When Angels Fall (Fallen Angels) (54 page)

Chloe was speechless. “Gabbie, you know what he did was wrong on so many levels. That wasn’t normal, honey. He raped you,” she said as she touched Gabbie’s shoulder.

Gabbie moved away from her. She looked horrified by what Chloe said. “How do you know it isn’t normal? How do you know when you and Nick do it for the first time, he won’t be like that?”

“Because he has never forced me to do anything and he has listened to me when I told him to stop. It’s been almost six months now, and he has never made me do anything I didn’t want to do,” Chloe explained, but in all honesty, the thought did scare her a little.

“You don’t think he’s just saying that? Dave said that guys will say whatever you want to get in your panties. You don’t think Nick is any different?” Gabbie asked her honestly like she knew they were all the same.

“I know he’s different. I know he would never do that to me. Gabbie, do you even understand what happened to you? Are you that blind?” she asked, not sure if she understood that Dave had done something unthinkable to her.

“No, I’m not. I want to believe that he loved me and that what we did that night was the normal.” Gabbie looked to her for reassurance.

“I believe he loved you in his own way. What he did to you that night was not love. If it were, he would have stopped when you said no. I’m sorry, but that’s just what I think. I was so mad at you that night. I couldn’t believe you had done that right after we made that promise. I wish you’d called me.” Chloe hugged her.

“I wish I could take it all back now. I wish I had fought harder and ran out of there as fast as I could. I think I knew that it wasn’t right, but everyone liked him and said we were perfect together. I want to hate him so much for everything he put me through, but I can’t.”

“It’s because there were times he wasn’t all bad. He made mistakes, and this one was a really big one. I’m so sorry it happened like that,” Chloe soothed her.

“Me, too. I need a joint.” Reaching for her bag, she produced the slender tube out of her bag.

“Why don’t you just not do that and try to go to sleep?” Chloe suggested.

“Because this is the only way I can sleep these days. I’ll go outside,” she said and left Chloe there.

It took him one ring to answer. “Let me guess, you need more things about me to talk about. Let’s see, I was an altar boy, my turn-ons are long walks on the beach, and sexy girls with strawberry-blond hair and green eyes. My turn offs are mean people and losing at anything.” He laughed.

 
“Who is this mysterious girl you’re talking about?”

“Just some amazingly sexy girl I can’t stop thinking about. I think you may know her.”

“No, doesn’t really ring a bell.” She giggled.

He laughed. “She’s a real art geek.”

She was shocked he said that. “You Jerk, I’m not a geek.”

“I know you’re not, and even if you are, you’re all mine. What’s up, baby? Are you missing me already? Because I could sneak out and come over to molest you.”

“Yeah, I’m missing you. Gabbie just told me some mind-blowing stuff and I needed to hear your voice.” She smiled.

“Are you okay?”

She leaned back on the couch and thought about it for a minute. “Yeah, we can talk about it later. I wanted to tell you good night, too.”

 
“Whatever she said, it sounds like it shook you up pretty bad. I can hear it in your voice.”

“I’m okay. I just realized I wasn’t that great a friend. Tell me you love me,” she asked and waited for his reply.

“Always, forever and ever. I love you, Chloe Gardner.”

“You always know just what to say. I love you, too, Nicholas Allen, forever and ever, and then some.”

“Get some sleep. I’ll see you sometime tomorrow.”

“Can’t wait,” she answered and hung up.

Later on, Gabbie took her to the game.

The playing was pretty good, and Chloe was pretty impressed with her boyfriend. He was fast with catching the throws, and he and Kevin made a great team. They made some really good plays and saves, though it wasn’t enough to win the game.

 
Back at the Allen’s home, Chloe and Gabbie sat under one of the trees in the backyard, waiting for the boys.

Claire came over and sat with them. “I got a secret.” Claire smiled excitedly.

“Really? What is it?” Chloe asked.

Claire started swinging her hand in front of Chloe and laughed. “Can’t tell you yet? But you can guess,” she said and then started playing with her hair.

It was then Chloe saw the rock on her finger. “No way!” she exclaimed and grabbed her hand.

“Yes! He asked me last night. Then, we came home and told his parents. They’re going to announce it today. Finally, the boy gets it!” She laughed.

Chloe hugged her. “I’m so happy for you. That’s great.”

“Well, if you and Nick stay together, which I think you will, I need you in my wedding.” She smiled hoping for that.

“Too funny, but I would love to be in your wedding. What did Gina say?”

Claire laughed. “She cried. Mark said he took Kevin and Nick to help him pick it out. I guess they have better taste than we thought.”

Mark joined them and Chloe hugged him. “I can’t believe you didn’t ask me for help,” she said and pushed him.

“You would’ve told her. Besides, I took your boyfriend and he did an okay job,” Mark replied.

“Wow, and he kept it from me, too. I don’t know what to think about that,” Chloe commented as Nick and Kevin joined them as well.

“Look, Kev, it is our fave sister-in-law.” Nick laughed and hugged Claire.

“Yeah, just so you know, there is no give back. Once you marry him, he’s your problem,” Kevin reminded her.

“Really? You mean I’m stuck with him?” Claire laughed.

Mark kissed her. “Oh, yeah, you’re pretty much stuck with me.”

Nick put his arms around Chloe and hugged her.

 
She smiled. The clean scent of the soap mixed with his cologne turned her on and she found she didn’t want to stop touching him. His hair was still a little damp from the shower and she curled a few ringlets around her finger.

“Yeah, it’s amazing what he smells like when he takes a shower,” Kevin shot at him.

“We’re going to go help Mom. You two?” Mark pointed at his brothers. “Try not to kill each other while I’m gone.”
 
He headed into the house with Claire.

“Do you want something to drink?” Kevin asked Gabbie, and then led her to the patio.

“So, nice game. I have to admit, you looked kinda cute in your uniform.” Chloe looked back over at Nick while she started playing with his necklace.

“Really? I’m glad you liked it, even though we lost,” Nick said and smiled.

“Yeah, wasn’t that one of your turn offs?” she teased him.

 
“About that phone call last night, we need to talk. I didn’t like the sound of your voice. You sounded really shook up.”

Chloe thought about everything from the night before and how Gabbie had accepted it. “She just gave me a lot to think about and I really feel like a bad friend.”

“Then, let’s go talk. Go upstairs and I will sneak through the front door and meet you in your room,” he suggested.

“Why don’t we go in together?”

“Because I don’t want to deal with my mom and we won’t be able to talk without anyone bothering us if we stay out here,” he explained and went around to the front.

Gina stopped her as she went through the kitchen and talked to her for a few minutes. Chloe nervously looked at the steps and saw Nick quietly go up. When she finally got away, she went up the steps to her room and closed the door. Nick grabbed her and kissed her.

“If this is your idea to make out with me before everyone gets here, you just should have said so.” She smiled playfully and pulled away from him.

 
“No, I just wanted to kiss you. So, what the hell happened last night and why are you a bad friend?” he asked her as he sat back on the bed.

“I just really should’ve been there for her more.” Chloe told Nick what happened between Gabbie and Dave.

Nick was quiet after she told him. “Dave never seemed like the type to do something like that. I mean, the cheating with Tabitha was pretty much a given because he talked about her all the time in the locker room, but, wow, poor Gabbie. I mean, I felt bad lying to her and telling her she was all he ever talked about, but I couldn’t tell her the truth,” Nick explained.

“Now, I wonder if we should have. She really wants to believe what happened was normal. It kind of scared me,” Chloe confessed.

“You explained to her that what happened wasn’t normal, right? You don’t think that it is, do you?” He wondered now if that was what had her so rattled.

“No, I don’t, and I stand by what I said about you. I just can’t keep that image out of my mind of her saying she felt like he was killing her,” Chloe said softly.

Nick held her. “It won’t be like that, I promise. If you change your mind or tell me to stop, I will. You know that. The last thing I want is to scare you. Chloe, if you don’t want to, we can wait, really.”

Chloe looked up at him. “I know that as long as I’m with you, I’m fine. You asked me to trust you so many times, and I do. Last night, I just needed to hear your voice to know that I was right.”

“I will always be here for you. I will never cheat on you and I promise to always make sure you feel safe. The last thing I want is for you to feel the way Gabbie did. I promise to be gentle.” He smiled and kissed her.

“Mmm, I know you will. It isn’t in your nature to be any other way,” she answered.

They heard someone calling them and they both knew it was better this way.

Nick took her hand and led her back down the steps.

Chapter Fifteen

Nick sat on his bed, waiting for Kevin to get out of the way. He was annoyed at having to sit there and wait as Kevin purposely tried to fix his hair. “You’re worse than a girl. Chloe doesn’t even take this long.” Nick watched as Kevin smoothed it down and looked at himself.

“All you do is throw some gel in and style it. What do you need the mirror for?” Kevin shot at him.

“So, I can make sure this stupid tie is right,” Nick answered bitterly.

A light went on in Kevin’s head. “Wait, I know what your problem is. It’s killing you that Chloe is down the hall and mom won’t let you near her.”

“This is just stupid. I haven’t seen her since before lunch and now they’re hiding her away like it is supposed to be some kind of surprise. Why the hell is this such a big deal?” Nick pushed Kevin out of the way and started trying to fix the bow tie on his tux.

Kevin just laughed and picked up his jacket. “So, really, why are you two leaving tonight and not waiting for tomorrow?” he asked him, giving him a long suspicious look.

“Because we would have lost the rooms if we didn’t. She’s staying in her room and I’m staying in ours. Trust me, Mom has me so freaked out about having sex with her, I’m afraid to even try to just go in her room and just ‘sleep,’ let alone do anything else,” Nick lied.

“But you want to. You want to do the deed with her. Get down and dirty and…”Kevin was rocking his hips and laughing.