stay in the group hug without being rude "Whatever it is"
"I’ve got it," Maddie said "No worries"
"No, I--"
"Chloe," Tara said dryly "I’m pretty sure the debt can’t be paid in money"
Maddie blushed to the tips of her toes
"Oh Gotcha" Chloe laughed "Well, then, thanks for paying up, sis"
Maddie rolled her eyes and hugged her again Jesus Tara was still right there, too, so that now Chloe was sandwiched between thes to do"
"You always do e’re having a o
Dammit "Seriously?" Chloe asked "Because we just ot engaged, and I’o," Maddie said "And now Tara’s engaged It’s definitely mush time"
Tara shook her head "No, first we y"
"Whoa Can you repeat?"
Tara sighed "You est, but you’re not a baby You’ve really changed, Chloe Grown up"
"Okay, thanks Can you let go ofwhen Chloe swore
"We’re trying to tell you that we’re sorry it took us so long to realize," Tara said "And that though you ether just fine"
"Sometimes even more than us," Maddie added
Chloe narrowed her eyes "Okay, what do you guys want? You’re both going aith your lovers this weekend, right? Leaving hed "No We love you, Chloe That’s it"
"Oh, good God" She dropped her head to bang it repeatedly on Maddie’s shoulder
Her sisters both laughed, but Chloe didn’t feel quite in on the joke Herthe L-word around to anyone and everyone, soAnd then there’d been TV and in movies, and everyone knew that love wasn’t real either, just an easy antidote to bad stuff suffered in the story Family betrayed you? I love you All better Man ripped your heart to shreds? I love you Perfect Band-Aid World destruction i your daughter an orphan? I love you Buck up
No, to Chloe it seemed like people used "I love you" when they et about what a moron I’ve been?" They weren’t words to be used like a Band-Aid, or to be said to make someone feel better in the moment, like the tier’s house for four days or when she’d spent the entire Christht not be the smartest kid on the block, but she’d learned early on that those three words had power No way she would ever let that power be wasted That would be a sacrilege Her sisters could joke all they wanted, but Chloe knew deep in her bones that when it was tin Proble to wonder if her cosmic receiver was faulty
Wonder if Jax knew a contractor for that?
In any case, she was grateful for what she did have with Tara and Maddie More than they could possibly know They were all she had as far as stabilizing forces They were her only blood ties
And if she let herself think that way for too long, it made her sad Lonely
Afraid
So she didn’t think on it
Ever
She just enjoyed having them in her life And as she’d coave to the inn, the longer that ht be
"She’ll say it when she’s ready," Maddie said to Tara "And we shouldn’t be teasing her Chloe, honey, you’re pale Are you okay? Are you having trouble breathing?"
"It’s blood loss fro" Chloe jammed her hands into her pockets, suddenly extre at her with concern "Not everyone wants to sit around and discuss feelings Not everyone is in a relationship"
Silence, and she griar" Tara’s eyes were unusually soft and, da married?"
"No," Chloe said "Of course not I’ a relationship?" Maddie asked gently
"If I wanted a relationship, I’d have one"
"Is it about Sawyer?" Tara asked "Are you’re falling for him?"
Yes
No
Christ, she had no idea She shook her head, hoping that covered all the options "That would be stupid"
Tara let out a breath and nodded And this, of course, put Chloe in defense ?"
Tara looked at Maddie, then back to Chloe "Because," Tara said carefully, "you said it yourself"
"Yes, and I knohy I said it, but why did you say it?"