Chapter Sixty Eight

“That bad, huh?” said Timothy as his brow went up.

"Yup. I got really sick of it too so I just visit them separately. There was nothing I could do so I just stopped trying. I'm not sure how, but I guess somehow along the line they just stopped loving each other and that gave way to hate. I mean, they were never the lovey dovey kind of couple but things just seemed to get worse. Makes me wonder what's the point of all this anyways"

"Point of what?"

She shrugged. "You know... Meeting someone... Falling in love... Getting married... Having kids... Only to end up hating each other and getting separated. Is it really worth all the trouble?"

There was a pause, then Timothy said, "You know it's not that way for all couples. Some marriages are still working out. Like mom and dad... Sometimes I wonder how they do it. They have been together for years and still going strong. They might have had their bad times, but they are still very much in love with each other, and that's the kind of relationship I want. I look at them sometimes and I wish I could have what they have. I tried in the past... But it never worked out so I just gave up on it. I didn't really think that I would want that again until you came back and I realized that I still wanted you so badly. I want us to try.... I know there's a chance that it could end, but that's not my plan for us and I'm willing to try if you are too"

Chloe said nothing.

"You're worried that it's going to end badly, right? Like your parents" Timothy asked as she bit her lip in consternation. “You’re concerned about the end of a relationship that hasn't even started”

She shrugged, admitting reluctantly, “True. And I’m not sure why I can't stop” Her brows came together in dismay. “I'm overthinking this. I know that, But there are other reasons too…What about work? I can't bear to put my career on the line…not again”

Not again? What did that mean?…Timothy thought as he leaned forward in his chair. "I assure you, I understand you perfectly well, but I'm serious about this. I will try everything in my power to make sure that you don't regret this, but that's if you let me.” When she said nothing, he pulled back. “Let's not talk about it any more….There’s no rush, and I have a lot of time to try to change your mind"

She wasn't sure why, but his statement made a smile play around her mouth, as though she was amused. He found that smile entrancing. He reached out to hold her hand which was on the table. "I think you are an amazing woman. You are different, playful, Impulsive, definitely more sensual than anyone I’ve ever encountered.” He noted where her other fingers were tracing the edge of the table, learning its texture. “I find those qualities in you very intriguing."

Chloe found herself thinking with a semi-hysterical laugh bubbling in her chest.

“Um—” She felt buffeted by winds that swept all rational thought from her mind. “Thanks for noticing... I guess. I think you're amazing too”

This felt weird. The things he said he liked about her…Those things were part of the reasons why she didn’t seem to keep boyfriends. Some had hated the fact that she was always so outspoken about how she felt and what she wanted. Some expected to go all the way after a few dates and she always drew a halt because she had never felt strongly enough about any of them, emotionally or physically. But with Timothy, it was different. No one had ever made her feel like this, though. Something urgent battled past her conscious reasoning. It was the insistent part of her that overtook her when she was in the heat of work, expressing the very core of herself. She only had instinct and a deep longing to succumb to that brilliant force. It had never let her down, always saturating her with the deepest joy and leaving her with a sense of fulfillment. So she put her trust in it. She squeezed his hand and her heartbeat thumped strong and hard. Her own pulse filled her ears with an echoing throb, pushing sensual heat through her limbs and into her erogenous zones.

"We are gonna be alone here," said Timothy. "And we have a lot of time to.... Explore"

Chloe couldn't help but giggle at the hidden meaning of his words.

"Let's just finish dinner," he said.

Chloe nodded and withdrew her hand. He was right. They had all the time and she couldn't wait to see how things would turn out.

—-------------------------

"Are you tired?" Evan asked Christina as they returned from their date. It was the first time they were going out together since they lost their child, and Evan was glad. Christina smiled at him, and Evan was beginning to see the sparks in her beautiful blue eyes again. Her progress made him happy, and apart from the guilt he felt from his involvement with, everything seemed to be going well.

"Yes I am," Christina replied. "But not to the point where I have to go to bed immediately. I'm just going to take a shower and I'll be right back"

Evan nodded and watched her head up the stairs. His head was a mess. He had never been the kind of person who cheated on his partner, and if someone told him that he would one day be in this situation, he would have laughed so hard in their face. But yet, here he was. So far, no one seemed to know anything about Dora, and he should have been relieved, but he felt guilty as hell. He felt like he was lying to Christina, betrayed her trust and was being deceitful.

He had even contemplated telling her the truth, but he had pushed the thought right out of his mind. That would be shooting himself in the foot, and he'd only end up losing his wife again… he couldn't bear the thought of that happening since he just got her back. He went up the stairs into his bedroom and began to take off his tux. He was down to his shirt and boxer shorts when Christina emerged from the bathroom.