All Grown Up (18 page)

"Um…I have to work or I would," I quickly spit ou
t, making a mental note to sign up for extra hours this weekend.

"Oh
, that’s a shame. Well, if you change your mind, please come. I’ve gotta run."

"Okay, bye
, El. Love you." We hung up.

"Are you okay?" Carrie looked at me with a worried expression.

"Uh…yeah. Just a surprising conversation that’s all." I swallowed back the bile that was threatening to come up.

We hadn’t been together in months
, hadn’t even spoken. Yet the thought of him with someone else made me feel as if someone was squeezing all of the air out of my body. The piece of me that he had taken with him had now been sent through a shredder. I shook it off.

"Is everything all right?" she asked.

I nodded but felt the sting of tears threatening.

"Chloe
, you can talk to me…come on." She pleaded. So I told her everything. When I was finished she took a deep breath and hugged me.

"I just don’t get why it’s bothering me so much
." I shook my head.

"It’s unfinished Chloe," she patted my back
, "neither of you really ever resolved your relationship or your feelings." I heard her sigh. "I have to be honest with you." I looked up to see her squirm nervously. "I-uh…I mean really it’s Brent, but I know Leo." I took in a sharp breath. "I also know his girlfriend."

"Great," I mumbled.

"Oh, Chloe, I won’t say anything. I just didn’t want you to find out later and then think that I was…."

"Carrie I would never think that about you. You are far too kind." I smiled to her. "I just need to suck it up and get past this, and I will." She smiled hopefully at me.

Mina went home that weekend, though she was very apprehensive. Roni and I stayed in Seattle and worked through the weekend. When Mina returned, she didn’t say much about the weekend.

"Mina you can talk about it, I’m not some psycho who is stalking your brother," I chuckled.

"I know Chloe, but I just don’t want to upset you. Are you sure you’re okay?"

"Yeah, I’m fine. I just had to get over it all. Now it
’s fine." I smiled and it was a full smile. Leo had moved on and, even if there was still a twinge of pain, I was moving on too.

"Well, she is really nice and I know you would even like her
." She smiled but paused to gauge my reaction.

"I’m sure that I would, especially if you like her so much," I smiled back.

"She is extremely nice and pleasant to be around. Leo seems happy, too." I smiled genuinely knowing that he was happy. "Her name is Glendaly Vazquez."

"The model?"
I sat up straighter.

"Yeah, I know right. I couldn’t believe it. I have seen her so many times in my magazines
and I got to meet her in person." Mina beamed.

"Wow," was all I could say. Glendaly
is a very popular model, almost six foot tall, dark skin, long dark hair, deep brown eyes and absolutely gorgeous.

Chapter
Twenty
Every Ex-girlfriend’s Nightmare

Chloe

Several months had passed and the second semester had started. Once we were finally getting adjusted into our courses, I was thrown a curve ball. Arriving home from school, I checked the mail. Two white envelopes, hand written.
One to Roni and one for me. Two invitations. I swung with all I had and had struck out. Struck out of being the one to land a home run.

The cream colored envelopes sat on the coffee table taunting me as I sat on the couch with a glass of wine in my hand. I didn’t have to open them to know what they were
and deep inside I knew who they were for. A hard shut of the front door snapped me out of my own thoughts.

"Wine already, really?" Roni looked at me with a smirk on her face. Then her eyes narrowed on my face and she sat down next to me, not caring that her clothes were covered in garage grime. "What’s wrong
, Chloe?"

"Nothing," I shrugged. "I brought the mail in," I motioned to the table. Roni’s eyes moved to the table and I heard her sigh.

"Chloe, I know that you…"

I put my hand up as I swallowed a large gulp.

"Just stop," I pleaded with my eyes. "It’s stupid, really. We haven’t been together for forever now.  Not that he bothered to resolve us first...!" I threw myself back on the couch with a large sigh. "Christ, why do I do that?  I don’t want to be mad at him." I caught a glimpse of Roni eyeing me up. "Don’t look at me like that!"

"Look at you like what?" Roni tried to sound innocent.

"Look at who like what?" Came Mina’s voice as the door closed.

"Fuck," I mumbled.

Mina walked in completely confused. I sat up and watched Roni motion to the envelopes on the table.

"What
are….oh my God!" Mina walked over and ripped open one of them. "How…when….why didn’t I know about this already?"

"Mina…" Roni hissed.

Mina’s eyes focused on me.

"Oh shit…right." She took a seat next to me.

"Will you both stop." I leaned forward and poured more wine into my glass. "I was just a little shocked by the…well, you know what they are." I sighed. "I’m happy for him, I really am, Mina. I just feel like I never, I mean ‘we’, never had any kind of closure."

Mina wrapped her arm around me.

"It’s okay. I understand. I’m sorry that I haven’t been there enough for you over all of this," she tossed the invitation on the table.

"So
, when is the big day?" I rolled my eyes.

Mina grabbed the invite again and looked.
"Says that it’s in two weeks."

My eyes widened and I almost spit wine out my nose. "They are getting married in two weeks
?" I choked out.

"What?
No
!" Mina looked at me with shock and amusement. "It’s the engagement party, Chloe." She rolled her eyes. "Did you think that my mother, of all people, would not have an engagement party?"

"She’s right," Roni added as she picked up the bottle of wine and drank directly from it.

"So, Leo is engaged, to a super-hot uber-model, of all people," I sighed as I leaned back into the couch. Roni and Mina assumed similar positions. "Can you just imagine the blinding beauty of their children?" I asked into the silence that had built around us.

They both broke into laughter. I don’t know what was so funny but I found myself joining in on the hysterics.

The two weeks had passed by quicker than I wanted. I had been mentally preparing myself over that time. I knew that we hadn’t been together for some time now and it wasn’t like I was angry about him moving on. I’ve dated other people, tried to move on, but it was just so…I don’t know. Disappointing? Disappointing to know I was completely ignored and forgotten? Disappointing to know that this made it, us, so final?

Sitting in my old room made it feel even more surreal that this was all going on right now. Mina appeared on the balcony
, beating on the doors. I quickly unlocked and opened them.

"What the fuck
, asshole?" She yelled at me as she pushed passed me and hopped onto my bed.

"What did I
do, dickhead?" I yelled back, laughing.

"Since when are those locked?" She motioned to the French doors.

"UH…maybe since we all moved to Seattle, dumbass," I said sarcastically as I plopped down next to her. We both started laughing.

"Roni still getting dressed?"

I nodded.

"Is that what you are wearing?" Mina appraised me closely.

"Yes, and
no
I will not let you ‘fix’ me." I gave her a stern look.

"Actually
, I was going to tell you that you looked pretty hot and that I was proud," she shrugged and smiled.

"Okay
, sluts…let’s get rolling!" Roni emerged from the bathroom throwing her arms into the air and sticking out her hip like she was posing for a magazine.

It was nostalgic to cross over the tree house to Mina’s room and I felt myself hesitate, thinking about everything that had happened in that childhood place. I shook the thoughts off and continued into Mina’s room.

Oliver was leaned against Mina’s doorframe smiling.

"Well, hell, do I get to escort you three fine ass ladies tonight?" his smile beamed brightly a
s he straightened up.

"Back it up
, chuck," Max shouted as he pushed passed Oliver and wrapped his arms around Veronica. "This gorgeous broad is mine. M – i – n – e." Roni giggled as he nuzzled her neck.

"Mina," Oliver offered his arm to her and she smiled. "Chloe," he offered his other arm to me. We both took an arm.

"Well, fuck you, Max, ‘cause I’ve got two." He smirked and he led us downstairs to the party.

When we reached downstairs
, it was already a full house. Elaine and Robert greeted Roni and I immediately with hugs, kisses and murmurings of how much they’d missed us. It was over Elaine’s shoulder during our hug that I saw him for the first time in a year. My breathing hitched as his eyes stared directly back into mine. Robert pulling me away from Elaine broke our trance.

Roni linked my arm quickly.

"What was that?" she whispered.

"What?"
I whispered back.

"You know what. I saw the way you looked at each other."

I shrugged "It’s just been a long time."

"Are you sure about this?" Roni turned me to look directly into my eyes.

I nodded. "As sure as I will ever be, Roni. Just don’t leave me, okay?" She nodded as we headed over to the happy couple.

Leo had his arm around Glendaly’s waist. She was even more gorgeous in person with her
cocoa colored skin, shiny black hair and all around perfection. I caught a glimpse of the ring on her finger and swallowed all of the mixed emotions that I had. I steadied myself as we stood in front of them.

Leo turned to me and his face fell for a
moment. I wasn’t sure if he was unhappy that I was there or if he just thought that I would cause a problem. I ignored it.

"Leo, it’s great to see you again
." I smiled and I gave him the most generic, friendly hug. It didn't matter.  The current of heat permeated from all areas of contact.

Retreating quickly from the hug, our eyes met. He'd felt it
, too. Hoping his fiancé didn't notice our behavior. I pulled my shit together and focused on her.

"Glendaly
, it is a pleasure to meet you. Congratulations." I smiled as brightly as I could.

"Glenda, this is Chloe," Leo spoke without any emotion at all.

"Oh, Chloe," she leaned in and hugged me, "Elaine and Robert have told me so much about you. So has Mina," she gushed. Leo stiffened at my side.

"And you must be Roni?" Roni nodded in confirmation and Glendaly hugged her as well. "It is a pleasure to meet such close friends and family of Leo." Her accent was heavy
, making her even more exotic. I groaned internally. I was living the ex-girlfriend’s nightmare; the one where your ex finds the hottest, nicest and absolutely better-in-every-way new woman.

The party was as perfect as Elaine’s parties always go. There was plenty of food and drink, as well as conversation. I
avoided Leo. Mina and I were sitting together watching Elaine dance with Oliver to the music of the band playing. I could see the adoration and love in Mina’s eyes as she watched Oliver. Envy crept across my skin when he would look at her with such devotion. Roni and Max were always inseparable. There was no one who could come between those two. It was borderline disgusting.

Oliver approached Mina and reached his hand out to her as an invitation to dance. She looked at me and I pushe
d her up to dance with her man.

"I’ll be back for you too
, darling," Oliver winked at me and I shook my head, laughing. Oliver was a great guy and he had an amazing way of not making me feel like the third wheel.

I was getting up for another drink when I
face planted someone’s chest. Not my best moment. Large, strong hands wrapped around my arms to steady me.

"I am so sorry
," I quickly apologized, embarrassment heating my cheeks.

"Don’t be sorry," came a heavy Italian accent
ed reply.

Looking up, I met
a large, handsome man with olive skin, black hair, amusement filled hazel eyes and a large frame. He was tall like Leo, but a bit more muscular.  Where Leo had a runner's body, this guy clearly lifted weights. He was strikingly attractive. It took me a moment to collect my thoughts.

"How is it
I've not run into you until now?" He smiled, tilting his head slightly.

"I, uh, I don’t know,"
I stuttered. "I apologize for—"

"Didn’t I just say
not to apologize?" He smiled widely. "I should thank you for bumping into me."

"You should?" I raised my eyebrow.

"Mmhmm, I wouldn’t have met the most beautiful woman in the room if you hadn’t." He winked.

I
crossed my arms over my chest.

"
Does that line work for you often?"

He held my gaze without any emotion until he started laughing heartily. "You are feisty, aren’t you?"

"It’s not the first time I’ve been called that, or worse. If you’ll excuse me," I walked around him and headed towards the bar.

"Did you think I was going to let you get away that easily?"
He whispered into my ear, his breath making me shiver.

I shifted and turned to face him. He was smiling. "May
I ask your name?"

"
You may." I couldn’t believe how decent I was getting at the whole ‘flirty’ behavior. Roni and Mina would be thrilled.

He chuckled at my response. "I’m
Domenico," he held his hand out to me.

"Chloe," I reached out to shake his hand
. Instead, he grabbed my hand and kissed my knuckles.

"It’s a pleasure to have ‘bumped’ into you," he smiled against the back of my hand. The music changed to a familiar song. "Dance with me?"
Before I could respond, he pulled me out to the make-shift dance floor. I willingly went and willingly spent the rest of the evening on Domenico’s arm.

After the party
, I was coming out of the shower when I heard thumping on the door.

"Just a minute!"
I yelled.

"Get your ass out here!" That would be Mina.

I opened the door, still drying my hair with my towel. "What the hell, Mina?"

She bounded in and sat on the toilet lid. Roni was close behind and parked her ass on the bathroom countertop.

"Okay…what?" I threw the towel to the hamper and started brushing out my hair.

"Who the hell was tall, dark and fuck me?" Roni wiggled her eyebrows.

"Tall, dark and fuck me? Really, Roni, what would Max think?"

"Max doesn’t need to know," she winked. "Now spill it."

I told them about Domenico, bumping into him, the way he hit on me, our playful banter, dancing and talking. I had found out that he had been born and was raised in Italy until he was seventeen. He attended college in the US and he was currently working in Seattle, running a major record label.

"He lives in Seattle?" Mina questioned.

"Yeah," I shrugged.

"What is his name?" She asked.

"I just told you—"

"No, his last name, dumb
shit!"

"Oh..
.Domenico Fiorello." I finished brushing and then saw Mina’s face. "What?"

"
Chloe Michele Fisher, do you realize who he is?" Mina stood and walked over to me, stopping about a foot from me. I shook my head. Her hand went to her head in disbelief.

"Well
, who the hell is he, Mina?" Roni shouted, hopping down from the countertop.