Chapter Five
Chloe
I looked down at my aunt in total confusion; if she wasn’t planning on sharing any of her wealth with my mom, then why was my mom under the impression she would be getting her share? I knew my mom wasn’t lying to me because she wouldn’t have tracked me down the way she had if she wasn’t getting something from it.
“Aunt Jen, I’m confused. My mom told me you were leaving both of us a large amount of money.”
She sighed. “Of course she did, that’s what I told her. It was the only way I knew she’d look for you. I have so many regrets when it comes to you and I had to find you before it was too late.”
“If you’re not giving us money, then why did you want me here?”
Her words blew me away; I had this whole speech about why she shouldn’t give my mother anything, and here she was telling me it was all a ruse. And what regrets could she possibly be talking about? Sure, I hadn’t been around my aunt much, but when I was she had always been kind to me, even letting me stay with her for a while after my mother left that summer.
“Chloe, I’ve never done right by you. I knew what your mother was like and I never once stepped in to protect you. She would come here from time to time, asking for money to help buy you things, but in my heart I knew you’d never see a dime of it. I just kept hoping that she would change her ways and be the kind of mother you deserved. That summer you came with her I was so excited to see you both together. I thought maybe things were starting to look up for the two of you, but you looked so skinny and I could see the pain hiding behind your eyes. I thought it was strange how you kept yourself covered up all the time, but when you wore shorts that day and I saw the fading bruises you didn’t think anyone would notice, I went crazy on your mother. I told her to get out and that I never wanted to see her again. Naturally, she left and didn’t bother to take you with her. You seemed so happy to be here with us, and I wanted you to stay, but I knew you missed your home and your friends. I didn’t want to take you away from the life you had built for yourself, so I helped you get home, thinking I was doing the right thing.”
Tears welled up in my eyes, “Oh Aunt Jen, don’t ever think any of this was your fault. You barely knew me and I’m not your responsibility. I did fine on my own once she was gone and I’m happy now. I really am.”
“It doesn’t matter; I still should have taken care of you. Right after you left, my doctor found the cancer and I spent all my time in treatments. After a few months we thought we had it beat and I went into remission. I had so much to deal with, but I never forgot about you. The only thing I knew for sure was that you were in West Virginia, but your mother would never tell me where exactly. I searched for you for months, but your mom had nothing to her name; no taxes, utilities, insurance, nothing that I could use to track you down with.”
I didn’t know what to say; living all those years being abused by my mom when I had someone out there who cared enough to search for me was mind blowing.
My aunt cleared her throat before continuing. “About a year ago, the cancer came back with a vengeance. We tried everything, but nothing helped and I have accepted my fate. But I knew I had to find you before it was too late. Luck was with me when Andrea showed up on my doorstep a few months ago and started playing the loving sister when I told her I would be leaving part of my fortune to her. When I explained she wouldn’t get anything unless I found you, she put all of her time and energy into locating you, not knowing she was sealing her own fate.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at my aunt’s words. “I never would have guessed you were the manipulative type. I’m not sure whether to be proud or ashamed.”
She started laughing, but it quickly turned into a coughing fit. I grabbed a cup of water from her bedside table and held it to her while she sipped from the straw. Talking with me was making her weaker and I felt ashamed.
“Why don’t you rest and we can talk about this later?” I asked as I sat the cup back on the table for her.
“No, I’m fine. I don’t know how much time I have left and I need to say what you came all this way to hear. I’ve already setup an account with over six-hundred thousand dollars in it with your name on it. Your mother thinks she is getting the same amount, and hopefully she won’t realize she’s been tricked until I’ve passed and you’re long gone. I worry about her reaction to all of this; I want you to disappear for a while once you leave here. I can’t stand the thought of her hurting you over me, but I had to do this for you. I had to make up for my wrongs Chloe.”
I shook my head. “I don’t want your money Aunt Jen, I never have. I just came here to stop you from giving anything to her. Give mine to Jordan, he deserves it more than I do.”
She frowned. “Nonsense, you’re going to take that money if I have to force Danny to make you take it. I don’t care what you do with it; pay for your college education, buy a car, a house. It doesn’t matter, just never let her have a dime of it.”
I leaned down and hugged her frail body. No one had ever shown me any type of kindness to this degree and I didn’t know what to say, how to thank her. Here she was, on her death-bed and she was more concerned with my welfare than her own.
“Thank you, thank you so much. I don’t even know what to say,” I whispered in her ear as I pulled away.
“You don’t have to say anything, just do one favor for me and we’ll call it even,” she said.
“Of course, I’ll do anything you need, anything at all.”
“I know you will, you’ve always been such a good girl. I want you to help Danny when I’m gone, he’s taking this so hard and I don’t want him to be alone. I know that he has Jordan, but he needs family. The sharks in the water will be circling the minute I’m gone, and I don’t want anyone to take advantage of my baby.”
“I’ll stay with him for a couple of weeks, I promise. Danny has a good heart; I won’t let anything happen to him.”
“Thank you, you’d better go before your mother tears down the door. Make sure to come back and visit me when you get a chance, but try to keep Danny occupied as much as you can,” she said as she was lost to another coughing fit.
“I will, I love you Aunt Jen.”
“Love you too sweetheart.”
I made sure she was comfortable and helped her with another drink before leaving the room. I glanced around the hallway, but my mother was nowhere to be seen. I breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that I wouldn’t have to deal with her.
I smiled as I realized my mother had been duped by not only me, but my aunt as well. Things were going to turn ugly when she found out, but I wasn’t worried. I had Drake, Danny, and Jordan to protect me, as well as Logan once we were back at school. I wasn’t the type to ask for help from others, but I knew I needed it when it came to her. She would be mad enough to physically hurt me if she got the chance, and if she had any of her friends with her at the time, things would go from bad to worse.
Just as I made it to the top of the stairs, I saw my mother leaving and then Drake coming through the door just seconds later. I stopped and took a minute to look at him. He must have found the pool outside, because his hair was dripping wet and hanging down into his eyes as he walked from the door to the room I left him and Jordan in earlier.
He was absolutely stunning, no doubt about it and I started to imagine myself running my hands through his wet hair. The mere thought of touching him had me excited, but I quickly pushed it away. If I didn’t, I would walk into that room and tackle him while Danny and Jordan watched. While he might enjoy it, I wasn’t sure I could say the same for the other two.
I took my time walking down the stairs, trying to calm myself from my previous thoughts. When I reached the doorway, I stopped at the sound of Drake and Jordan laughing. While they had both agreed to try to get along, I had never expected them to be sitting together and laughing just a few hours after their fight.
“Nice, it’s a shame that I missed that show.” I heard Drake say as he laughed.
“Yeah it is, that woman is insane! Wait until I tell Chloe, she’ll get a kick out of it!” Jordan said.
“I’ll get a kick out of what, Jordan?” I asked as I came around the corner and into the room.
Three pairs of amused eyes fell onto me. I was surprised to see just how happy Drake looked.
“I take it everything went well?” he asked.
I made my way over to him and kissed him on the lips, letting all of my desire from the staircase flow into the kiss.
“Oh, it went better than well. I’d say perfect is a better description. Everything is going to be taken care of.” I said as Drake broke out into a grin.
“Glad to hear it babe.” He said as he pulled me into his lap.
“So what was everyone laughing about when I came in?” I asked.
Jordan started laughing again. “Nothing much, I told your mom to f*ck off, she didn’t take it very well.”
I had to laugh at the expression on his face; he looked like someone told him Christmas came early. “And why did you do that? Was she bothering you guys again?”
“Nah, just bitching because Jen kicked her out of the room. I think I made her mad, so she took off. The way I see it, it was a two for one special. I told her off and she left; can’t beat those odds.”
“You’re horrible Jordan, but I love it,” I said as I settled back against Drake’s chest.
We sat and hung out for a while, talking and watching whatever show Jordan had the television on. Even though I was desperately heartbroken over my aunt’s deteriorating condition, I felt happy, the happiest I had since my mother found me and offered me this ridiculous proposition. Things were far from over, with Danny getting the worst of it, but I felt that things might actually work out in my favor now that I had talked to my aunt.
As Drake and I sat together on the couch, I felt his hands start roaming under my shirt, across my stomach, my ribs and my hips. I relaxed back into him and let his hands take over, calming me. I hated that he would be leaving tomorrow and since I had agreed to stay with Danny until everything was settled, I knew it would be at least a few weeks until we were together again. That thought dropped my spirits a bit and Drake must have felt my body tense up.
“You alright baby, something bothering you?” He leaned forward and whispered in my ear as he continued to rub my stomach.
His breath tickled and I shivered. “I’m fine, just thinking about stuff.”
He nodded. “Want to go take a walk with me?”
I turned and raised my eyebrows at him. From the expression on my face, he knew what I thought he was hoping for.
“I didn’t mean that kind of walk, unless you’re up for that. If you are, I’m definitely talking about that kind of walk,” he said as he gave me that devilish smile.
I elbowed him in the ribs as I stood. “I’ll take a walk, but that’s all you’re getting buddy,” I turned my attention to Danny and Jordan, “We’re going for a walk, we shouldn’t be gone long.”
“She’s lying, it could be a while so don’t bother us.” Drake said as he took my hand and led me toward the door.
I saw Jordan frown and roll his eyes, but thankfully, he said nothing.
Once we were outside, Drake pulled me to him and kissed me deeply. His tongue came out to trace my bottom lip and I moaned at the sensation.
I pushed him back and grinned. “I told you it wasn’t that kind of walk.”
“Can’t blame a guy for trying can you? Let’s walk around back; they have a killer pool in the back-yard.”
I couldn’t deny that, my aunt’s pool put smaller pools to shame. As we rounded the corner of the house, I took in just how vast it really was. I still had my bikini on under my clothes, so I stripped off my shirt and shorts and ran to the edge of pool before glancing back at Drake. “Want to go for a swim?”
He laughed as he started walking to the changing station. “You go ahead, I think I’ll just admire the view for a while.”
I rolled my eyes as I turned back toward the pool and dove in. The water felt warm and refreshing and I relished the sensations as they rippled across my skin. There was something about the water that just calmed and centered me, much like our spot at the “Cheat Lake”. My head broke through the surface to see Drake standing by the edge watching me with an evil glint in his eyes.
“Drake, what are you doing?” I asked.
He simply smiled at me as he took a few steps back to get a running start before jumping into the pool next to me. I squealed and tried to get away as the water from his cannonball hit me.
He surfaced quickly and started laughing at me. “What’s your problem? You’re already wet anyway!”
I splashed water at him as I made my escape. “Still, you didn’t have to splash me you idiot!” I shrieked.
He laughed as he lunged for me. I almost escaped, but he caught my ankle at the last-minute and pulled me back to him. I thrashed around but it was useless, next to him I was no match.
“Just where do you think you’re going?” He asked as he fought to hold onto me.
“Nowhere apparently, you’re holding me prisoner.” I said as I stopped struggling and let him pull me back.
He pulled me up tight against him and kissed me softly. “I like seeing you happy and smiling, worried doesn’t suit you baby.”
“I’m sorry I’ve been such a downer, I’ve been so focused on this whole mess we haven’t even celebrated your tour. Why don’t we go out tonight and have dinner somewhere, just the two of us, to celebrate? My treat.” I said as he kissed the tip of my nose and let me go.
“That sounds like a plan, I’d like to spend some time with you before I leave tomorrow. I need to call Jade and the guys to make sure they remember to pick me up. My luck, Adam will be driving and completely forget about me.”
I giggled as I pictured Adam doing just that. “Jade and Eric will keep him in line. Besides, they won’t get very far without their lead singer.”
“Good point. I still wish you were going with me tomorrow though. I hate leaving you here like this, it’s my job to protect you,” he said as a frown darkened his beautiful features.
I lifted my hand and ran it down his cheek. He caught my hand and brought it to his lips to kiss. “Don’t worry about me, Danny and Jordan will be here with me. They won’t let me out of their sight.”
“Still doesn’t mean I won’t worry about you. Jordan and I had a little talk while you were with your aunt. I think we’ve got things figured out between us.”
I raised an eyebrow, “Really? Was all that laughing I heard actually male bonding?”
He laughed, “I wouldn’t go that far, but we have an understanding I guess you could say. And I made sure that he and Danny will be around you all the time. I just hope you only have to spend a few more days here, I’m going to go insane without you around.”
I suddenly found the water very interesting so that I didn’t have to meet his gaze. I wasn’t looking forward to telling him that I wouldn’t be with him for a few weeks.
“Uh oh, it’s never good when you do that. What’s up?” He asked as he pulled my face up to look at him.
I bit my lip as I debated on how to tell him without making him angry. “Well, see the thing is, I told my aunt I would stay for a few weeks.”
“Any particular reason why you did that?” He asked in a too calm voice.
“Don’t be mad, please. We were talking about everything and she asked me to stay for a little while to help Danny. She’s afraid of how he will be after she’s gone and she wants me to help him any way I can. I told her I would, it’s the least I can do.”
He groaned as he ran his hands through his hair; his one tell when he was upset. “I don’t mean to sound like an ass here, but exactly why do you think you owe her? I mean, you haven’t told me anything that was said while you were up there and I’m trying to understand here, I really am, but it doesn’t make sense. You were anxious to get out of here.”
“I was, but we talked. She isn’t leaving my mom anything, she only told her that so she could find me so that she could talk to me before it was too late. I told her I didn’t want the money, but she’s adamant that I take it and I couldn’t refuse her one request. She’s dying Drake, it’s the least I could do.”
“I just… Chloe, I don’t want to be away from you that long. You said it would only be a couple of days at most, and now you’re telling me weeks. Can you understand why I’m a little upset over all of this?” He asked as he gave me a pleading look.
“I know, and I’m sorry, but I’ve got to do this. I promise I will leave the first chance I get. I don’t want to be away from you any longer than I have to be.” I said as I stepped forward and brushed my lips against his.
“This really sucks, you know that right?”
“I know, but we’ll talk every day, I promise. It’s going to be hard, but we can do it.”
He pulled me into a hug and I rested my head against his chest. It was going to be so hard being apart from him, but I knew we could handle it, just like we had handled everything else that had been thrown at us. I knew he wouldn’t give up on me over something as silly as me staying here for just a few weeks.
He sighed as he rested his chin on the top of my head. “Yeah we can, but you’d better call me every day and let me know that you’re safe ok?”
“You know I will, I couldn’t stand to be away from you that long without annoying you daily. Call me clingy.”
“I don’t mind clingy, it just means you care,” he kissed my hair as he pulled away, “Come on, let’s get out of here and go out to dinner like you promised. You’re buying remember?”
“Sounds good to me, but I need to call Amber first before we leave, I haven’t talked to her since we left and she’s going to call and yell at me if I don’t.”
He pulled himself out of the pool and I had to close my mouth as I stared at the hard muscles of his arms and abs as they tightened with the effort. He turned to help me out of the pool, but stopped when he saw the desire flash in my eyes. His own eyes turned dark as he watched me and it took everything I had to control my breathing. He could knock the breath out of me with one look.
“Or maybe you’d rather just stay in tonight? I think I like that idea better,” he said as he watched me.
I shook my head to clear the lust filled thoughts swirling within. “We can’t, now go call the band before I change my mind.”
He slipped back into the water and I groaned. “Drake we can’t, now go.”
He approached me slowly, like a tiger on the prowl and I prepared myself for his attack. He didn’t disappoint, he was on me within seconds and had me pinned to the side of the pool.
“I really like the staying here idea,” he whispered as he traced my jaw with his tongue.
“No, please don’t. If you start I’m not going to stop you and I’ll feel horrible afterward,” I pleaded as he bent his head and ran his tongue across the swell of my breasts.
“You’re killing me right now Chloe. I’m never going to be able to have kids if you keep this up,” he groaned.
His words surprised me and I pulled back. “Do you want kids?”
He seemed shocked by my sudden change in subject. “I don’t know, I guess. I mean, yeah I’d love to have kids, especially with you.”
My heart warmed as I pictured Drake and I with two little girls who looked just like him. But it was too soon for that, we had too many obstacles to pass before that time came.
“I’d like that too, in a few years from now.” I said as I kissed him.
He pulled back and gave me a lopsided grin. “You officially distracted me, are you happy now?”
“All in a days work, now help me out of here.”
He exited the pool again and helped me to stand. Once we were both out, we made our way back to the front of the house, but separated to make our phone calls. I stood outside next to Danny’s car as I dialed Amber’s number.
“Chloe Marie, it’s about time you called me! I thought your mom killed you and buried the body somewhere!” Amber said as she picked up.
“No, I’m still kicking. I just wanted to call and tell you that I’m ok. I didn’t want you and Logan driving out here to avenge me or anything,” I said as I grinned.
“Not even remotely funny,” I heard someone talking in the background, “It’s Chloe, she’s fine.”
“Who are you talking to?” I asked.
“What? Oh, sorry. Logan was asking who I was talking to. He wanted to make sure you were ok.”
“Tell him I said hi and that I miss him.”
“Chloe says hi and that she misses you,” Amber said and then I heard Logan talking in the background, “Logan says hi and to hurry home.”
“Yeah, that isn’t going to happen anytime soon.”
“Why, what happened?”
I gave her a quick run-down of the last couple of days and she whistled when I was finished.
“So let me get this straight, your aunt is screwing with your mom just like you are? And now you’re going to stay at your aunt’s instead of going with Drake on tour?”
I heard Logan say something and then the sound of Amber smacking him, followed by an “Ouch!”
I couldn’t help but laugh at them. “Yes, and no. I’m only going to stay here for a couple of weeks, then I’ll meet up with him wherever he’s at by that point.”
“Oh ok, gotcha. Well I hope everything goes smoothly, God knows your mom is going to flip shit when she figures out what your aunt did to her.”
“Tell me about it. I’m just going to stick close to Jordan and Danny after Drake leaves. She won’t try anything with both of them around me.”
“I hope not, just watch your back girlie, and I want you to call me constantly to let me know you’re ok!”
“I will, but I need to go, I’m taking Drake out to dinner tonight. I’ll talk to you guys later.”
I disconnected the call and made my way inside the house and up to my bedroom. Drake was already in there and my mouth dropped at the sight of him in khaki shorts and a nice button up shirt. I don’t think I had ever seen him out of basketball short or jeans and a t-shirt.
He looked up and grinned as I entered. “Not a word or I’m changing. I look ridiculous.”
I giggled as I stepped closer to inspect him. Even with the change in clothes, there was no way to hide that bad boy side of him. His tattoo peaked out of both sleeves and his lip and eyebrow ring were both still in, giving him that “Don’t mess with me” look, despite his outfit. He looked the best of both worlds.
“You look great and I’m impressed, you clean up nice.” I said as I ran a hand down his unbuttoned shirt and circled the tattoo over his heart. With our identical tattoos, I felt connected to him and I loved that feeling.
“Whatever, just get dressed before I change my mind and go to the closest bar around here,” he said as he walked by and smacked me on the butt.
I held up two fingers and gave him a salute. “Yes, sir!”
I decided to take extra care getting ready for our last date in a while. Even once I caught up with him on the road, I knew he would be far too busy to take me out and I was ok with that. He was living his dream and I fully supported him. I found a pretty white sundress and a pair of white flats to wear before starting on my hair and make-up. I took extra care with both, wanting him to remember me like this while we were apart.
When I moved onto my hair, he groaned. “Seriously woman, how long does it take to get ready?”
I threw my hairbrush at him and he ducked as he laughed. “Alright, I’ll shut up. Just hurry up, I’m starving.”
Just to annoy him, I took far longer than was necessary for my hair. When I finished, he grabbed my purse off the bed and all but carried me out of the room. I laughed as he led me down the stairs and out to my car. Danny and Jordan were standing by Danny’s car and waved as we passed.
“We’re going out to dinner, we’ll be back later!” I shouted over my shoulder as Drake shoved me to my car.
When we were both settled in, I put the key in the ignition, but waited to start it. “Impatient much?” I asked.
“I told you I was starving, now come on!” He said as he reached over and started the car for me.