FRACTURED HEARTS

Chapter 2

Her throat congealed with breath. She darted out of the room and down the stairs without pausing to consider her options. She stumbled down the street, shedding the tears she had been holding in since heartbreak had clouded her judgment.

Her hands shaking, she reached for her phone in her panic and dialed Liam. He detected the first ring.

"Chloe? What's wrong? Is everything okay? There was worry in his voice.

She cried, barely able to get the words out, "Please, Liam." "Please come get me where you dropped me."

He firmly said, "Chloe, keep calm," attempting to steady her. Stay where you are, please. I'm driving back there right way.”

She was having trouble breathing. Her mind racing, her chest constricted as she waited for Liam to show up. A tiny part of her felt relief as soon as she saw his car pull up to the curb. His face filled with concern, he hurried out of the car as soon as he saw her.

"Chloe, what took place?" His tone was gentle but insistent as he asked. "Why didn't you enter?"

She found it impossible to even look at him. She shook her head and continued to cry. Her voice cracked as she finally managed to say, "I—I don't want to go back there."

His brows knitted together. Has anything happened? What happened ? His expression softened as he paused for a moment. “Or... You don't just want to be alone?”

Feeling the weight of his question bearing down on her, she nodded. She desired not to be by herself. She was unable to. "I wish I hadn't been here. She pleaded, barely able to hold herself together, "Please, just take me somewhere far away."

Despite his seeming confusion, Liam didn't ask for further information. "Chloe, what's going on? What makes you want to leave this place? He asked again, but she was unable to respond. The words refused to flow.

Is there someone I can give a call to? Someone who can help? His tone was steady and calm, as if he was trying to figure out how to deal with her meltdown.

She said, "No," with more vigor than she meant to. "I'd rather not speak with anyone. Especially not anyone related to me.” The last thing I wanted was for anyone close to me to know what I had just discovered. She felt... humiliated

Liam appeared to be aware of her need for privacy. He nodded slightly, comfortingly. "Okay, just relax. I'll take you to my place.

Her sobs were the only sound to break the silence between them as she slid into his car. Her mind was a disorganized jumble, replaying the same terrible moment over and over. The deluge of ideas racing through her head wouldn't stop.

"What just happened ?" How could I have been so blind? "Years of memories had none of it mattered to him?" was how they had known each other since college.

“If I hadn’t shown up unannounced, would I have ever known? How long has this been going on behind my back?” The betrayal hit her like a punch to the gut, and she couldn't silence the questions swirling in her head. “Was I not good enough? Did I do something wrong?”

She was startled out of her reverie when the car came to a stop. They had arrived at Liam's house, she noticed as she looked up. It was everything she hadn't expected from someone like him. But right now, it didn’t matter to her. None of it did. The ache in her chest was all-consuming.

With a gentle voice, Liam guided her inside and to a guest room. "This is where you will sleep tonight."

She gave a nod, but said nothing. All she needed was a little time for herself. But after he was gone, everything collapsed once more. The hurt, the heartache, the betrayal. Chloe had so many more questions; her mind was racing. “Had I been played all along? I had trusted him, always been there for him, and this was how he repaid me?”

Liam returned to the room and gave her a worried look. "Chloe, please talk to me. What's wrong?

She attempted to ignore the thoughts by shaking her head. "I'd prefer not to discuss it. I simply don't want to give it any thought.

He took a seat next to her, and even though she was unable to feel it, his warmth and comfort were there. "How can I be of help?"

His query lingered unanswered. No, that's not true. She wasn't sure of what she wanted. No, that’s not true. She was sure. All she could do was wonder if it was the right decision. Her emotions were scattered, her thoughts disorganized.

"Are you single, Liam?" She asked without even knowing why, and blurted out.

His eyebrows lifted in astonishment. "Uh, yes... why do you ask?”

Her heart tightened. She questioned, her voice hardly audible above a whisper, "Am I ugly?" "Do I look awful?"

He looked at her like she had just said something crazy. “What? No, Chloe. Remember at the party? I told you you were beautiful, and I meant it.”

"How come I don't feel like I'm enough?" With tears stinging her eyes once more, she whispered.

Liam's eyes became softer. "Chloe, you can talk to me about whatever happened."

"I can't... Her throat tightened as she choked, "I'm just broken." "I need to do something. I have to stop thinking about this.”

He was quiet for a moment, trying to figure out what she meant. “Okay... what do you want to do? Watch a movie? Talk about something? Cook something?”

She shook her head. “No.”

“Eat something then?” he offered, still not understanding what she was really asking.

She took a deep breath and made up her mind. “No. I want you to f**k me.”

His eyes widened in shock, his body going rigid as he tried to process her words. “Wait, what?”

She looked him in the eye. “I need this, Liam. I need to forget.”

“Chloe, maybe you just need to sleep...” he started, clearly unsure of what to say.

He remained silent for a while, attempting to understand her meaning. "All right, what would you like to do? What a movie? Talk about something? Make something to cook?

She gave a headshake. "No."

"So, eat something?" Still not sure what she was actually asking for, he offered.

She inhaled deeply and decided what to do. Not at all. “I want you to f**k me.“

His body stiffened as he attempted to take in what she had said, and his eyes grew wide with shock. " Wait, What?" .

She gave him a direct glance. "Liam, I need this. I need to get myself.”

With obvious hesitation, he said, "Chloe, maybe you just need to sleep….”

She shook her head, her frustration boiling over."Oh my god, no! I'd rather not go to bed! I have to f**k now to regain my sanity!” she shouted as she raised herself on her toes, pressing her body against his and kissed him.