We Ended Up Together (3 page)

An awkward silence filled the air. Neither of them really knew what to say. Chloe thought of Brad. She wondered how could she not have seen what a kind person he was while she was friends with Vanessa?

Brad noticed Chloe's strange expression.

"Is everything okay?" Brad asked, feeling uncomfortable.

"I was just so panicked tonight. That was scary," Chloe said, the incident being fresh in her mind, besides her other thoughts.

"It was wasn't it?" Brad responded awkwardly.

"Why did you help me?" Chloe asked curiously. "I ignored you through high school. You remember that, don't you?"

"Chloe I don't care what happened back then. This was the right thing to do," Brad replied. Chloe opened her mouth to say something in reply, when James walked into the lobby of the building.

"Chloe. Let's go home," James called.

"That's my husband. I have to go. But, Brad, thank you, again," Chloe said, sincerely. Brad suddenly felt an insane amount of jealousy as he realized she had a husband. But why was he jealous? Chloe was not even a friend. He barely knew her.

"Please remember to call Vanessa," Brad responded. Chloe looked into his eyes and nodded. Then she closed the distance between them and gave him a hug. Brad hesitantly wrapped his arms around her, and his jealousy melted into sadness.

"Bye," Chloe whispered against his chest. Then she pulled out of the hug.

"Bye," Brad said. He watched as Chloe turned and joined James. Brad kept watching until they walked out the doors of the building. Brad felt alone once more.

Would he ever see Chloe again?

Chloe carefully walked out the front doors of the building. She warily ambled down the stairs and saw James’ car parked in front of the apartment. She opened the car door and eased herself into the passenger seat of James' Mercedes. James got into the driver side and soon started the car. He pulled away from the curb, leaving the party behind.

James and Chloe sat in silence for quite a while. James didn't even ask if Chloe was all right, which she was quick to notice. James just kept his eyes on the road as they made their way through the city streets.

The air in the car was filled with tension and rigidity. Chloe always felt odd around James; that was just how their relationship had always been.

James gripped the steering wheel tightly causing his knuckles to turn white. He then let out a deep breath. Chloe could tell something was wrong. After a few more minutes of silence she got her answer.

"So, who was that guy?" James asked curiously, as he kept his eyes on the road.

"I, um, knew him from high school. He helped me tonight," Chloe replied. James didn't respond, he just continued to focus his eyes on the road. Chloe awkwardly looked away from him. She stared out the car window. Then she looked down at her hurt leg and began to let her mind drift.

She thought back to how she used to treat Brad in high school. She wished she could have taken a second out of her oh-so-important life to notice how kind he was. She remembered the way he treated her a few hours ago and found herself smiling.

She remembered the way he had smiled at her when he realized who she was. But the image that stayed stuck in her mind was when his eyes lit up as they talked. She didn't know why he was so interesting, but for some reason she couldn't get his gentle, brown eyes out of her memory.

Chloe eventually felt the car come to a stop. She realized they were home. She quickly opened the door and carefully followed James into the lobby of their apartment building.

James began to walk towards the elevators. Chloe followed him but hastily stopped a few feet from the elevator doors.

"Um, James, could we maybe take the stairs?" Chloe asked, nervously. She just didn't feel ready to go back in an elevator after what happened the last time.

James turned to look at her. He didn't respond. He just nodded before turning and walking towards the stairwell.

After a painful trip up the stairs, James and Chloe arrived at their apartment and walked inside. Chloe pulled off her shoes and decided to put them away in her walk-in closet. Chloe decided she needed to get some rest; after all she had had a stress-filled evening.

As Chloe put her shoes away and changed into her pajamas, she wondered why James was acting so strange. James entered the room and interrupted her thoughts.

"So, this guy, was he an old boyfriend?" James asked, suspiciously. He had just entered their bedroom door.

"No. Why would you say that?" Chloe questioned. She walked to stand on the opposite side of the bed and put her hands on her hips.

"Well, it was just the way you hugged him when we left and how you were smiling while thinking about him in the car," James replied.

"I-" Chloe stammered before James interrupted her.

"Save it Chloe," James said, as he held up a hand. Chloe was shocked and infuriated.

"What is wrong with you? I didn't do anything wrong," Chloe shouted.

"That's the problem Chloe. I don't know what you do when you're out at these parties. How do I know that nothing happened? You and that guy were a little too friendly for my liking," James explained.

"What do you want me to do James?" Chloe all but yelled.

"I don't think you should go to parties alone anymore," James said. Chloe looked at him with her mouth agape.

"Well you certainly don't come with me anywhere. What am I supposed to do? Sit here and wait for you to come home?" Chloe argued. "I'm alone all of the time. I need to get out of the house."

"You can't let something like this happen again. What if someone had seen you tonight? Do you know what that would do to me if someone thought you were cheating?" James asked. Chloe didn't know how to respond. James was being so unreasonable.

Chloe just watched as James left the room. She felt angry tears come to her eyes and she quickly wiped them away. Then she walked over to her computer.

Chloe opened up her email and decided to write a message to her email friend. She needed a friend to vent to so she could cool down.

Sorry it's really late, but I don't know what to do! James was so rude to me tonight. He's actually telling me I can't go to parties anymore! He wants to keep up this image and yet he doesn't trust me going to parties to do exactly that. I'm so frustrated with him.

Chloe hit send and then leaned back in her desk chair and pressed her fingers to her temples. She was about to log off when her friend sent her a message.

How many times do I have to tell you? You shouldn't be with James.

Chloe smiled at her friend's comment. It seemed like nowadays that was all he had to say to her. Chloe knew he was right but she couldn't bring herself to leave James. She didn't know what she would do, how would she afford anything? She was trained in nothing. It's not like she could divorce him, move out and get a job.

Chloe decided to answer her friend.

And how many times do I have to tell you that it's too complicated. Not only that, but my dad would flip if I left James. I just can't do it. But, enough about me, how did your night with Kathy go?

Chloe almost immediately got a reply after sending her message.

Well we're officially getting a divorce. It's going to be weird not being married anymore!

Chloe smiled as she replied. She had given him the advice to end his relationship with her.

I'm so proud of you! And don't worry, you're a great guy, I'm sure you'll find someone else that any lady will be jealous of. ;)

Her friend replied:

I actually met someone tonight that I used to like back in high school.

Chloe didn't have time to reply because James came storming back into the room. She quickly exited off of her email to prevent him from seeing the conversation she was having with her friend.

James walked to their bed and pulled back the blankets. He got under the covers and looked at Chloe with a confused expression.

"Aren't you coming to bed?" James asked.

"Yeah," Chloe replied. She turned off the computer before getting under the covers on her side of the bed.

As she listened to James’ breaths become slower as he drifted off to sleep she couldn't help but let a tear roll down her face. She was so unhappy in this marriage, but she couldn't do anything about it. Chloe wished more than anything that she could have the nerve to listen to her friend and leave James.

She looked at the picture on her nightstand once again, remembering life without being James’ wife. Chloe wondered if this was how she would feel for the rest of her life. Or maybe she would get the courage to do something to change. But, who was she kidding? She had never taken a risk her whole life.

But maybe that was the reason to change.

Brad was now completely moved out and living in a new apartment. It was a big change; he had been with Kathy for so long that it felt weird to be by himself again.

Brad sighed as he unpacked his last box. His sister was only a few blocks away from his new place. Even with his sister and friends so close, he still felt so alone.

Brad had never lived on his own before. He went from his parents' house, to living with Jason as his college roommate, to moving in with Kathy.

Soon he was shaken from his thoughts by a knock on his door. He walked over and opened it. Standing in his hallway was his ex Kathy with his son Jake, who was in his stroller. Brad smiled at his son.

"Hi Jake!" Brad cooed.

"Daddy!" Jake shouted as he reached a hand out to his father.

"So, I'll come and get him tomorrow?" Kathy asked.

"Sure," Brad replied. Then he took the bag that Kathy held out to him. The air was filled with tension and awkwardness as the newly divorced couple stood there in the doorway.

"How are you Brad?" Kathy asked hesitantly.

"You don't have to do that," Brad said bitterly, and yet he sounded sad. After a few minutes of more awkward silence Kathy spoke again.

"I guess I'm going to go," Kathy announced before giving Jake a kiss on the forehead.

"Bye," Brad replied. Kathy shyly smiled and then turned and left.

Brad exhaled a drained sigh before bringing Jake, and his stroller, into his apartment. He shut the door behind him.

Chloe left her apartment building, walking down the steps. It was a sunny day so she decided to get some fresh air and go for a walk.

The streets were filled with their normal city life. Bright yellow taxis packed the streets and people filled the sidewalks. It seemed like everyone had somewhere to be, except Chloe.

Chloe looked across the road and noticed a magazine stand. She decided to buy herself a fashion magazine. Chloe quickly crossed the street avoiding the oncoming traffic. She approached the stand curiously. After finding the new issue of
Vogue
that she wanted, she gave the man sitting at the stand money and walked away.

Chloe began strolling along the sidewalk casually glancing around her. She admired the tall buildings and shop windows that lined the street. As she continued she noticed a couple not too far ahead of her. She saw them walking hand in hand enjoying the weather. Every so often they would look at each other and Chloe noticed the look in their eyes. She felt envious of their happiness.

Not watching where she was going, Chloe ran into someone, causing them both to drop their magazines.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry," Chloe said as she quickly bent down to pick up the magazines. But the other person was too fast beating her to it. They both stood up and looked at each other.

Chloe couldn't believe her eyes. In front of her, holding out her magazine, was none other than Brad DeMarco.

"Don't mention it, it was my fault too," Brad responded before noticing it was Chloe that stood before him. Chloe smiled as she took her magazine from him. As Brad noticed her, he grinned from ear to ear.

"Thank you," Chloe said shyly, not knowing what else to say.

"What a small world," Brad commented with a laugh, remembering back to how she had used that exact phrase to describe them meeting in the elevator.

"I didn't know you lived around here," Chloe replied, with an expression of pure joy on her face.

"I just moved to a new apartment, actually," Brad replied.

"That's great," Chloe commented. "Is this your son?" Chloe asked when she finally took her eyes off of Brad. She looked at Jake as he happily sat in his stroller.

"Yeah, this is Jake," Brad responded.

"Hi Jake!" Chloe said to the little boy. Jake gazed up at Chloe and smiled at her. Brad watched as Chloe looked at his son. When Chloe returned her gaze to him he couldn't help but realize how beautiful she was as the sun hit her face and the traffic stirred up wind that blew her hair slightly.

"It's my turn to have him for the weekend," Brad explained, not knowing why he had to disclose that detail.

"So you're separated from his mother?" Chloe asked.

"Yeah we recently got a divorce," Brad explained.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," Chloe responded, uncomfortably. She shifted her weight on her leg.

"So, um, how is your leg?" Brad asked changing the topic. He gestured to her calf as he referred to the injury she had sustained the last time they saw each other.

"I'm all right," Chloe answered, her heart pounding in her chest.

There was a moment where they just stood listening to the sounds of honking cars and people hurrying by. It suddenly dawned on Brad that he didn't have to be lonely anymore, now that Chloe was there with him.

"So, Chloe, do you maybe want to get a coffee with me?" Brad asked timidly as he focused on the science magazine in his hands. Chloe tried not to meet his eyes, knowing it would probably be a bad idea.

Chloe just couldn't get James’ words out of her head.

You can't let something like this happen again. What if someone had seen you tonight? Do you know what that would do to me if someone thought you were cheating?

Chloe didn't want James to find out that she had coffee with Brad. She just knew that he would suspect that something was going on between them. She didn't want to anger James more than he already was.

"I can't today, I'm sorry," Chloe said quietly. Brad’s face dropped in disappointment. He had finally gotten the courage to ask out Chloe, his dream woman, and she had turned him down.

"That's all right," Brad said, trying to fake enthusiasm.

"I should go," Chloe said as she began to back away, trying to get away from the awkwardness she had just caused.

"Okay," Brad said. "It was nice talking to you again."