Page 194 of We Can't Be Friends

“No? Fuck this.” Taking off her jacket, her sleeveless sweater showing off her tattoos. She stands, bracing both palms on the table. “You don’t get to talk to your son like that. No mother should ever think their child is pathetic. Callum is the most incredible person I know. He’s intelligent. He’s hardworking. He’s driven and more successful than any of you are combined.” Chloe quickly looks at Audrey. “Sorry, Auds.”

“None taken.”

Chloe continues, “You continuously put him down for what? There’s no joy in berating your child, making them feel unloved and unsupported.

“I don’t care what you think about me. You not liking me doesn’t ruin my day, but what does is your unwillingness to realize that he,”—she points at me—“is the best thing that’ll ever happen to you. Your ego and expectations have allowed you to miss out on Cal graduating top of his classtwice. He was captain of his college’s rugby team. Becoming a CFO at a global company, or being named one of London’s most eligible bachelors.” She refills her lungs. “Besides the accolades that you apparently don’t care about as much as you think, you missed out on the tender-hearted, observant, patient, meticulous, ambitious, and protective person he is. I could go on, but you haven’t cared enough about him until now, so what makes you deserving now?” Chloe turns her attention to Dad. “Thank you for dinner. It was good to see you again. Let’s go, Pretty Boy.”

I stand, dropping the napkin from my lap onto the table.

Pushing my chair in, I walk to the door before I realize Chloe isn’t following me. I spin to see her giving my mother two middle fingers.

“This is for thinking your son needed to be with a vanilla puppet. I think I might get his name tattooed above my butt, or better on my ass.”

She walks away, the biggest grin on her face. Behind her, Dad and Audrey’s faces match. I bet they’d give her a standing ovation if it wouldn’t cause more issues. Mom and my brother’s jaws are on the table.

We take a car back to the Hayes Hotel in Kensington.

I put my place on the market in December, deciding that anywhere Chloe is, is where I’ll be. Coulda been quite stupid if she didn’t have the same feelings for me, but she does. I haven’t told her, but she didn’t question me when I had Liam drop us off here after he picked us up from Heathrow.

In the car, I couldn’t keep my hands off her.

No one has ever stood up for me like that. No one has ever seen me in the way that Chloe does.

I tip my head, greeting Oliver working the front desk—he just started. Tugging Chloe into the elevator, I spin her into the wall. My hand hitting the material name above her.

My chest is heaving. “Did you give my mom two middle fingers?”

She smirks, eyes sparkling like our stars. “I did and if I had more hands, I’d given her more. No one speaks about you or to you that way.”

I barely let her finish the sentence before claiming her words with my mouth. Mindlessly slow at first, she shivers as if she can feel the current of desire running through me. My free hand cups her neck, tilting her head further back and deepening our connection.

Chloe whimpers when I bite her bottom lip, dragging the fullness between my teeth. I release it with apop, searing the flushed skin of her neck with my lips.

“Callum.” It comes out breathy.

Bunching up her floral skirt, I kiss her center over her tights before tearing them in half. She sucks in a big breath.

“I’ll replace them.” I spot the increasing wet spot on the light pink lace. I pull her underwear to the side, licking her. “Always so wet for me.” Pulling away, I look up at her. “Tell me to stop and I’ll try my best to wait but I need you right now, Dais.”

She shakes her head no, hands coming to the back of my head and hips lifting to me. “You better be efficient, there’s only ten floors.”

Slipping my hand from the knob resuming the elevator, my tongue slips inside her.

Chloe comes all over my tongue as we hit floor ten.

***

Chloe forgot her purse at my parent’s house last night.

I wait outside. The air chilly and skies as gray as Chloe’s eyes.

She’s with Audrey and Beatrix, getting something ready for this afternoon. I was tasked with bringing her purse. Chloe offered to come with me, not wanting me to go unprotected, but I told her I’m fine.

Which I am.

Dad opens the door which I’m grateful for.

“Morning.” He holds the door open for me.

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