I was mentally prepared for a serious tongue lashing from you guys after posting chapter 3. But thank you so much for your positive reviews. I don't own any rights to Hollywood Heights storyline or characters; this is the fantasy world I created.
Keeping Secrets Chapter 4
These Are My Confessions (Usher)
I reach my car and jump in, "SHIT! SHIT! SHIT!," I yell at the top of my lungs while my fist pound the car ceiling. "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?" Loren's face pops in my head and tears form in my eyes. "How could I do this to her?" I ask myself. "How could I kiss another woman? Not just another woman, I kissed Chloe Carter. Why did I kiss Chloe?" I lean forward until my forehead hits the steering wheel. "I really messed up this time. No I messed up five years ago when I made the conscious decision to visit Chloe and not tell my wife." I take a deep breath, "SHIT! SHIT! SHIT!" I yell again hitting my forehead on the steering wheel. "I gotta tell her." I put the key in the ignition and start the car. I decide to take the streets back to the office building so I can think about how I'm going to tell my wife that I've been keeping a secret for five years. An hour later I pull into the parking garage. I don't bother going through the trouble of changing clothes, I park the old car and get into my car and head home. My heart is pounding a mile a minute and I can't breathe. The closer I get to the house, the more I regret not telling Loren sooner. I pull into the driveway and see that Loren is home from her interview. I turn off the car and sit there in the dark collecting my thoughts. I take a final deep breath and get out the car. I walk to the front door, tears fill my eyes. "I'm about to break my wife's heart," I say before I open the door. All the lights are out in the house except the light in the kitchen. I slowly walk to the kitchen. I get to the kitchen door and freeze. Loren is sitting at the kitchen table with a bottle of whiskey, a shot glass and tears rolling down her cheeks.
"For five years I noticed you would disappear once a month for a couple of hours. I didn't question you because I love you and I trust you." Loren says taking a shot of whiskey and refilling her glass. "For five years I noticed you talking on a cellphone that you keep hidden in the back of your closet. I didn't question you because I love you and I trust you." Loren takes another shot of whiskey and refills her glass. "At Chloe's parole hearing I saw you smile at her when she looked over her shoulder at you, I didn't question you because I love you and I trust you." Loren tosses back another shot and refills the glass. "I read the letter you wrote to the parole committee; you know the one that helped convince them to grant Chloe's parole? I didn't question you because I love you and I trust you." Loren looks me in my eyes and tosses back another shot and refills her glass. "I left in the middle of my tapped interview because Lily Park asked me about Chloe's book deal. I came straight home to tell you about it and you weren't here. I called your cellphone ten times, you didn't answer. I tracked your cellphone to Jake's office building; you left the phone in your car. Your car was there but you weren't. I decided to go to Chloe's condo, I parked my car and was about to walk up to the door but my husband came rushing out. He didn't even notice me." My mouth drops open from shock. Loren looks me in my eyes tosses back the shot then picks up the bottle of whiskey, stands up making the chair fall back on the floor, "I'M FUCKING QUESTIONING YOU NOW EDDIE!" Loren screams at me throwing the bottle of whiskey at my head. I duck out of the way as the bottle hit the door above my head. Glass and whiskey rain down on me. I look up just as Loren throws the shot glass at my head. All I can do is block it with my hand; it shatters against my palm. I lower my hands in time to see Loren's cellphone come flying at me. I duck out the way and it broke into pieces when it hit the door above my head. Loren rounds the table coming at me with bawled fists. There are a thousand emotions flashing in her eyes as she comes towards me. I see hurt, betrayal, anger, heartache in her eyes; the emotion that knocks me to my knees is the look of pain in her eyes. I don't block her when her fist makes contact with my cheek. I don't block her when her other fist makes contact with my eye. I don't block her when her fist makes contact with the side of my head, I don't block her when her fist makes contact with my nose. I don't block her when her fist makes contact with my mouth. I sit there and let Loren hit me for as long as she wants because I know I deserved it and more. When Loren stops hitting me she collapses onto the kitchen floor crying. I pull her onto my lap, wrapping my arms around her as tight as I can and together we cry as I whisper over and over "I'm so sorry baby."
After Loren's tears stop, I take a deep breath, "Five years ago, I got a call from Chloe," I began. I tell my wife about my conversation with Chloe that day and how I felt when she told me that she was being bullied and beaten. I tell my partner how I felt when Chloe told me she was almost raped. I tell my best friend why I started visiting Chloe. I tell my soul mate that I paid the rent on Chloe's condo for five years so that she would have a home to go to when she got out. I hold on tighter to the woman I truly love and tell her that I kissed Chloe Carter tonight. I hold my breath waiting for her reaction. I watch as my wife, the woman I love, pull away from me, stand up, reach back and slap me so hard my ears ring. "Fuck you Eddie Duran," my wife whispers with so much hatred in her eyes and voice. The love of my life walks away from me.
Tell me what you think. ~jm~