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。〃