Chapter Five

"No way." Lance said to himself. "I’m not going anywhere."

He raised his hand and knocked on the door again.

"Go away Lance!" Chloe shouted from the other side of the door.

"CHLOE! Open the door!" Lance shouted back.

Afraid that Emma would hear the shouting Chloe opened the door.

"Lance, please I’m asking you to leave." Chloe said on the verge of tears.

His heart broke in half and all he wanted to do was pull her into his arms and go back to four years ago when everything in his life was perfect. When she was in his life. He used to be the one who made her tears go away…now he was the one causing them.

"Chloe, I just want to talk to you. We don’t have to talk about the past or any of that. Please just…talk to me." Lance pleaded.

Chloe was about to protest but she heard a creak behind her. Emma was opening her bedroom door. Lance could not see her.

"Okay." She said.

"Okay?" he asked.

"That’s what I said."

"Great, I’ll come pick you up tomorrow. Around 6:00?"

"Fine. Now go." She said closing the door.

"Mommy? What’s going on?" Emma asked.

Chloe turned around and smiled at her daughter.

"Nothing, baby. Come on, let’s get you back to bed."

***

"Thanks for baby-sitting." Chloe said to Jamie.

"It’s no problem." Jamie replied. "But why are you so secretive about where you’re going?"

Chloe sighed. "I can’t explain. Just go with it okay?"

"Fine." She replied.

There was suddenly a knock at the front door.

"Emma, where are you?" Chloe asked.

"Right here." She said running into the room.

"You be a good girl for Aunt Jamie okay?"

Emma nodded and hugged Chloe good-bye.

"I love you." She said.

"Love you too." Chloe said kissing her cheek.

"Bye Chloe. Have fun doing…whatever you’re doing." Jamie said.

"I’ll try. I won’t be too long." Chloe said heading toward the front door.

"Hi Chlo." Lance said as she opened the door.

"Hey." She replied, suddenly feeling very nervous.

Lance noticed her nervousness. "It’s only me."

Chloe gave him a weak smile. "Yeah, sorry."

He opened his car door for her and she slid inside. He climbed into the driver’s side and started the engine.

"So where are we going?" Chloe asked.

"To dinner. And maybe for a walk afterwards." Lance said.

Chloe nodded and looked out the window.

"Justin wanted me to tell you hi for him." Lance told her.

Chloe turned her attention back to Lance.

"How is that twerp?" she asked.

Lance laughed. "I doubt he’d be too happy to hear you say that."

"You know he loved it when I picked on him." She said.

"And there was no shortage of that." Lance said.

The two fell into a conversation about Justin and the rest of the guys and before she knew it Lance turned off the car engine.

"Here we are." He said.

The pair emerged from the car and headed inside the restaurant. After they were seated and had ordered their meal Lance looked across the table and Chloe and smiled.

"What?" she asked warily.

"I just can’t believe I’m here with you. I thought I’d never see you again." He said.

Chloe wasn’t sure how to respond. If she had things her way she never would have seen him again.

"Sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. Tell me about school." Lance said.

"Well, I’m in my last year. In May I’ll be a certified elementary teacher." She told him.

"That’s very exciting. It’s what you always wanted." He told her.

She nodded. "Thanks. So tell me about your company."

"I’m just trying to give people who want to break in the business a chance. Right now I’m looking around the LA area." He said.

"And Jamie’s going to help you?" she asked.

"She’s a sharp woman. I think she’ll add a lot to the company." Lance replied.

Chloe nodded in agreement. "This is the happiest I’ve seen her in a long time. The agency she was working at was holding her back. They actually laughed in her face when suggested they go after Matt Damon."

"Bet there kicking themselves now." He said.

***
"Thanks for dinner." Chloe said. "It was nice catching up with you."

"I agree. So when should we do this again? I’m in LA until January." He said.

Chloe shook her head. "Sorry, this was a one time deal."

"You can’t be serious Chloe." He said.

"Lance, I mean it." She said. "Good night."

"But I just found you again." He said.

"And I’m fine. There’s nothing between us anymore okay? Good night." She told him.

"Good night." He said leaning over and kissing her cheek.

Chapter 6