99. Chapter 99
ninety-nine
M onroe had the day off from Frank-sitting. Poppy had it all under control. The kids were on their last day at school and only needed to be picked up and dropped off, which Monroe was happy enough to do.
She was exhausted.
Burning the candle at both ends these past few days meant getting up early to squeeze in work before the school run, then working late into the evening before finally finding time for Chloé.
That morning, after dropping Benji and Kitty at their respective classes, she’d come straight home, stripped off, and climbed back into bed.
A little nap wouldn’t hurt.
She snuggled down and drifted off into a world where Chloé was pressed up behind her. It felt so nice, so real…
Her mind jolted awake as she became aware of someone in the room.
In the bed.
Her body tensed, eyes still closed, breath held.
Then came the soft, familiar exhale. The shift of the mattress. The scent of her .
She rolled over quickly, blinking in disbelief. “Chloé?”
“Hi.”
“You’re—what—how are you—”
“I got an early flight, took a taxi from the airport, and arrived here to find this,” Chloé said, eyes twinkling. “You looked too peaceful to wake.”
Monroe blinked again, still not convinced she wasn’t dreaming. “You flew all the way here just to…”
“Just to climb into bed with you,” Chloé teased.
“You didn’t even text—”
“Nope.”
“Or call?”
“Nope.”
Monroe’s arms wrapped tightly around Chloé, pulling her closer to make sure she was really there. The soft weight of Chloé’s body against hers grounded her in the moment, chasing away the last remnants of disbelief.
“I can’t believe you’re here,” Monroe whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
Chloé smiled, her fingers tracing lazy patterns along Monroe’s back. “Neither can I. But here I am. And I’m not going anywhere.”
They stayed like that for a long moment, just holding each other, the quietness of the day wrapping around them.
“How?”
Chloé shrugged. “Last night after our conversation, I said to myself, if there is a flight available, then it is a sign to be here. There was one seat left on the early flight. I booked it.”
“But you have so much work—”
Chloé placed a finger against Monroe’s lips. “Let me worry about that. Right now, you need to be here, and I needed to be with you.”
“You’re crazy, you know that?”
Chloé laughed softly. “Maybe. But crazy in love.”
Monroe smiled, warmth flooding her chest. “Well, lucky me.”
Leaning in, Chloé brushed her lips over Monroe’s in a gentle, lingering kiss. It was a promise that no matter how far apart they’d been, this was home.
“Staying?” Monroe breathed.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Chloé promised, “not right now, anyway.”
Monroe’s breath hitched as she melted into another kiss, the morning light catching the small smile that played on Chloé’s lips as they finally found each other again.