I let out a sarcastic laugh, " Don't be so naive, Chloe. The entire room could sense his attraction from a mile away."
" And how is that my fault?"
" It's not...." I heave a sigh to get myself to calm down. If we continue on this topic, she'll probably get fed up and walk off before I get the chance to talk to her. I change the topic and say, "I need to talk to you."
"Oh yeah? What about?"
I don't even bother beating about the bush, "You're avoiding me."
She falls silent. If I was unsure of her avoidance before, her hesitant expression immediately confirms it. Her eyes flicker away from my face to stare at the ground.
My stomach sinks at the thought of her regretting having sex with me. What if she didn't enjoy it? But she couldn't possibly have faked how she felt that night.
Or could she?
I'm probably overthinking, but I don't care. I just want to know what I did wrong. "If I’ve done something wrong, you should tell me. I'll be better next time we get together..."
" That's the thing," she interjects, finally raising her eyes to meet mine. I don't like the sad look I see on her face. She sighs, "I don't want it to happen again. I've already made enough mistakes as it is."
First, ouch. Second,ouch!
Did she just call me a mistake?
"You..." I swallow when the words become difficult to come out, "So you didn't feel anything then?"
I most certainly did. I felt all the feelings that I'd been suppressing break free, and I wanted to be with her forever.
Chloe attempts to look down again, but I'm quick to catch her jaw and tip it up so that she's stuck staring into my eyes.
"Tell me you didn't feel anything that night," I demand, even though it's the last thing I want to hear. "Tell me you regret what happened that night."
Her eyes fall closed, and her face crumples just the slightest. I’m afraid she's going to cry, and I'm about to apologize to her for my harsh words, but she opens her eyes and stares back at me.
No feeling, no tears... nothing.
She twists her jaw out of my grip and utters in a detached tone, "What happened between us was a one-time thing, Kane. Nothing more. "
Her words stab my chest, and the pain fills my heart, and it feels like all the air has been sucked out of me. No, it’s more like punched out of me.
Chloe's mouth opens as if she's going to say more, but she simply shakes her head and walks away.
I turn around to follow her with my eyes. I watch her strut back to the party, and I wonder how someone so beautiful can cause such despair.
Chapter 7
Chloe
Goodnight
The second I leave Kane, I start seeking out the nearest exit. I feel nauseous and trapped in my body. I need to go somewhere – a balcony maybe, to get some fresh air.
"Chloe!"
I hear someone call my name and debate whether or not I should answer the person. I'm about to turn around to look who is calling me when a hand wraps around my arm.
Kane?
Wild hope flares up in me that maybe he didn't take what I said to heart and came after me. But the face that greets me when I look up is not Kane. It’s Henry.