27. Chloe
Chapter twenty-seven
Chloe
L auren and I are watching a movie later that night, just the two of us. It’s the kind of mindless romantic comedy that’s perfect for winding down after an emotionally exhausting day. Parker went home at my insistence. I wanted to have some one-on-one time with Lauren, who honestly has been my rock through this whole ordeal. Since she and I had already gone over the details from yesterday—everything from my pregnancy to the plans we’re slowly beginning to piece together—we’re just enjoying a peaceful evening together. The TV flickers, casting soft shadows around the dimly lit living room.
Out of nowhere, Lauren turns to me, her eyes serious, despite the lighthearted movie playing on the screen. “Chloe, do you love Parker?”
The question catches me off guard. I fumble for a response, my mind racing with how out of the blue she just blurted it out. “What?”
“Do you love him?” she repeats, her gaze unwavering.
I turn back to the TV, but I’m not really seeing it anymore. Her question echoes in my head. Do I love Parker? I think back over the past few months, the way Parker’s been there for me, the way he makes me laugh, and the way his touch seems to ignite a fire deep inside me. When I think of my life going forward, I can’t imagine it without Parker in it, and it’s not just because of the baby. I want him at my side as I navigate what comes next. I want him, body and soul, and I know instinctively that he already has me.
My heart is totally and completely his.
“Yes,” I say quietly, almost to myself at first, then louder, with more conviction. “Yes, I do love him.”
Lauren’s face breaks into a warm, knowing smile. “I thought so.”
I turn to her, a mix of confusion and relief flooding through me. “How did you know?”
“Because I see the way you look at him, and the way he looks at you. It’s not just about the baby, Chloe. There’s something real between you two.”
I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. “I guess I just needed someone to ask me outright.”
Lauren laughs softly. “Sometimes, that’s all it takes.” She reaches over, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. “So, what now?”
I look around the living room and feel a sense of gratitude take over me. This place has been a refuge. When I had nowhere else to go, Lauren made me feel at home here. I don’t know that there’s anything I can do to thank her for taking me in and being my friend when I needed her most. When I came back to Newport, I was so lost and confused about what my future held. Now, I feel an overwhelming confidence that I’m moving in the right direction, surrounded by people who love me in a place that’s always been home.
“I need to start looking for a place of my own,” I say at length.
Lauren looks surprised. “You don’t have to leave. You can stay here as long as you want, you know that.”
I nod and give her a warm smile. “I know, don’t worry. You have been amazing, taking me in and supporting me while I get my shit together, but I need to do this. I need to focus on building my life here. I’m not leaving Newport, but I can’t keep staying here, with you, forever, as much as I would love to. Parker and I need to figure out our next steps, but I also need some space to think and plan for myself. I need to be my own person before I become someone else’s mother.”
Lauren nods, and her gaze flickers with understanding. “That makes sense. I totally get it and support you…but I’m not going to lie. I’m going to miss having my bestie just down the hall.”
A warmth spreads through me at her words. “I’m going to miss that, too.”
“And your job?” she asks. “Are you going to keep working for Holt?”
Chuckling, I nod. “Yeah, I am. The old man isn’t so bad once you get to know him, and he’s even offered me a full-time position if I want one. I just need to make sure he understands that he can’t just dump all the work onto my shoulders. I need to be more assertive in how I deal with him, but I think we can work well together once I do that.”
Lauren shakes her head, clearly amused. “Only you could endear yourself to that old grump. I’m glad, though. I think you could be really successful as a realtor. You have a way with people. And, as an added bonus, that means you’ll get to keep working with me and Parker!”
“Definitely a bonus!” I exclaim.
We laugh together and then settle back into watching the movie, but my mind is already racing with plans. Finding a place of my own, talking with Parker about our future, and figuring out how to navigate this new path we’re on. There’s a sense of closure, a sense of finally knowing what I want and where I belong.
The credits roll on the screen, and I feel a strange mix of calm and anticipation. It’s the beginning of a new chapter, one filled with challenges and uncertainties but also with love and hope. I turn to Lauren, and we share a smile, a silent understanding passing between us.
“Ready for tomorrow?” she asks, her tone light but sincere.
“Yeah,” I say, feeling a surge of confidence. “I think I am.”
The future seems a little less daunting, a little more hopeful. I’m not sure what’s going to happen next, but I know that with Parker by my side and Lauren’s unwavering support, we can face whatever comes our way.
***
The next day, I wake up to a text message from Parker.
Meet me here.
I furrow my brow in confusion, not recognizing the address, but I get up and quickly get dressed. Lauren has already gone to work by the time I hop into my car and drive to meet Parker. The address ends up being for a large, two-story house on a double lot with a wrap-around porch and a big work shed at the back of its sizeable yard. It’s beautiful, but it clearly needs work. Shingles are missing from the roof, and the paint is peeling on the exterior in places. Parker is waiting on the porch for me and smiles when I get out of my car and make my way up the steps to him.
“Good morning,” he says and he wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me in for a kiss.
“Good morning,” I reply. “What’s going on? Is this your next fixer-upper?”
He nods. “In a manner of speaking. Let’s go inside and look around.”
“Okay.” I shrug.
He opens the door and leads me inside, and I’m immediately struck by the elegance of the house’s interior. Again, it’s dated and needs some work, but the original, intricate woodwork along the ceiling and up the stairs is still in place, and the floors really just need to be refinished, but they’re gorgeous and intact. The kitchen needs upgraded, and it could afford to have a wall or two taken down to open the space up a bit, but the house has strong bones and amazing character.
When Parker is done showing me around, he leads me back to the living room with its stone fireplace and gives me a mischievous grin.
“Well?” he asks. “What do you think?”
“This place is wonderful,” I answer. “Once you fix it up a bit, it’ll definitely go for a high price.”
“Well, what if I kept it?”
I blink at him, surprised. “Kept it? What do you mean?”
He shrugs as he looks around the room. “Well, exactly what I said. What if I fixed it up and kept it for myself? Could you see yourself living here?”
“Me?” I exclaim. “Parker, what…?”
He steps forward and takes my hands. “I’m saying, I want to buy this house and fix it up for us. I want us to live here together, Chloe.”
“You…you do?” My heart is racing and my eyes go wide as I stare at him.
He nods. “Yeah, I do. I love you, Chloe, and I want to build a life with you…if that’s what you want, I mean.”
For several seconds, I’m struck speechless, but then, I let out an excited laugh and loop my arms around his neck, hugging him tight.
“Yes!” I cry. “Yes, Parker. I want to live with you. I want to build a life with you. I love you, too!”
He grabs my waist, picks me up off my feet, and spins me around with a whoop. When he puts me back on the floor, I pull him down into a happy, eager kiss that he all-too-willing reciprocates. My heart is fluttering, and I’ve never felt so happy before. It’s amazing to think back on how upset and disappointed I was when I first had to move back home, but I’d had no idea then that my real life was waiting for me here.
Parker was waiting for me here.
I can’t regret a single thing that’s happened to me now, because everything has led me to this moment and to this man. My one true love, and my forever home.