Chapter one
This is bad,Chloe thought. Very very bad. But it was too late to go back now. She had already made it official, rung her entire family, smiled at the giddy squeals she received from her best friend Jayne. And now her entire family and her few friends were sat around a huge circular table in the most expensive restaurant in town, her father about to toast his only daughters engagement.
“Can i have everyones attention please,”her father stood and tapped the side of his Champagne flute. Everyone stopped talking abruptly and awaited what Chloe feared would be the most embarrassing two minutes in her life. “I just wanted to say a few words on this my daughters special night.”A cough came from Chloes right where her fiancee sat. He smiled and with one last squeeze of her hand he stood also.
“Umm our night Mick,” he corrected. It was amazing that he dared call her father on first name terms. Most of Chloe's ex’s had always accepted his “call me Mr Hanson rule”, and she doubted that the new man in her life would be any exception to this rule. Chloe looked at her father to see his reaction. But he just smiled.
“Right Aiden sorry,”was all he said, “anyway as i was saying, we are here to celebrate the engagement of these two love birds beside me here tonight. I could not be more proud of my daughter than i am now.”His eyes welled with tears.
“Dad,”Chloe touched his arm. He smiled down at her and then continued his speech.
“Forgive my rambling,”he held up his glass, “too much of the bubbly,”he joked and everyone laughed. “Anyway to the point. Friends and family i would like to propose a toast, to Aiden and Chloe, and the wondrous journey they are about to embark on.” Everyone raised their glasses and a chorus of “Aiden and Chloe,”echoed around the room. It was followed by “oohh’s” and jeers of “get a room” when Aiden pulled Chole to her feet also and kissed her passionately. Even more embarrassing for Chloe was the remaining customers scattered around the room also applauded the happy couple. One thing Chloe hated was being the centre of attention. She would much rather sit on the sidelines while others celebrated. When Aiden pulled away from her she smiled reluctantly before placing her hand on his cheek.
“I’ll be right back babe,”she muttered, “i just want to go and sort out my make up OK.” Aiden snorted.
“You look fine to me,”he said, his arms pulled her tighter to him. “Just a little while longer and it will be acceptable for us to leave ok.”He kissed her again only it was suggestive, she knew what he had in mind for when they got home.
“Please Aiden,”she moaned, “i’m just feeling overwhelmed, i just need a moment. Aiden let her wriggle free of his arms this time,and looked at her worried.
“You look a bit peaky actually,”he examined Chloe's face closely. “Are you OK?” Chloe could feel the tears starting to prick the corners of her eyes. She took a deep breath to keep her composure. She just needed to escape for five minutes was what she kept telling herself. Aiden took in her expression and the kissed her forehead. “OK,”he said noticing her about to lose it, “take five OK. I’ll make some excuse for you absence.” Chloe smiled. For all his faults Aiden had few talents. One of which was creating excuses or distractions.
“Thanks hun,” she kissed him swiftly on the cheek then fled.
She found herself in th bathroom, bent over a sink, breathing heavily. Her hands shook as she splashed water on her face. Her eyes homed in on the ring on her finger, it fit so perfectly that i could have been welded on. Nine carat, with a criss cross of diamonds and Sapphire. And nestled in the centre was a huge Sapphire, the size of Chloes thumb nail. Any woman would kill to have a ring like this on her finger.Yet all Chloe wanted to do was rip it off her finger and run away. And she couldn't explain why. Im going crazy,was the conclusion she came too. I should be happy yet all i want to do i scream and run from the restaurant. Slowly her breathing returned to normal and she decided she was calm enough to rejoin her family without them noticing her overly flushed cheeks, frantic look in her eyes or nervous disposition. She carefully dried her face, careful not to smudge what make up she had left. She then re applied a layer of foundation to even up her pale skin tone. A fleck of mascara, waterproof as she knew she would need it, and Eyeliner later her amazing green eyes looked perfectly defined by the subtle black. A hint of red lipstick on her lips instantly added the colour her face needed. Brushing her hands through her messy brown hair, which was curled for the occasion. A quick check of her off the shoulder, above the knee scarlet red dress, chosen by her mate James, that she wore and she deemed herself decent enough.
As soon as she exited the bathroom Aidens hands wound round her waist.
“Are you OK?”he asked again resting his chin on her shoulder.
“Can we go home now,”Chloe whispered desperately, “i’m feeling a little......funny.”Aiden released her waist and took her hand.
“OK.”He smiled widely. “Lets blow this joint,”he laughed at his joke and Chloe joined him. But she stopped abruptly, afraid her laughter could easily turn to tears. They walked to where their parents and friends were, all of them laughing and joking. She tapped her father on the shoulder, while Aiden went to say his goodbyes to his own parents and friends.
“Hey pumpkin,”Chloe mentally cringed when he called her that. He only ever called her it if she was ill, depressed or if he was drunk. Since it was neither of the first two, as far as he knew anyway, he had to be drunk. “You OK?”
“I’m fine dad,”she said. “But me and Aiden are gonna head home OK, i am feeling a little.....” She could not think of a suitable word so she trailed off. What word would be suitable, she though. Doubtful, Scared, or purely too overwhelmed she thought she was both scared and doubtful. pumpkin.”Another mental cringe.
“Yeah thats it,”she lied. Her father stood, wobbling slightly. “Too much of the bubbly stuff huh?”he guessed, “you never could hold your drink and hugged her.
“OK pumpkin”. Yep defiantly drunk. “Call me soon we will have lunch.”He kissed her forehead. “Love you.”
“Love you dad,”she turned to her mother and kissed her. “Love you mum.”
“Bye sweetheart,”her mother replied before engaging Aidens mother in conversation that Chloe didn't want to hear. Wedding plans.
She instead moved across the table to where her best friends Jayne and James were sitting. Or more correctly, in Jaynes case, she was laying half sprawled in a drunken heap on the table. Chloe bent down to say goodbye. Her friend who was so past it she could hardly stand expressed the extent of her affection by patting Chloe on the head like a dog.
“I’m so happy for you,”she slurred happily. Chloe could not help but laugh.
“Your drunk,”she pointed out.
“Yeah well its a party ... in case you didn't notice love,”Jayne said. “And a general rule at parties is it isn't over till someone is drunk.”
“I think it was over ten minutes ago then,”Chloe gestured to her friend. She then stifled a laugh as Jayne lifted her head slowly off the table and cupped it in her hands, smiling goofily. Aiden came to her side then and took her hand. He took one look at Jayne and burst into a fit of laughter.
“I think someone needs to help Jayne into a taxi.”He moved to grab her arm and help her to her feet, but Jayne in typical style pushed him away.
“I can stand you know,”she snapped. But when she tried to prove herself right it lead to further hysterics. She suddenly fell down and if Aiden had’nt caught her she would have crashed into a tired looking waiter who was pushing a tray full of cutlery towards the kitchen.
Aiden's mate Jason swiftly came to the rescue, and took Jayne off Aiden's hands before he in turn fell over due to Jaynes drunken weight. Jason then hoisted Jayne into his arms, much to her protest and carried her outside all the while all you could hear was Jayne flirting mindlessly. At the sound of Jaynes booming voice saying “is there a wife or girlfriend waiting for you sexy,” everyone at the table cracked up with laughter. James who was more sober than Jayne stood up and hugged Chloe with one arm then shook Aidens hand.
“Im going to head off now babe ok?” he told Chloe while Aiden still shook with laughter from Jaynes departure.
“Sure, sure,” Chloe said faking a smile as best she could. James smiled widely, his brown eyes sparkled. Shame he was gay Chloe had thought, he was a looker. With his browny blond hair and cute rounded face, and wonderful bubbly personality he would have made any girl a wonderful husband. Now it turns out a man would be the lucky one to have him around. He was so much taller than Chloe at 6ft 2 and was only 4 days younger than her. Yet he was protective of her and always had her back.
“You ok darling?” he unfortunatly was also far more observant than most. “You seem a bit peaky.”
“Yeah im fine hun,” she reassured him. “Just drunk.” She stuck to the conculsion everyone had come too. James laughed.
“Makes a change babes,” he leaned down dramaticly and air kissed her cheeks, in typical James style. “Im normally the pissed one.”
“So true,” Chloe found herself laughing despite herself. It was always hard to feel so down when James was around.
“Im soo happy for you. I’ll call you in a few days ok, im away till about Wednesday.” James was a make up artist and went to lots of fashion shows. Chloe sometimes felt jealous and was tempted to go with him when he asked her. But she always had other plans. Now she knew she would one day regret never travelling with him.
“Have fun ok,” she said genuinely happy for him.
“Oh i plan too darling,” he winked, “i hear Itallian guys are cute.” Chloe laughed.
“Bag one for me too,” she sighed.
“Will do,” he kissed her once more before, with more grace than Chloe had ever shown in her life. He then quickly plucked a small piece of fluff off of the top of her dress, gave her look the once over then smiled. “I’ve still got it,” he swooned admiring his handy work. Then with a final smile he exited the restaurant.
“Right everyone,” Aiden said when the laughter died down. “Were off,”he shook Chloe’s fathers hand and kissed her mother. “Mick, Pamela thank you for a wonderful evening,” he smiled at his mates before pulling Chloe away. “Come on Piss head,”he howled with laughter and all his mates joined in while she flushed with embarrassment. One of the things she hated about Aiden was the way he was when around his friends. He always treated her like one big joke and it constantly annoyed her. Outside Jayne was still being wrestled into a taxi by an exasperated Jason. She caught Chloes eye and winked. Chloe in return made a telephone sign with her hand and placed it to her ear miming “call me”. Jayne gave a thumbs up before finally letting Jason push her into the taxi. James still stood on the pavement trying to hail another taxi, wearing huge sunglasses on his face, despite the nights sky. He tapped his foot impatiently and waved his hand in a frantic fashion until a taxi finally pulled over. He lifted the sunglasses off his face and looked at Chloe and Aiden.
“Arrivederci my friends, Italy is waiting and so are the men”, he said before climbing it the taxi and setting off.
The journey home was quiet. While a sober Aiden concentrated on the road, Chloes mind wandered. Everything had happened so fast. She had only been dating Aiden for 4 months. Granted she had known him for 3 years beforehand. He was the room mate of her then boyfriend John. And thats what bothered her most right now. John. When she had rung him to tell him of her engagement to Aiden he seemed OK about it. She had even invited him to tonight's get together. Yet when he never showed Chloe had been left feeling empty and thats when the panic had set in. She had rang his mobile and left a message of concern. After that her attempts to be happy proved futile. Was he hurting more than he had lead her to believe. Did he hate her for becoming engaged so quickly after their own relationship had broken down. I truth she hated herself. She had given no thought to this proposal at all. She just wanted to hurt John, a task she had achieved no doubt. She would have given anything for John, in the two years that they had been together, to have asked her the question Aiden had two days ago. She would have given anything for him to have gotten down on one knee like Aiden had, held out the ring that was now on her finger and utter those magic words. Would she have said yes. Defiantly without a doubt. But this was Aiden. It was different. And she was having doubts. No,she thought, i should not think that. I have just had too much Champagne thats all. She spent the rest of the journey home trying, and failing, to convince her it was all in her head. Never a good thing to do.
When they got home Aiden headed straight for the bedroom, urging Chloe to follow.
“I’ll be in soon,”she told him, “i just want to check the messages.” She tapped the button on the phone and the voice informed her of one new message. When it began to play Chloe stopped dead.
“Chloe its John,”the voice she would have walked through fire just to hear said, “listen i’m sorry i didn't show tonight.. i would have been too difficult. But give us a ring tomorrow yeah, we’ll have lunch or something OK.” The line went quiet and Chloe was about to hit the button again to stop it but then it continued. “Oh and Chloe, congratulations Hun.” The phone beeped indicating the end of the message. Chloe realized she was sat on the cold floor . her legs out in front of her coat draped over her arm. But she didn't care. She was stunned. All the thoughts she had been through in the car came back to her. I’m the most horrible person in the world, she thought eventually as she realized the inevitable.
She had wanted to be engaged so bad, wanted to make John jealous so bad that she was blind to all else. But now on the night of her engagement party, when she was about to go and sleep in the same bed as her future husband it hit her. The man waiting in that room, waiting for his routine bed time sex. The man she had just declared her love to in front of all her family and friends by announcing her engagement was not the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. He was not the one she wanted to marry.
