Gavin gestured at my face, “Did you have a run-in with a cupboard or something?” I could see from his reaction that my own had wiped the smile off his face. Feeling brave and determined not to lie for Kace anymore, I took a deep breath.
So, Gavin got what he wasn’t expecting. I told him the truth, surprising myself by pouring a lot out about my life with Kace and he sat quietly listening and paying attention to what was being said with a dark expression and his jaw twitching.
“What a fucking coward.” He shook his head softly. “And for the record Chloe, you are a very beautiful woman, and I’m glad you got away from him. Now you’ve shared all of that with me, I’m guessing you don’t have many friends in New York.” I smiled shyly at him and immediately thought there was no way I was getting into another relationship with anyone. That didn’t mean I wouldn’t like him as a friend when I got settle though.
“Even if I did, I can never have enough friends, Gavin.” I hesitated, wondering how to phrase this next part. “But, I need to tell you, I am only interested in are those that don’t want any more than I can give. It will be a long time before I am ready to trust a man in a relationship, except in a purely platonic way.”
Gavin smiled warmly and pulled a packet of Juicy Fruit chewing gum from his jacket pocket. Shaking them from the small packet he asked, “Want one?” I smiled back and took a piece.
“Thank you, I’ve not had this for years.”
Smiling bashfully he said, “I love it! It’s so underestimated though. Beats spearmint and peppermint flavors hands down.” He chuckled at his little sales pitch for a second before his face became serious.
“Chloe, I was in a relationship for a long time too. My girl left me for a geeky guy with a huge inheritance. My parents tell me I had a lucky escape with that. For about a year I didn’t believe them, I couldn’t see past the girl. When my parents moved to Cocoa Beach from Boston, I took it as my chance for a clean break and moved to New York.” He gave me a half smile. “So, apart from the physical stuff, I can relate to your situation a little.”
Tapping his fingers nervously on the pulled down tray, his eyes flicked to mine again. “Would you take my number…just in case you need anything? I’d hate to think you were out there and had no one to call. You don’t have to give me yours. I’d just feel happier knowing that there was someone you could rely on if you needed help.”
I smiled at Gavin, “I’d like that thanks, but I won’t give you mine if you don’t mind, I’m changing it anyway. Can I call you when I’m ready to deal with friends? I just feel I need to take stock for a while, you know?”
Gavin looked completely comfortable with my admission. “Sure, Chloe, whatever you need, and when you’re ready for work, call me and I’ll see if there’s anything that you might want to go after.” I felt that Gavin was a really genuine guy, he really did just want to help, but after the mind games of Kace I was wary.
Gavin told me that he shared an apartment with Ed, a theatre production guy. Ed had advertised on a board in the theatre staff canteen for a roommate and Gavin moved in two weeks later. Gavin told me Ed has since moved to a more senior role at another theatre.
He asked Sue for a pen when she passed. He scribbled on a napkin and passed it to me. “This has my address, the telephone number of the theatre I work at, and my cell. Keep it safe. Add my numbers to your cell. Gavin Dawkins is my full name. I’d like you to call, not because I have designs on you, but because I think you could use someone to trust.”
We left the plane together and Gavin asked if I wanted a lift to my apartment block. I really didn’t feel that confident about letting anyone know where I lived although he knew the general area, but I said no. Gavin told me he understood and surprised me when he pulled me into a hug before he released just as suddenly and walked away.
“Call me when you’re ready, Chloe,” he said when his head turned back to look at me. I nodded and stood watching him disappear into the crowd in the direction of the airport parking.
Standing in line waiting for the cab, a range of emotions washed over me. Fear, relief, anxiety, excitement as well as sadness and loss ran through my mind. Each new emotion affected my body by making my heart race, or making it feel heavy and heartbroken until I was standing in public, fighting back tears.
I was terrified and resolute at the same time. There had been no other way but to break free. I even felt sorry for Kace, that he’d come home and find me gone. I felt such a bad person for leaving him wondering what had happened to me.
The cab driver was a fast talking New Yorker, and his conversation distracted me from my thoughts, and made me concentrate on where I was headed. I hadn’t seen it yet, but according to Gavin, my apartment was in a nice neighborhood, and relatively safe. Gavin didn’t know that wouldn’t mean much to me, because we’d lived in a great neighborhood with a very low crime rate in Florida. Yet, the safest place for me was anywhere away from there.
The contrast of the fast moving pace where everyone seemed to be in a hurry felt overwhelming to me as I stared out of the yellow cab window. Craning my neck to look up at the buildings, it was impossible to see the tops of most of them up close.
The apartment was on the Upper East Side of New York. A wealthy area but the block itself was an older one and less affluent looking than the plush new skyscrapers surrounding it. Still, it had a doorman and central keypad entry, so at least no one could walk in off the street without being noticed. I loved the fact he didn’t take me at face value either and asked for my ID and checked his information sheet. All those things served to reassure me that I was safe.
My apartment was on the eleventh floor and to the front and had a decent view and the thing I noticed the most about it was it was really quiet. I didn’t care what I could see on the outside, it was how safe I could be on the inside that mattered.
Once inside, I leaned against the door, closed my eyes and became overwhelmed by all the emotions I had suppressed for the last couple of days. Relieved and thankful for my second chance, but at the same time, I was still grieving for the life I could have had with Kace, before all the bad things started happening.
I sat in the sparsely furnished apartment which was now my sanctuary, and looked around. Acknowledging this to myself of how thankful I was to my grandfather for this gift, because I felt that my inheritance was more than money. It was a lifesaver.
There were a few pieces of antique furniture, such as an old writing bureau made of yew wood, highly polished and a little incongruent to the apartment, which…. I fell in love with on sight, and a massive old pine chest of drawers in the master bedroom.
They were obviously my grandpa’s, from knowing his taste in furniture at his place in Florida, as the place was otherwise unfurnished I could see I could see I was going to have to make the place my own faster than I expected.
I loved the open space of the apartment. It only had two bedrooms, but it felt very spacious, with its tall ceilings, large, picture windows, and beautiful old highly polished, oak wooden floors. The place just needed some tender loving care and it would look fabulous in no time.
My mum was so resourceful and had managed to find a bed and a sectional couch in a consignment store and that was being delivered and the building’s service manager had helped them to install it for me. There were built in appliances in the kitchen, which were a little dated, but seemed to be functional.
All I needed right then was food. My cell started ringing as soon as I switched it on. Kace’s ID flashed and I froze, sitting petrified for a moment. Even here in New York, he could hat even there in New York, he could still affect me like that.
Beads of sweat broke out on my forehead and nose and my palms were clammy. Dry mouthed I felt adrenaline coursing through my body, making me feel like I needed to get up to run and hide.
Cutting the call off, I rang my parents to tell them that I had arrived and was safe. As soon as I spoke to them, my dad told me that Kace had already rung them lo
oking for me, and he had played dumb. I felt bad that I’d left them to deal with this and told them so.
My dad’s response was that if he didn’t leave them alone they would probably move too. My parents didn’t need to worry about money and my dad works from home, so I guess that would probably be an option for them at some point anyway.
When I finished my call, I switched my cell off and that was the last time I ever used it. I had made a note of the contacts I wanted to keep. There were only two friends’ numbers on the list, Ruby who was here in New York, and my friend Carla, who was currently living in Marbella, Spain. They were the only two people apart from my parents that I trusted not to give in to Kace’s charming ways.
Taking my suitcase, I heaved it onto the bed. The fabric was straining under the tightly packed clothing my mom had squeezed in. Unzipping it, I threw the top open. Pulling out another sweater, I stuck my arms in the sleeves and pulled it over my head. It was the end of April, but there were still very cool days in New York, this was one of them.
Once I was wrapped up against the cold, I made my way down to the street. I had no clue where to buy anything or where I needed to go, so I did what every tourist would do and flagged a yellow cab driver to help me out.
Hank, the cab driver, was a retired policeman and he took me around the entire afternoon for a fixed fare of $250. We agreed on the fare when I told him there was a lot I had to achieve, and rather than leave the meter running, he suggested it might be cheaper to do it that way.
A font of knowledge about New York, Hank had a great sense of humor and kept me right on all of the things I needed to do. He even came into Walmart in New Jersey and helped choose pots and pans, flat and silverware, a new phone, a TV, sheets and a comforter set.
CHAPTER 10 – NESTING
Chloe
By the time I got home I had achieved far more than if I’d flagged down another driver who would probably have been less helpful. Hank helped me back and forth with all the stuff I had purchased and before he left he advised me that there were a lot of con men in New York. Hank gave me is card and said if I needed anything to call him.
Chuckling, I attached Hank’s number to Gavin’s which was already stuck to the ‘I heart Paris’ magnet that had been left on the fridge door. Ironically, I’d been in New York for less than six hours and two guys had given me their cell numbers, Kace would have had a breakdown if he’d known about that.
Opening the box of my new iPhone, I plugged the charger in to the socket, and headed to the kitchen to get the fried chicken I’d brought home to save me cooking.
Unpacking the flatware, I placed them all in the dishwasher to run a cycle before storing them in the cupboard. Dragging the bag of linen over, I took a dish towel to dry a plate, placing the chicken on it and a can of soda from the box of twenty four I had bought.
I had just taken my first bite when my new cell phone began to ring. Fear gripped me, a stunned feeling hitting my chest, as my eyes flicked to the screen on the phone. I stared for a split second, before I remembered that I had a new number which had no connection with my past life.
Padding over to answer it, I had the idea it could be the phone company I’d taken the contract out with. Swiping the screen to answer, a rich deep voice boomed out at me. “Toby, dude, are we meeting up or what?”
Clearing my throat I squeaked, “Umm, Toby?” I squeaked.
“Oh, sorry, honey, could you put Toby on the line? Where the hell is he anyway?” I breathed in deeply, and exhaled.
“I’m sorry you have the wrong number.” I was about to end the call, and the voice spoke back to me again.
“What number did I dial?” I raised my eye brow.
“You have a smart phone in front of you, don’t you?”
An infectious chuckle came back at me, “You think if I ask this piece of shit, it’s smart enough to answer me?”
I smiled at his humor, “No, but you could read the last number dialed.”
He snickered down the phone. “Damn, I just showed my stupid gene there, huh?”
Smiling at his funny self-deprecating comment, I could feel myself physically relaxing. “Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me. After all, I have no clue who you are.” There was hesitancy, and wrong number guy came back again.
“This is true. I kinda like that idea. It means that you couldn’t pick me out in a line- up of stupid guys.” I smirked because he was amusing.
“Unless, you spoke and said something equally as dense, then I’d have a fighting chance of that,” I quipped and giggled back. There was a silence and I thought I had offended him, but what the hell, he didn’t know me. “Anyway, stupid-gene- wrong-number guy, I’m afraid you’ll have to dial again. I sure hope Toby’s coming after all this.”
He chuckled, “Yeah, well hot- sounding-good-sense-of-humor girl, I’d better chase him down. Sorry to disturb you.” I meant to say no problem but I said “Anytime,” then screwed my face up at the phone thinking, WTF? Again there was a small silence.
Expecting him to hang up, I was surprised when he answered back again, “Huh? Hmm…well, maybe I’ll just have to test that comment out sometime.” Beginning to chuckle, he had a smile in his voice, “Nice call forward, darlin’, have a good day.” I don’t know why but just calling me darlin’ lifted my spirit.
Still smiling, I walked back to the couch and sat down slowly, still staring at the cell. He was the only number logged in my received calls list, my first call of my new life, and it wasn’t a bad start at all.
After dinner, I dug into my bags of purchases and began to give my new home some character. Some duck egg blue scatter cushions I’d bought were thrown onto the large sectional, and the effect warmed the room immediately.
While running a bath, I made up my bed, standing back with my arms folded to admire the cream and gold bedding. It looked rich and inviting, and I couldn’t wait to be snuggled down in it, even if I hadn’t washed the linen first. I was exhausted, both mentally and physically.
Intending on soaking in the bath, I lay back but soon felt my eyes drooping, so got out and dried. No use in escaping the clutches of Kace, only to drown in a bath fourteen hundred miles away on the same day.
I pulled on a blue figure hugging tank top and pajama shorts, making a mental note to get some warmer clothing, then snuggled down with the duvet pulled up to my chin. As soon as I was in the silent darkness of the room, tears fell softly down my face.
I owed it to myself to grieve properly for the life I had lost, before I could begin to build a new one. After this though, I promised I wouldn’t shed any more tears for Kace.
When I woke, it was with a start and I could hear my cell ringing all the way down the hall in the sitting room. I wasn’t in a hurry to answer it though, because I hadn’t given it out to anyone, so it would probably be the cell phone company this time with something to do with the contract. I swept the duvet back and slid out of my bed when it became obvious whoever it was wasn’t giving up.
Picking up my cell, I swiped to answer. “Toby?” I huffed. “Nope.” I was tired and didn’t expand my conversation. “Shit, I’ve done it again, huh? I’m sorry darlin’ did I wake you?”
Feeling in a sarcastic mood I answered. “Hell no, I always wander around my apartment in the middle of the night, answering random phone calls.”
“Ouch. And there was I thinking I had this hot babe that I could call at any time and tell her all about my day.” As soon as he said it, I thought, actually that might be fun, talking to a guy without him knowing where I was.
Controlling my interaction with a man on the phone without any commitment, maybe I could cope with this. More alert now, I asked, “Is that what you want to do? Talk to some random female about your life, and kind of hear what I have to say about it, but don’t judge me kind of relationship?”
Snickering, I could hear the humor in his voice, “That’d be a first, someone not judging me. I didn’t really know what I was saying but that so
unds like an excellent plan, are you game?”
Not hesitating I found myself saying, “Sure, I’m up for that, as long as I can do the same.” Suddenly, I was feeling kind of excited about talking to a mysterious anonymous guy on the line.
“Do I get a name?” At that point I hesitated and almost gave him a false one.
“Chloe.” I swallowed hard because the way I was feeling even someone knowing my first name sounded like too much.
After I said it, I was met by a moment of silence, which I broke by asking if I could have his. “Oh, yeah, sorry. Paul…my name is Paul.” His voice was flat as if he was distracted by something then he came back more focused. “Hey, Chloe. Pleased to meet you… on the phone,” he said playfully with the smile back in his voice.
Chatting about nothing in particular for another couple of minutes I hung up and padded barefoot, back to bed and fell asleep thinking about my mystery caller.
Later, a low vibrating noise broke into my sleep. My cell on the nightstand was slowly moving towards me across the glass nightstand, making a soft clinking sound which added to the annoyance of the ringing. In my sleepy state, I forgot where I was and fear gripped me. I’d been waking with those feelings for about a year.
Once I remembered where I was, my racing heartbeat began to slow until I had the thought and wondered if my parents were okay. Squinting over at the cell, I swiped to answer anyway.
“Toby! That was ace!” Paul’s wired voice shouted down the line at me and it was weird how I recognized it.
“Paul if we’re going to do this, it needs to be when I’m awake.” I mumbled into the phone, before pulling it down from my ear to glance at the screen, still trying to focus on the time display.
Romance: Gibson's Legacy ( New Adult Contemporary Erotic Romance) (Last Score Book 1) Page 8