Chapter six

Little lies

Chloe heard the front door open and close softly, and she kept still in the bed looking to the time on her alarm clock. She knew he blocked her, but at the same time she was tired and didn't want to fight. She watched as the light in the hallway went off, the bedroom door opening slowly as she could hear Mickey getting undressed.

Mickey didn't speak as he got into the bed, he inhaled feeling like he was in an internal battle. He placed a hand to his mouth trying to forget the taste of her kiss, the feeling of someone else's lips on his made him both excited and mad.

"I'm sorry," Chloe whispered into the darkness.

Mickey wasn't sure what to say, but he let go of his mouth, "I'm sorry too." He said trying to not feel worse as she laid beside him.

She turned on the bed placing a hand around touching his stomach, she felt his skin under her hand trying to find a way to connect with him again. Chloe wanted to stop time to just be able to feel that feeling again, as he turned to face her, they shared a soft kiss. The kiss built up; she was pushing the feelings of doubt aside to be in this small moment.

Mickey ran his fingers into her hair, positioning himself atop of her, he felt her thighs around him, inviting him in as he felt himself become part of her, the motions were there, and as she pulled him in deeper, he found his mind drifting back to the kiss with Cassandra, an imagine of him doing this with her made him stop.

Chloe could feel his hesitation, and soon the moment was gone, he was rolling to his side of the bed again, and nothing was said as they both went into silence. She felt herself staring into the darkness of the room, she could tell he wasn't sleeping, but at the same time she wasn't going to break it by talking.

He didn't sleep well, mainly trying to stop reliving the kiss, and every time he'd think about it, he just open his eyes, but soon drifting off into a sleep. Feeling like a few minutes had passed, a hand rocked him awake and he was opening his eyes trying to not be blinded by light. "What time is it?" He mumbled through dry mouth.

"Two," Chloe said as she moved around the room, "I need you to help me with cleaning." She pulled a clean shirt on; she wasn't going to be embarrassed.

Mickey groaned covering his face with the blanket, "Give me an hour." He said now trying to get back to sleep.

Chloe grunted leaving the bedroom, she didn't know why she was expecting anything else, but as she looked to Hector was at the table drawing, she knew it was going to be a long day. She started to tidy around the lounge, pausing for a second as her phone rang from across the room, she picked up seeing Cassandra's number. "Hey…"

"Hi, I just wanted to call and say I need to rain check on tonight." Chloe could hear the disappointment from the other woman.

She turned to see Hector was no longer at the table, "Why?"

"Helena isn't feeling well, so I can't have her look after Kali," Cassandra knew she was lying, and it was a struggle for her to think of seeing Mickey with how she was feeling.

Chloe inhaled trying to keep calm, "Well I have Hector here, so bring Kali, she can keep him company." She didn't know why she was pushing it, but then again it would be great to know that he would have someone to keep him out of the way.

Cassandra was silent on her end of the call, and Chloe laughed, "Look, if push comes to shove, you two can crash here." She added in a way to entice Cassandra to coming.

"I guess I can't turn that down," she said with calm. "Do you need me to help?"

Chloe glanced to the bedroom, she could hear movement, but didn't have any faith in Mickey helping her. "I'll be fine," Chloe kept her tone calm.

"I'll be there about seven." Cassandra said.

"Cool," Chloe tried to sound happy, but at the moment she was just listening more to the sound of running water, "I'll see you tonight." She hung up heading to the bathroom, Mickey was just getting into the shower, and she couldn't help but think something was on his mind.

He knew she was watching him; he lightly pulled the shower curtain to one side to peek at her, "I'm going to shower, and then do the booze run." He spoke softly as he watched her standing still.

"Thank you, but I also need you to…" Chloe stopped, "Never mind, I'll do it myself." She left the room closing the door behind her, it was going back to cleaning.

Finding herself looking to a picture that Hector had drawn sitting on the table. It was a man figure, and a boy, she only assumed he'd drawn himself and Mickey. Chloe wondered why he didn't draw her too, but she didn't want to dwell on it, but pushed it to the back of her mind as she went into cleaning the table.

Mickey didn't say much as he left the apartment, he wanted to do a few things before he went back, but as he did return to the apartment it was nearly seven, he had a load of bags as he could see Chloe was already dressed up for people to arrive.

"Oh my god Mickey, you forgot the wine!" Chloe said searching through the bag, but she was expecting this. "I'll message someone and ask them to pick some up." She now went back into the food she made, and while she kept moving, she didn't notice that Mickey had already gone into the bedroom to get ready.

He didn't know why he was even bothering, but then he remembered he was trying to be better. Mickey wanted to put the effort into this relationship as he fixed his hair, he glanced over the mirror at himself, and stopped listening as people were starting to show up.

Cassandra felt awkward, she said she would be there for seven, but Kali was proving she wasn't going to be cooperative mood, making them run an hour and a half late. She straightened up the dress she chose, it was a light gold colour with exposed shoulders, it was modest, but at the same time it hugged her in the right places, and she watched the door open, music was playing, and she could see that Kali ran into the apartment to find Hector. Cassandra was just hoping she wouldn't ruin her party dress that made her look angelic.

"Oh, I thought you wasn't going to show," Chloe smiled behind the door, but felt Kali run passed her, "Hector's in his room." She called after the little girl who was already gone. "You look amazing."

"Thank you," Cassandra looked over Chloe, she was also wearing a dress, but it was a soft cream, her hair was glam, and her make up simple, and Cassandra didn't want to feel bad, she didn't want to appear guilty. "You're looking lush." She gave her a kiss on the cheek holding up a bag, "Wine." She handed it to her trying to keep a normal expression.

"You're a saint," Chloe took the bag and let Cassandra into the apartment.

People were chatting among themselves, and she didn't really know anyone, and wondered why she was really here. Cassandra smiled glancing into Hector's room to watch him dancing with her daughter making her giggle, feeling as if it was sweet. The music was relaxing, nice for conversation, but not for dancing.

Mickey was finishing off his fourth drink when he watched her walking into the dining area, he didn't expect to see her. Chloe never told him she was inviting her either. He didn't want to make eye contact with her, she did the same going to the table taking a plate and some small piece of food to eat.

Cassandra couldn't bring herself to look at Mickey without feeling that guilt, she would think of the feeling of his lips on her own, his tongue in her mouth filling her with a longing that she'd not felt in so long. She had to get something to eat to move out of the space and breath.

Mickey exhaled as she left and went towards the kitchen to make himself another vodka soda, but he paused as he could see Chloe handing Cassandra a glass of wine, they were smiling to each other. "Oh!" Chloe giggled, "Mickey, this is Cassie."

"Cassie?" Mickey was good at being surprised, "You're Kali's mother?" He asked.

Cassandra see him extending a hand to her, she placed her glass down taking his hand, she could feel her heart flutter, but her face kept calm. "Mickey, Chloe has told me a lot about you."

"Good things I hope," He laughed, but he noticed they hadn't let go of each other's hand, he didn't want to let go. Mickey knew he had to, so when her fingers dropped from his grip, he felt the wash of grief go through him.

Chloe drank her wine handing Cassandra the glass back, "I say nice things." She was oblivious to the looks there were exchanging. "Cassie, I need to introduce you to Marco." She took the plate from her hand placing it on the counter, holding Cassandra's hand leading her into the lounge, and she didn't look back.

Mickey could only watch as Chloe attempted match maker, and Mickey couldn't be jealous, but at the same time he could tell that Marco had nothing in common with Cassandra, and she would be nice to him, but every few moments his eyes would find hers across the room.

Marco was a businessman, he knew what he wanted in life, and mostly he loved to hear himself talk. Cassandra knew that Chloe wanted them to hit it off, and while she liked the sentiment of it, she wasn't really the kind of woman who wanted to be matched up with someone. "That's interesting…" She said while drinking her wine fast on an empty stomach hoping he'd ask her something about herself.

"Well, I always believe that making money isn't about the profit, but the people." He swirled his scotch mentally undressing her, "I'm all about values." He added while finishing his drink. "Another wine?" He asked holding his hand out as Cassandra down the rest.

"Please," She let him take the glass, she didn't stand still as she moved through the place to find the bathroom, she opened the door closing it to quickly pee. She ran her hands into her hair trying to think of an excuse to leave, but at the same time she could hear Kali giggling, and she didn't want to make her daughter upset.

Mickey jumped as the door opened and he was face to face with Cassandra, "Hey," he said.

"Nice place," She wanted to sound confident, but then she couldn't help but fixate her attention to his face, quickly switching her gaze to the direction of the lounge where Marco would no doubt be waiting for her.

Mickey watched her change her direction, "Can we talk?"

"Yes," She looked back to him, she needed to hope that she could leave Marco alone long enough he'd attach himself to another person.

Taking her hand Mickey led her to the bedroom, people were so busy in their own conversations to notice them disappearing. He turned the light on seeing that Cassandra was closing the door behind her, she glanced to the bed, and then back to Mickey. "So, what do you want to talk about?" her arms cross over her chest leaning on a vanity table.

"Last night," He started, "I don't know where that came from, and I want to say I." He stopped talking for a second, but all he heard was the music from the party, "That kiss."

"Yea," She covered her lips for a second, before placing her hand down from her face.

Mickey kept at least five feet from her, he was trying to remember what he wanted to say to her all night, "We were both getting deep, and I guess it was just."

"Weird," She added while trying to keep still, "I mean, you haven't told her."

"No!" Mickey jumped, "But we're friends, and I don't want to ruin that."

"Me neither," She now relaxed, "I mean you was upset, and I'm lonely." She inhaled, "I mean I better…" She pointed to the door.

Mickey reached for the handle as both their hands touched, they stared at each other. "Yea," he said feeling his skin come alive to her touch.

Cassandra felt it but took her hand away as he opened the door, she didn't so much run from him, but at this moment she didn't want to lose friends, by doing something impulsive.

"There you are!" Marco was holding a large glass of wine seeing her coming from the direction of the bathroom, he didn't even notice Mickey behind her.

Taking the glass she drank it quickly, "Yes, here I am." She did a quick glance behind herself to see Mickey heading to Chloe hugging her, and she turned back to Marco, "So you was saying before?"