Page 110 of Hard To Leave

I narrowed my eyes in suspicion. I wasn’t sure if I bought that excuse, but they were married, and this was their first night alone, so what did I know.

He pulled Cassie tighter against his side and kissed her bare

shoulder. It made me realize how much I missed Chloe. How I missed the simple things, like her touch, the sound of her voice, just being able to do something so simple like put my arm around her.

Liam lifted his drink in the air. “Here’s to a night of uninterrupted sleep.”

Cassie’s mouth lifted into a roguish grin. “Who said anything about sleeping? The doctor just cleared me for sex yesterday.”

Liam laughed, angling his beer toward his lips. “Babe, I love you, but I’m not going all night. You’re going to have to let me rest in-between.”

“It’s been a while, so you will perform as many times as I need you to. You can sleep when you’re dead.”

Liam groaned, and Nick and I chuckled. These two usually bantered back and forth like an old married couple, but their affection for one another was obvious. I caught myself staring at them and missing what I had.

The crowd around us started to get quiet right before a roar of cheers took over the bar.

Cassie’s eyes locked on something behind me. She didn’t seem surprised. I swirled my head to the side and looked toward the stage. My eyes landed on the last person on the planet I had expected to see.

Chloe was here. In New York. Standing in the middle of the stage holding a microphone in her hands.

My mouth fell open in shock.

She was decked out in a sexy, little red dress that would have brought me to my knees had I been standing. She was breathtaking, probably the most beautiful woman alive.

She tossed her long, wavy hair over her shoulder. People were coming and going, some standing, some sitting, but my body couldn’t move.

“How is everyone doing tonight?” She spoke into the microphone and her gaze found mine. She seemed to falter for a moment when she realized all the attention was on her. I tried to steady my heartbeat, and I wondered for a quick second if my eyes were betraying me. Was this really happening?

“My name is Chloe, and I came all the way here from South Carolina.” The crowd erupted in cheers, causing her to smile. “I’m up on this stage to prove to the man that I love that I would do anything, give anything, suffer through anything for him to take me back. Jack, this is for you.”

The music started playing, and I recognized the song immediately. She was singing the lyrics to “Breathe” by Faith Hill. She sounded incredible. I had no idea she could sing like that. Her sweet voice echoed inside my heart, as I soaked in words that comforted me and touched me all at once. I sat there mesmerized by the power of her voice and the meaning of the song. She sang about being wrapped up in my arms and the whole world fading away. How there was nothing left to prove that we just needed to be. God, I loved her.

Once the song was finished, the room erupted into cheers. She placed the microphone back in the stand and hopped off the stage with a purpose.

She didn’t run to me, and I didn’t run to her, but my heart still pounded with each determined step she took in my direction.

“Hi,” she said.

It was such a simple word, but it was the first time she’d spoken to me in weeks. Our bodies were so close, I wanted to reach out and touch her. I knew I missed her, but I didn’t realize how much I regretted my decision until then.

I stared at her intently, allowing myself a moment to take her in. “What are you doing here?”

“I came for you,” she said, cutting right to the chase.

“You did?” I asked like a stupid idiot.

She smoothed her hands down her dress that was way too short. It was a fire engine red that had all my blood pumping to the lower extremity of my body. I gave her a quick once-over. All I could think wasMINE.

“Yes.” Her voice was strong, yet filled with emotion. “And I’m not leaving until you hear what I have to say.”

I felt Nick nudge me out of the booth. The realization of where

we were was finally sinking in. I quickly stood up and placed my hand on the small of her back. “Okay. Let’s go outside.”

“No.” She stuck her chin out with defiance.

I arched my eyebrow in confusion but kept my hand on her. I wasn’t allowing any space between us. I didn’t want to let her go.

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