ChloeDecember was kind to us.As if some higher power was watching over me and ordering the rain to stay away, the first ten days of the month were the best I remembered since I came to live in LA. Skies were perfectly cloudless, and winds were unusually mild; nature conspired to give me the wedding I desired - an intimate ceremony with only the closest friends and family members gathered on the beach behind Gabe’s house.Our intention to get married as soon as possible did cause a few questioning glares and assumptions about the reason for the rush, but Gabe and I didn’t care. All we wanted was to say our vows and take one more step towards the future we wished to build for ourselves.With the set date nearing, my nervousness grew. Was it cold feet, I wondered. No. It, most definitely, was not. What’s more, I couldn’t wait to be the lawfully wedded wife of Gabriel Miller. Because there was no point in waiting. Everything that happened to us from the moment our destinies crossed path
ChloeTen months laterTaking the last stroll through the new workshop, I made sure everything was set in place for tomorrow.The big day was coming, and I was reaching my patience limits. Although I double-checked that we didn’t miss a thing and that the plan for the opening was followed to the letter, I still caught myself expecting a catastrophic flaw to jump at me from the corner and destroy everything I had worked hard for.But the arm that wrapped around my waist chased away my doubts. And the kiss that captured my lips took me to heaven.“You promised to take it easy.” Gabe scolded me as I dived deeper into his embrace.“I’m just checking for the last time. My new crew is coming in tomorrow, and I want no lags in the production.”To my surprise, Gabe chuckled and tightened his hold on me. “For someone unwilling to expand their business, you seem eager to see it live now.”And I truly was. Somehow, the push Simon made with intentional overbooking and the support I got from Gabe
Chloe “No, Simon, don’t worry. I’ve got this.” When in reality, I knew I didn’t. Simon was my employee and friend for over four years, ever since I opened my pastry shop. He was the first person who answered my job listing; 20 at the time, tall, blond, Viking type, and it wasn’t a secret I liked him from the moment I saw him. Before I discovered he had a boyfriend. But him being so easygoing and friendly made that initial awkwardness vanish quickly, and we grew to be more than friends; he became a brother I never had. Usually, Simon was in charge of the delivery, but today his boyfriend was having knee surgery, and I understood he had to be there. “But…” he said, and I interrupted him. “No but! Go! That’s an order!” I commanded with a smile, knowing he wouldn’t misunderstand. “And wish Dave to get well soon!” I yelled after Simon, who was already on his way out. Watching him disappear from my sight, I sighed loudly. “Are you OK, Chloe?” I heard Abby ask from the storage room. “
ChloeThere, in the middle of the room, on the soft purple carpet, surrounded by clouds of puffy white tulle, sat a bride-to-be.I couldn’t take my eyes off her; they were glued to the apparition on the floor, and no matter how much I knew I should turn around and return the same way I came, I couldn’t. Some pull from the bottom of my gut was not letting me. Instead, it was screaming at me to go in and see what was wrong.I quickly scanned her and concluded that the girl was crying inconsolably. Her pretty face had traces of smeared makeup, and the once-perfect bun was half destroyed. Even all messed up, she was the most beautiful bride I have ever seen. She could’ve easily been mistaken for a princess from a fairytale.“Hey,” I whispered. “Are you OK?”My voice seemed to snap her out of her trance, and she raised her head to meet my gaze. Oh, God! How could so much pain exist in such magnificent blue eyes?She didn’t answer my question, but the subtle flinch of her eyebrow told me sh
ChloeRemembering how shocked I was earlier today when I opened the room door where Molly was crying desperately, my hand hesitated on the handle this time. What if something happened? What if…?What was I doing? Hesitating about entering my home? Snorting lightly, I pressed the handle and went in. Luckily, no surprises were waiting for me.I found Molly in the living room, watching the news and munching on a bag of chips in front of the TV. Her head snapped in my direction when she heard me come in, and she smiled like crazy, making me worried about her mental health.“Look! They’re all talking about me!” She motioned for me to sit next to her. “They’re calling me a runaway bride! Like in that old movie. Can you imagine how pissed off my parents must be now?” She switched off the TV and turned to me. “Sorry about the chips. I got hungry.”“Don’t worry about it,” I brushed it off. “How are you?”“Oh, better than I have been in a long time. Thank you,” Molly’s voice was so thick with e
GabrielThe mirror I was in front of me perfectly reflected how I felt - it showed the man with a deep frown on his forehead, eyebrows furrowed like he was lost in thought. In doubt, more precisely. A doubt whether he was doing the right thing.Right or entirely wrong, it was too late, and that realization made the white shirt I was wearing tighten around me like a cage, but it wasn’t the shirt’s fault - my skin was a size too small for me, but unfortunately, I could not shed it and grow a new one like snakes could.I knew what I was getting into, and I had no problems with it until now, but this man that held my gaze in the mirror made me question my decision. Marriage. A point from which there was no return. An act of will that shall change my life forever.Spending the rest of my life with Molly seemed like an appealing idea. She was beautiful, well-educated, and from a respected family, and we had a spark. She would make a fine wife and a good mother, and I could imagine us growin
Chloe A hot shower after a long day never felt so good as tonight. I always enjoyed the feeling that warm water brought as all the sweat, stress, and the previous day’s events were washed down the drain. It worked like magic on me; droplets relaxed my muscles, and steam relaxed my mind. But this time, I needed more. So, after I rinsed my hair and scrubbed my body, I put on my favorite floppy nightie and poured myself a glass of Chardonnay. It was mid-July, nights were as warm as they could get, and I enjoyed them on my balcony. Taking the wine with me, I stepped out onto the terrace. Looking up, my eyes met with the full moon. I smiled at it cheekily while sitting in the comfortable rocking chair. The city’s buzzing was muted; only the sound of moving cars down the avenue could be heard intermittently, a loud laugh or yell here and there. But soon, it all would be quiet, like someone turned off a switch. Silvery moonlight bathed my balcony with the rest of the city, dispersing magi
ChloeWhen my alarm buzzed the next morning, it sounded like I was in the middle of a war zone with bombs dropping around me.My ears were ringing, and my head threatened to explode at any second. I groaned and located my phone without opening my eyes, tapping the screen, hoping to switch the damn thing off blindly so the detonations would stop.After a few seconds, the alarm went off, and I could breathe again.Trying to turn around and stretch my unusually stiff body was a challenge as the searing pain in my lower back stopped me.Wait, why did my back hurt as if I slept on a concrete floor the entire night? And when I think of it, this didn’t feel like my bed at all. With that thought, my eyes snapped open, and I rose into a sitting position.What the hell was I doing sleeping in my living room?! I stumbled to the kitchen, placed the filter in the machine, added coffee grounds and water, and pressed the button. Hopefully, some caffeine would chase away the fog from my brain. A few