Page 71 of Romance with Mr. Bossy Pants

“It’s too late. She hates me. She quit and walked out of our lives. It’s all my fault.”

Garamond and Ethan stand like statues, watching us. I don’t know if it’s my imagination, but I think I hear a camera click. Michelle holds me tighter, her small hand patting my back.

“It’s okay, Dad,” she whispers. “It’s going to be okay.” Then, out of nowhere, her eyes light up. “What if I told you there might be a way to get Chloe back?”

25

Chloe

“Good day, Ms. Summers. Daisy Shelton here from Beaumont Properties. I’m reaching out regarding your interest in seeing the Tower Apartments. We’ve scheduled a viewing for you today at 4:00 P.M. To confirm your availability for this time, please get in touch with us. You can reach us at...”

I don’t catch the phone number Daisy spells out as I set the phone aside, preoccupied with getting ready to head out for some last-minute grocery shopping. Panic sets in at the thought of missing out on the apartment viewing as that’s the only really affordable option in the area. I quickly open my laptop and pull up my browsing history to find the website I had last visited.

I found the link, and as expected, there’s a studio rental on the market for $2,500.00 a month. It even has partial views of the bay.

I spend some time drooling over a video and a gallery of photos, then proceed with confirming the viewing by dialing the phone number on the website. I’ll gladly put a deposit down to secure this place.

I close the site and am about to power down my laptop so that I can leave when my phone rings. It’s Michelle. Wonder if everything is okay, I answer. After all, she never did anything wrong. Our relationship was always great.

Her voice bursts through the receiver as soon as I answer, “Hi, Mich—"

“Hi, Chloe. I dunno what’s going on with Dad, but he didn’t go into work today. Did you guys fight again? He’s being weird.”

“I’m sure he’s just fine. Does he look sick or anything?”

“No, he looks really tired, like he’s been up all night. Maybe that’s a sign he’s starting to feel sick, I dunno. But this is not like him at all, Chloe. He never misses a day in the office, unless he’s taking me to Disneyland or something.”

I guess he hasn’t told Michelle that I don’t work for him anymore. In any case, I don’t want to leave her hanging, and since it’s not necessarily an emergency, I tell her I’ll be there in a little while after I get my shopping done.

That’s right. I’m doing this for Michelle, not Daniel.

I arrive at the grocery store and see a few familiar store clerks. Nodding hello, I grab a cart and push it down the aisles in record timing. I have my list in front of me, but my mind is on Daniel as I blankly toss things into the cart.

Why didn’t he go to work? Did a deal go wrong? Did he have a fallout with Garamond? Did his date not like the flowers? No way, they were beautiful. Or could it be that he realizes he needs to change how he interacts with his staff and doesn’t know how to do it alone? The guilt is probably eating him alive.

Calm down, Chloe. Don’t worry about the why. Just think of Michelle.

I’m done shopping and it’s only 11:00 A.M. There’s plenty of time left to swing by Daniel’s place and still make my apartment viewing.

When I get there, Michelle greets me at the door. “Thanks for coming, Chloe. I knew I could count on you. He’s in there,” she says, pointing to the living room, then heading upstairs.

There he is, sitting upright and looking just fine as I suspected.

I consider leaving after verifying that nothing was obviously wrong with him, but something stops me. I came all this way. I need to see what’s going on. Maybe it’ll help me get the closure I need.

I collect my nerves, and sit across from him on the armchair, not beside him on the sofa. I can feel his eyes following me.

He waits for me to look at him. “Can you come and sit next to me,” he whispers, patting the sofa.

Closing my eyes, I sigh. I desperately want to be by his side, but I need to understand why I’m here.

“Why should I?”

“Because I need you close.”

My heart begins to ache.

“Because I miss you. I miss you so much I can’t stand it, Chloe.”

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