小说园

第18部分（第2页）

rest　had　either　died　with　Crystal；　or　died　a　little　more　each　time　she

saw　the　grief　on　her　parents　faces。　Ross　deserved　a　wholehearted　woman。

She　wanted　that　for　him。

After　developing　a　throbbing　migraine；　Chloe　was　in　bed　by　eight；　and

there　was　pain　beyond　her　head。　Rosss　scent　clung　to　her　sheets；　the

remembered　feel　of　his　body　scared　her　skin。　She　burned　inside；　with　no

outlet。

In　time　she　fell　asleep。　After　two　nights　without；　it　was　deep　and

mercifully　uninterrupted。　She　woke　up　only　when　Lee　hollered　from　the

foot　of　the　stairs；　〃Chloe？　Rise　and　shine！〃

She　yawned；　stretched；　remembered　and　felt　pain；　then　relief。　Lee　often

woke　her　with　a　yell。　This　wouldnt　be　the　last　time。　Life　would　go　on

without　Ross。　Yes；　it　would。　Climbing　from　bed；　she　showered；　dressed；

neatened　the　room　and　joined　Lee　for　breakfast。　〃Good　weekend；　kid？〃　he

asked　around　a　mouthful　of　toast。　〃Not　bad。〃

〃So　what　happened？〃

〃Nothing。〃

〃He　didnt　sleep　at　my　place　Saturday　night；　Chloe。〃

She　helped　herself　to　coffee。　〃How　do　you　know　he　stayed　over　Saturday

night？　How　do　you　know　he　didnt　go　back　to　New　York？〃

〃His　car　was　here　Sunday　morning。〃

She　couldnt　begrudge　him　the　gentle　teasing。　He　was　a　dear　friend。

〃Youre　getting　snoopy　in　your　old　age。〃

〃I　live　right　next　door。　How　could　I　miss　it？〃

〃You　could　have　looked　the　other　way。〃

〃And　pass　up　the　pleasure　of　seeing　you　blush？　You　dont　do　it　very

often；　you　know。〃

With　determined　steadiness　she　sipped　her　coffee。　〃Im　not　doing　it　now。

What　you　see　is　the　freshness　of　morning…〃　；；…made　fresher　by　a

stimulating　weekend。〃

〃Stimulating；〃　she　said　with　a　grunt。　〃Thats　one　word　for　it。〃

〃Hes　a　good　man；　Chloe。　I　liked　him。〃

〃He　liked　you；　too。　The　two　of　you　arent　all　that　different。〃

〃Maybe　because　we　care　about　you。〃