Chapter 9
The days that ensued after the unforgettable night in Vegas were anything but pleasant. Apparently the man Juliet decided to marry was a writer himself. And not just any writer… for the love of all that was holy he was a trashy romance author! And to Chloe's annoyance a highly opinionated one at that and it wasn't that Chloe disliked romance authors. Oh no, she loved a great romance book but he was one of her favorite authors. And after meeting him she has thrown out all of her favorite books.
It wasn't that he was a bad guy at all…it was the fact they had been fighting since he came to live in New York. It started with the fact he didn't believe in divorce. Which actually meant his lawyer didn't believe in divorce because the PR would have hell. If his fans found out he got married on a whim and then divorced that quickly then they would no longer imagine him to be the most romantic guy they believed him to be and it would destroy his career. So here he is under her roof because a lawyer BEGGED her to let him.
"It would be good for them to get to know each other… who knows, they might be meant for each other, would you want to get in the way of true love," Chloe made irritated noises as she repeated the lawyers words under her breath. From beside her she watched Logan inch away as she realized she was chopping the vegetables a little too roughly.
"Is something bothering you," He quirked a brow?
Letting out a sigh trying to calm herself she closed her eyes and put the knife down. "It is just this guy moves in and he is annoying the crap out of me. I had to put a lock on my office because he would barge in and give me tips on how to be a better writer."
"And this is bothering you why?" He smiled at her with the friendship that they had, had a few months back.
"Probably because I haven't written in over a year, I am stuck and it is annoying me and the last thing I need is for another writer to point it out."
"You know I never did ask about your career."
Chloe couldn't help but smile and deflate from her earlier irritation. "I write Military fiction."
The look on his face took on utter surprise and he looked her up and down as if he couldn't believe she had firsthand experience or any idea about the military.
"No, I meant that…. Okay, follow me." She brushed her hands off on a kitchen towel and headed towards her office. Peering around for the annoying new roommate she quickly made her way to unlock her office and head up the stairs to the attic. Her office was spacious and clean just the way she liked it. By one of the windows she went to a book shelf and found a box. From the box she produced some letters and handed them to him.
"Are these…?"
"Letters from my husband, after he went off to war I had to find a way to deal with it so I became a writer and used his letters for inspiration. I have a book for each letter he sent me from that God awful place." She looked at the floor and gave a slight smile. "I just can't finish them. This is the last book and I can't finish it because when it is done it means he is really gone." Looking up, her smile let him know that this is something she hadn't even told her friends. "I would appreciate it if you didn't tell them since they worry about me enough."
"My lips are sealed. So, not to sound like I don't appreciate this but why do you trust me with so much information?"
"I really don't know, maybe because you have been through a lot of loss as well." She moved over to her lap top and glided a finger over it. "And I guess you keep pestering me about it." She turned and gave a much needed laugh. Then a though occurred in her. "Why did you leave for so long?"
He stopped examining the letters and then stared at her for some time. "I don't know. One minute I was staring into your eyes and then the next I needed to get out of here as soon as possible. But when I heard you were missing around New Years it was as if I snapped out of whatever it was."
Chloe's mind kept trying to link that to a memory but she couldn't quite touch it. But she felt like this was a déjà vu experience. "Sorry about worrying everyone. I just needed a break from writing and I can't seem to free my mind up so I can write."
He handed her the letters and she went to put them away when she heard him clear his throat. "Speaking of, that is kind of why I am here."
"My writing," shutting the box gave a slight chuckle. "What about my writing?"
"Well Xavier seems to think that some of the kids would benefit from a creative writing course in the school and we need someone to head it up. But all of us are either full with our own classes or wouldn't do too well in that field." He gave a smile that made her heart leap and shrugged. "So he wants to know if the other sister would like to come work for him."
Chloe tilted her head sideways and gave it some consideration before objecting, "But I am human. That is a school for mutants. Wouldn't they care if one of their educators was human?"
"They need to learn to co-exist with non-mutants one day. Besides, it would give you time to get some space between you and your new roommate."
Chloe weighed that in heavily before she added, "I have no experience in teaching."
"And you think I have a PhD in this?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Good point," Chloe was trying to think of another reason not to do it and then she heard from the bottom of the stairs…
"No wonder you haven't written a book you allow distractions in your office. Quit making out and get to work," he chortled.
"Would Xavier mind that my criminal record had murder on it, no?" Smiling she made a dash for the stairs only to be caught around the waist. Grunting while twisting in his grip she changed the subject. "So when do I start?"
Chloe stood in the mirror right outside her bathroom examining herself. Her grey pencil skirt came down slightly beyond the knee and her white shirt was slightly hugging her curves and buttoned up almost to her neck. But for fear she would choke herself she left it unbuttoned right above the chest. She tried a bun in her hair but she felt she looked too much like her conservative grandmother and quickly pulled out the bobby pins.
The sudden realization of being watched hit her as she looked at her door. "You really redid this room…" Caitlyn spoke with awe. "I never thought you would ever start to let go."
Unsure of what her best friend meant she looked around and for the first time noticed that it was complete. Her new bed had come in and was a whispy romantic four poster bed complete with sheer curtains. The room had a exotic feel to it and Chloe knew she was going for something cheery and warm. She loved the whole Feng Shui book she had been reading and decided on going with gold and green. Candles seemed to be everywhere in her room and she seemed to like her room better. She felt like she was in a gorgeous spa.
"I just needed a restart button and I needed to live again."
Caitlyn gave her friend a sideways glance as if she were trying to read more into her phrase. "This wouldn't have anything to do with the man who has been hanging around again, would it?"
"Well, Logan did offer me the job and change is good," Chloe offered.
"I don't mean the job," Caitlyn simply put.
"Caitlyn, can I talk to you about something?" Chloe was rewording her thoughts as she paced over to the window. "Something is amiss."
"About Logan," Caitlyn's face spoke of confusion?
"No, not him or sort of him," When she could see the confusion deepen she continued. "It is just that when we almost kissed or whatever happened between us he just stiffened and left. No other word from him for a few months. Then when I asked him about it he was just as confused by his actions as I was."
Caitlyn went to sit on the bed and looked as if she had her own observations to go through. "Do you think it was an excuse for his actions?" From the look on her face she knew that Caitlyn was not joking.
"That is just it. I don't think it was an excuse. Something has been bothering me for a long time and this just feels like déjà vu. I have had a feeling like this has been going on in this house for some time."
"Which is why you haven't gotten over things for so long," Caitlyn whispered.
Chloe simply nodded in agreement. "There is only one person I know that can do that but it simply can't be. I refuse to believe that he had anything to do with this." Tears welled in Chloe's eyes.
"William," Caitlyn pinched the bridge of her nose and turned to her friend. "What if William wasn't the one really behind all of this?"
"Why would anyone want to…. I mean this just sparks belief that it is just a teenager worried that his mother is moving on." Chloe interjected.
Caitlyn propped her chin on her hands in thought. "What if he wasn't behind it? I mean it doesn't even make sense for your son."
Chloe had to give in to that… it did NOT make sense for William to act this way. He was way too level headed to act alone on all of this. But who would be pulling the strings?
Caitlyn smirked and winked at Chloe, "So when do you start with Mr. Hotty?"
Chloe wiped her eyes and smoothed her skirt. "Tomorrow… and it is going to be really early. And I don't know if those kids are going to be keen to me teaching them."
"Well I could get you a bullet proof vest. So back to my original question… why did you really take this job?"
Then they heard a male voice loud and clear. "I must call my publisher because that is what REAL writers do."
"What was his name again?" Caitlyn grimaced.
"Devon, more like pain in my butt!"
