Page 1 of Forever Foolish

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CHLOE

Several years ago…

“Chloe?”

Her dark eyes turned and met J.J.’s where they had secreted away to talk after being interrupted several times. They did not get a chance to come to these Christmas parties very often because of both parents working, but when they did, it was like a big reunion of friends… until this year. This was the first time she really noticed J.J. was looking at her differently – and she liked it.

“You had better go,” he whispered, looking at her hand that he held in his while they talked. They were barely alone for five minutes, and it was like some magical radar was going off over her father’s head. He wasn’t a huge fan ofthe Post family, no matter how much her mother insisted that the proverbial ‘hatchet’ was buried a long time ago.

J.J.’s father and her mother were once engaged – which was just weird on so many levels. When she first found out, it was shocking. She couldn’t see it because her parents were so in love. Her dad was always snuggling, holding her mother close, or whispering to her when they thought Chloe wasn’t looking.

And it was the same for J.J.’s parents.

“Please,” he whispered in a panic. “I can’t get caught with you, Chloe. My dad says that you’re trouble…”

“What?” she hissed, shocked and offended. “How am I trouble?”

“He said you are like your mom and…”

“Sheesh. Can’t you think for yourself and ask questions?” she snapped, hating that she was nearly crying. Hormones sucked, and so did boys. She hated that she was growing up and having to deal with both problems. “If you decide to be a man, growing a set of brass and brains, then text me.”

“Hey! You sound just like your dad – mean! I have brass…” J.J. hissed, looking completely offended. “I have brains, too.”

“Use them once or twice,” she whispered, shoving a napkin in his hand and walking away, looking over her shoulder as she wiped her eyes angrily – only to bump right into her father.

“Chloe? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, Daddy. I don’t feel good, and these things are stupid. Can we just go home?”

“Did someone say something to you?”

“Why do we even come to these things when we’resurrounded by a bunch of petty people that hold a grudge against mom and blame me for even living…” she lashed out wildly, not caring who was close by, as her father knelt before her, stopping her tirade directly in her tracks.

“I’m going to ask you again, sweetie – did someone say something to you that was unkind?”

“I just don’t like coming here,” she whispered tearfully, refusing to tattle on J.J. or toss any more fuel onto the fire. “Why do we come to these Christmas events when we’re miserable when we get home? Mom brings up the past, and you get upset because they are still talking about things but behind both of your backs. We could just stay home, you know?”

“We come because the King family is strong. We don’t let people keep us from doing what we want. People gossip because they don’t know the truth – and bless your mother and Mr. Post because neither of them discuss it openly. You remember what happens if you talk about things that you didn’t participate in or witness?”

“It gets twisted.”

“Exactly,” her father said tenderly, laying a hand on her shoulder. “Let them talk. Let them wonder. Hold your head high because we know the truth, and we don’t sink to their level. It enrages your enemies when you refuse to let them anger you, and there is nothing better than realizing that you got under their skin.”

They looked at each other and shared a smile.

“Your sweet mama says it’s my ego and pride – but I prefer to think of it as bragging or gloating. You don’t need anyone in this world to make you feel good about yourself, Chloe.”

“What about my friends?”

“True friends are the ones that have your back without question, the ones that want you to be happy and succeed. They stand beside you, no matter what, which is why I always hang out with the Lawson or Mitchell. They’ve always had my back. I trust them with my life, your mother, or yours. Why don’t you go talk to Mateo?”

“Because he’s making stupid googly eyes at Aurora Wilkes – and it’s nauseating,” she frowned, sticking out her tongue and shivering – which made her father laugh easily as he hugged her.

“Do me a favor and don’t grow up too fast, Chloe,” he chuckled, kissing the top of her head. “I love my pretty little thirteen-year-old daughter, and that girl’s smarter than half the kids here.”

“You know it,” she smiled up at him proudly, hooking her thumb to her chest. “I’m a King.”

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