Authors: Janelle Stalder
Deciding Love (31 page)
Her cheeks blushed the way I liked, calling out for me to brush a kiss along each one.
“Let’s go get something to eat and some dry clothes,” I said.
She smiled, one of her hands rising up to caress my face. “Ok.”
“We’ll have to take your car though.”
She laughed as she climbed over to the other seat to dress herself. “I figured. But you know what that means?”
I hesitated, my drenched shirt in my hands. “No, what?”
“My car, my music. No arguing.”
I sighed. “Fine. But no Bieber.”
We ended up stopping at my place so I could get a change of clothes before heading to her place, grabbing take out on the way. Her parents were out at a movie, so we had the place to ourselves.
I took full advantage of that, making a meal out of her in the kitchen, and then making love again up in her room. It was only after that we finally ate the burgers we’d grabbed, the two of us naked in her bed as we did.
“This is so romantic,” she said around a mouthful.
“Only the best for you,” I said with a wink. She giggled as she took another bite, a bit of ketchup getting on her cheek.
I shook my head teasingly. “I can’t take you anywhere. Do you have napkins or something in here? They didn’t give us any.”
“There’s tissue in my drawer.”
I leaned across the bed and opened the drawer of the bedside table, my eye catching on the corner of a paper sticking out of a folder. Recognition hit instantly. I pulled it out, looking at the first picture of her I’d drawn. There was a rip down the middle that had been taped back together.
“I really hated you,” she said behind me. I sat up to face her holding the drawing in my hand.
“I don’t blame you,” I said. “I’ll make it up to you, Chloe. I really will.”
She set her food down, her brows furrowing. “It would help if I understood
why
you lied and pushed me away,” she said.
Guilt and shame filled me as I looked at her sweet face, so ready to be understanding, to give me a second chance when I thought I’d never get one.
I told her everything. My fears of things ending when I was already too far in. How much I thought it would hurt if I waited. Everything my dad had said, and how it affected me to see him lose it over my mom.
And then I told her about how missing her changed my mind. How I’d become solely focused on school and making something of myself, because I couldn’t do anything else without wishing she was there. How I’d stopped dating completely, because no other girl could compare to her.
And then I told her what my dad had said, and how he’d taken back all the bad things he’d said about love, making me realize that I needed to do whatever I could to get her back.
Throughout it all she listened, never interrupting, never judging. And when I was done she crawled into my lap, wrapping her arms around my neck, and told me she understood.
“You’re not...mad?” I asked, shocked.
“To be honest? A little. I was destroyed by what you did, but I realize now that it was perpetuated by your fears, and not because you were purposely being malicious.” She leaned in, kissing me softly on my lips. “I’m just glad we can put this behind us. I want to give this a real shot.”
I held her tightly. “I’m not going anywhere,” I promised her. “This time you’re stuck with me.”
She smiled. “I have no problem with that.”
I pulled down a long driveway, surrounded by trees on either side that canopied above. Soon a gorgeous red farm house came into view, the large wrap-around porch decorated with flowers and ribbons.
“Oh my god, it’s beautiful here!” Chloe stretched to see everything, the dress she wore rising up to reveal more thigh as she moved.
I reached over, running my palm along the smooth skin.
“Hey!” She said, whipping around to look at me. Pointing a finger, she said, “behave, Kyle. I already had to redo my hair and makeup once, I’m not going back to the hotel to do it again.”
We’d driven up last night for Ella’s wedding, enjoying a full night of being alone together, and now that was all I wanted to do. Finding a spot on the grass beside some other cars, I parked, looking over the property at the large barn that had been decorated for the ceremony.
“They sure did a lot of work,” I murmured.
“Olivia has been so stressed about all this, I bet she’s happy it’s almost over.”
“Well, let’s get this show on the road,” I said, opening my door, and looking over at her, letting my eyes roam over her. “I want to get back to the hotel as soon as possible.”
She shook her head, even as her mouth twitched. “You’re horrible.”
We both got out and headed toward the barn where others were already sitting. On the way I spotted Colt just as he saw us, his body stiffening before he started toward us.
“Oh no,” Chloe said under her breath.
I gave her hand a squeeze. Chloe was terrified Colt and I were going to get in a fight over us being back together, but I knew it would be fine. Colt and I were similar, and I knew what I would do if I was in his position.
Shit. This might turn into a fight.
“Hey, sis,” he said, leaning in to give her cheek a kiss.
“Hey,” she replied. “Everything looks amazing!”
“Don’t tell me, tell Olivia. She’s up in the kitchen if you want to go say hi.”
Chloe glanced over to me.
“Go on,” I said with a chuckle. “I’ll meet you by the barn.”
She started to go, stopping to give Colt a pointed look. “Don’t bruise him.”
Colt rolled his eyes as she left us.
“She worries too much,” he said.
“Nah, we just both know Olivia would kill you if you started a fight at her best friend’s wedding.”
He smirked. “True. So, you want to tell me what’s going on?”
I shoved my hands in my pockets. “I’m not sure what to tell you. I’m in love with your sister and we’re together.”
He pressed his lips into a thin line. “And what about last time?”
“Last time was a mistake. It won’t happen again.”
He stepped closer to me, looking me straight in the eye. “Make sure it doesn’t, because I don’t want to lose my sister again. And she’s too good of a person to be hurt. Otherwise, you and I are going to have a real problem. Understand?”
“Of course,” I said. I was a big brother too. If anyone hurt Cat, things would not be pretty.
“Good, because I can tell she really likes you and I want to see her happy.”
“We want the same thing, man.”
He gave me a curt nod. “Okay then. Let’s go get this shit over with so we can get drunk later.”
We headed to the barn, picking a seat near the back. Chloe joined shortly after, her face bright with that look that all girls get at weddings.
“Everything okay?” She asked.
“Everything is fine,” I reassured her.
“Good.” She let out a breath.
“You really think I can’t take your brother?”
“I don’t even want to think about it. I love you both too much to see you fight.”
I smiled. “You love me?”
“Maybe.”
I laughed. “Maybe huh. But you don’t hate me anymore, right?”
“Right,” she said, snuggling into my side when I wrapped my arm around her back.
“Well that’s good. So long as you don’t hate me,” I said.
We watched as the groom and his two brothers stood at the front of the aisle, the music slowly starting. Chloe sighed. “Okay, I’ve decided.”
“What?”
We turned, our faces close as she grinned. “I do love you.”
I grinned back. “Good, because I love you too.”
THE END
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About the Author
Janelle Stalder was born and raised in Brampton, Ontario. At an early age she developed a love for literature. Her debut novel, Eden, was the first book in a series of four, released in September of 2011. Since then she has released an Adult Dystopian Romance series, the New World Series, hitting the best sellers list on Amazon. She has also released a Mature YA/NA novel, Brush Strokes, that stayed on the best sellers list for contemporary romance for sixteen straight weeks. She is a strong supporter of other independent authors, and loves to interact with her readers. When she’s not writing, Janelle is at home with her husband, three children, Aiden, Elora and Violet, and her two furry children, Alice and Lily. She now resides in a small town in Ontario in her old, possibly haunted, century home.
Janelle loves to hear from her readers! Contact her at
[email protected]
And follow her on Twitter - @jmstalder
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