Chloe

Chapter 10 - The Almost

For the first time since arriving in California, rain fell steadily from the sky pattering on the roof in a methodical beat. I cracked my eyelid open to peer outside. Everything looked gray and fierce. Where the ocean met the sky was indistinguishable. The water seemed to swirl angrily up into the tumultuous clouds. The violence gave me a twinge of anxiety. I rolled over and went back to sleep. -Chloe’s diary

Chapter 10

The Almost

   It was the rain that caused her to oversleep, she told herself as she rushed to prepare lunch. She was an hour behind and decided on her simplest recipe.  When Edwin walked in and resumed his seat she barely spared him a glance.

“I am so sorry,” she looked up briefly, “I’m late today. I overslept. I guess from all the late nights out at a fire coupled with the rain.” She winked at him. He grinned. She resumed chopping celery when she heard him get up, too intent on the celery to spare a glance to see where he was going. That was until the hairs on the back of her neck stood when he touched her arm. 

She slowly turned around to see nothing but a nicely shaped chest. Nerves strummed through her as she followed his chest up to the column of his neck and finally finding his eyes. Goosebumps broke all over her body as his fingers continued to run up and down her bare arm. His eyes blazed and she was mesmerized as her lips slightly opened. They stood gazing heatedly at each other when his head began to lower.

 She had never been kissed before but she thought that was about to change. Her body, mind, soul was elated, all in sync and primed for the kiss, but it didn’t stop a small shiver of apprehension. What if she was a bad kisser? 

   Before his lips touched hers the doorbell rang. She flinched then blushed. He cleared his throat. They stood momentarily watching each other. He still looked at her as if he very much wanted to kiss her. The door rang again.

She finally excused herself, rounded the corner and stopped to catch her breath. Her hand clinched making her realize she was still holding the celery knife. Not quite remembering why it was in her hands, she laid it on a side table in the front entryway. The doorbell rang a third time. Ugggh.

She angrily flung the door open to find Christoph dressed in shorts and polo shirt.  He gave a large grin, “Surprise, may I come in?” 

She blinked several times before she was able to function enough to move out of the way.

He strolled in as if he owned the place, as if he always had.  Perplexed she slowly closed the door, walked to the table and picked up the celery knife. He turned briefly, his smile still wide, he said, “What are you cooking? It smells delicious.” But he didn’t wait for answer as he made his way into the kitchen.

   By the time she caught up with him, Edwin was glaring at Christoph. The two tall beautiful men seemed to swallow the kitchen as their uncompromising stances dominated the space. 

   “Christoph, what the hell are you doing here?” Edwin said between clinched teeth, his venomous tone startling her.

Christoph smiled a wicked smile in response, “After you been bragging about how excellent a cook Chloe is, and then I find out you have been sneaking over here at lunch to sample everything, I thought why should you get all the favors? I’d like some too.” Edwin looked posed to attack Christoph. 

Chloe stepped between the two guys trying to defuse the situation, “Oh it is fine Edwin. We will have enough food.” Laying her palm on his chest in a vain attempt to calm him down but his heart was pounding so hard that she removed it quickly. 

Then she tried to joke to Christoph, “Don’t mind Edwin, he likes his food.” But the joke fell flat as they both sent each other death glares. At that point, she decided her best efforts would be spent cooking. She turned and began finishing their lunch, adding extra ingredients to compensate for the extra mouth.

  The tension was high while they ate yet Christoph seemed to enjoy it, almost revel in it. Where he waxed the poetic about her cooking, Edwin was silent and angry.  They forewent their afternoon walk even though the rain had passed. Edwin dragged Christoph out of the house and to some unknown destination, maybe to fight it out somewhere or something. She shook her head. It was like watching two dogs fight over a bone. She will never get men. When it came to food they were positively barbaric. 

Christoph didn’t come back for lunch the next day or the following week. It made her wonder what Edwin did to stop him.