Chapter Thirty Five

Chloe quickly walked down Kirstie's driveway, hurrying to catch up with Lee. She jumped as she rounded the corner and saw him perched on the wall, a look of anger etched on his handsome features.

"Are we going then?" she asked quickly, trying to get him moving in case he decided to go back inside the house.

"In a minute." he said quietly, quickly reaching out to take her wrist and gently pulling her towards him. Chloe wrapped her arms around his neck, sighing in contentment as she stood between his legs.

"Are you alright, you look a bit upset?" he asked her gently.

"I'm fine." she said quickly, trying not to let him see how upset and hurt she was by Michelle's words.

She knew that he was already struggling to control his temper and the last thing she wanted to do was make him angrier than he already was. He gazed at her for a moment, not entirely sure if he believed her or not. Before Chloe could say anything else, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. As Chloe rested her head on his shoulder, she felt the tears fall that she'd been fighting to hold back.

"Oh Chloe." Lee whispered, holding her tighter when he heard her sniff quietly.

"I'm alright, I know that I shouldn't care what she thinks, I just can't help it." she mumbled.

"No, you shouldn't. She's really not a very nice person." he said quickly. Chloe quickly wiped the tears from her face and sighed quietly.

"You're right, it doesn't matter what she thinks, what's important is what you think." she said quietly.

"Because I love you." she added, before Lee had a chance to respond. Lee placed his hands on her hips and gently removed her from his arms, staring at her closely.

"You don't have to say that just because you know that I'm pissed off." he said quickly.

"And you don't have to hide the fact that you are upset, it's not okay that she said those things." he added, gently wiping away the last of her tears with his thumb.

"That's not why I said it, I really do love you." she insisted.

"And I appreciate how you much you've been there for me lately." she added. Lee took a deep breath, smiling down at the amazing woman standing in front of him. He couldn't quite comprehend how someone as special as her would love someone like him. She was so precious to him that he knew he would cherish her forever.

"I really do love you." she tried again, smiling up at him. Chloe's skin tingled under his touch as he gently placed his hand on her cheek and stroked it with his thumb.

"I love you too." he whispered, kissing her lips softly. Chloe jumped as her phone buzzed loudly in her pocket.

"Oh, I forgot, I still have your phone." she said, taking it out of her pocket and quickly handing it too him, before gazing down at her own.

"Danny says he'll meet us at the cafe." she told him.

"Let's go then. And try and forget about that vile woman." Lee said shortly as he quickly stood up and took Chloe's hand.

"I've missed you so much Chloe." Danny told her, quickly pulling her into a hug as soon as he saw her.

"Be careful with her, she still hasn't healed fully yet." Lee told him quickly. Danny nodded slowly, before quickly sitting opposite Lee at the table.

"How have you been?" Chloe asked Danny as she sat beside Lee.

"Fine, just the usual, you know how it is." Danny told her. Chloe nodded slowly.

"I didn't get that job I auditioned for." Danny said sadly.

"Oh no, you really wanted that part didn't you." Chloe said, slowly reaching over and squeezing his hand gently.

"Yeah, but it's okay, there'll be other auditions. I have an interview next week so hopefully I get that, at least then I can start saving to rent a place." Danny told them.

"Chloe mentioned that you go busking quite a lot?" Lee asked him.

"Yeah, to pay the bills, I've always had a passion for song writing." Danny said.

"I could come with you at some point if you want, we could put out a post online or something." Lee offered.

"You'll make a lot of money if Lee goes with you, there'll be fans turning up probably." Chloe said, smiling at Lee and how big his heart was, despite the fact that he tried to hide it.

"Okay that sounds good, thanks." Danny smiled.

"Maybe you should show him some of your songs too, Lee writes a lot of songs for the band?" Chloe suggested.

"Really?" Danny said.

"Yeah, I wrote some of them." Lee said quietly.

"The last one you wrote was amazing, it made me cry." Chloe said, turning to face Lee.

"The one that was about you?" Lee asked.

"No." Chloe said, frowning in confusion.

"Yeah, it's about you." Lee told her, smiling slightly.

"Is it?!" Chloe exclaimed.

Lee nodded slowly, laughing slightly as he finally saw the look of realisation on her face.

"Oh." she said quietly, her heart fluttering.

"Hi there, what would you like to order?" a waitress interrupted them.

"Nothing, I'm good." Danny said quietly.

"We'll have three coffees and he'll take a full English." Lee said quickly. The waitress smiled at them before walking away.

"My treat." Lee said quickly. Chloe glanced at Lee for a moment, before quickly looking at Danny, slightly concerned that he was going to feel like a charity case.

"You don't need to do that." Danny said awkwardly.

"I need to do something to thank you for looking out for my girl." Lee pointed out, gently wrapping his arm around Chloe's shoulders.

"Is there no way you could reconcile with your parents and maybe they would let you move back in?" Chloe suggested, feeling slightly sorry for Danny.

"They don't want anything to do with me, they won't even take my calls." Danny told her sadly.

"That's ridiculous." Chloe muttered angrily.

"Did they kick you out?" Lee asked. Danny nodded slowly, falling silent.

"Why would they do that?" Lee frowned in confusion. Danny glanced at Chloe nervously, not entirely sure what to say.

"He's alright, he won't judge you." Chloe quickly reassured him.

"My parents are devoted Christians and they didn't take very well to having a gay son." Danny said quickly.

"They kicked you out for being gay?!" Lee exclaimed in disbelief.

"Yep." Danny said sadly.

"That's a bit messed up." Lee stated.

"Just don't judge me please." Danny said, suddenly feeling slightly embarrassed.

"I won't, my best friend is gay, I don't see it as an issue." Lee told him. The three of them instantly stopped talking as the waitress returned and carefully handed out their order.

"I need to use the loo." Lee announced, before quickly standing up and walking away.

"Is there something going on with the two of you?" Danny asked, as soon as Lee was out of ear shot.

"We're dating." Chloe nodded.

"Good, I'm glad you've found someone, and he seems much nicer this time." he said, smiling slightly.

"You seem a bit sad though, what's going on?" he asked. Chloe sighed to herself and quickly told him about the altercation with Michelle.

"She clearly hates me and doesn't even bother to try and hide it." she sighed.

"She sounds like a nightmare." he agreed.

"I just really don't want to be there anymore; the atmosphere is just awful. I need to get away from it." Chloe sighed.

"Yeah, I was going to speak to you about that, you are definitely not staying anywhere near her." Lee said when he returned to the table and quickly sat back down.

"I was actually thinking that you might want to move in with me?" Lee offered.

"There's no pressure or anything, because I know that you want to take things slow, but I have plenty of space and you could have one of the spare rooms if you want?" he continued, rambling slightly. Chloe thought for a moment, suddenly feeling slightly nervous about the thought of living with him.

"Or if you prefer, Nathan offered for you to live with him." Lee added when Chloe still hadn't responded. Even though Chloe knew that moving in with him was a big step and she was nervous, she couldn't help but feel excited about the idea of spending more time with him. Her heart plummeted at the idea of sleeping in the spare room, she'd become so used to sleeping beside him, feeling comforted by his presence that she couldn't help but feel afraid that her nightmares might return if she was alone.

"I'd like to move in with you, but only if you're sure?" she checked.

"Of course, I'm sure." he smiled at her, his heart pounding against his chest happily.

"But....maybe...." Chloe started but trailed off when she became too embarrassed to finish the sentence.

"What were you going to say?" Lee asked her.

"Maybe I could sleep in your bed with you.... but just sleep for now?" she asked nervously. Lee smiled at how adorable she was.

"I think I can allow that." he teased her, quickly wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her onto his lap.

"She's so cute isn't she." Lee said, locking eyes with Danny as he rested his chin on her shoulder.

"Yep, you'd better not hurt her." Danny told him quickly.

"Never again." Lee said quietly.

"Besides I'd have so many people to answer too." he added, chuckling slightly.

Chloe sat cross legged on the floor beside Lee, quickly gathering her clothes and carefully placing them into her backpack as Lee did the same with his belongings. Chloe glanced up and smiled as Louise walked into the room and sat beside her, gently pulling Chloe into a hug.

"Are you alright babe?" Louise whispered in her ear.

"I'm fine." Chloe replied quietly, glancing at Lee, who was smiling at her reassuringly.

"That was just awful earlier, I can't believe she said those things to you." Louise said thoughtfully, sitting back and watching Chloe and Lee pack.

"She's wrapped up in a lot of jealousy that's why." Lee said bitterly. Louise nodded in agreement.

"That's what everyone keeps saying, but I don't get it, I'm nothing special." Chloe sighed sadly.

"It's because she's insecure and she desperately wants attention. Ironically the things she said about you, apply more to herself." Lee pointed out.

"And you're an easy person to be jealous of." Louise told Chloe.

"What?!" Chloe squeaked.

"You are though, you don't realise the effect you have on people, especially men, you are able to mesmerise them without even trying." Louise explained.

"That's not true, I just go about my business, hiding under jumpers and I don't even wear makeup most of the time." Chloe argued.

"Yeah, but having worked with you, so many of the guys want you Chloe, you'd only have to say the word." Louise insisted.

"It's because she's so beautiful, without even trying." Lee pointed out.

"And her demeanour too, she comes across as sweet and kind." Louise agreed. Lee smiled at Chloe as her cheeks coloured in embarrassment.

"I'd kill for your looks Chloe." Louise said kindly.

"She is stunning enough to be a model, like her Mum." Lee said, smiling at Louise. Louise nodded in agreement.

"Changing the subject slightly, but I need guy advice." Louise piped up, looking at Chloe.

"I think you are asking the wrong person." Chloe said quietly, still not quite able to process what Louise had just told her.

"Advice about what, whether to message him back or not?" Lee asked. Louise nodded slowly.

"Well, if you like him, then why wouldn't you message him back?" Chloe frowned.

"I just have so much going on at the moment and I need to focus on my career." Louise reminded them.

"It is possible to have both though, it just takes a bit of effort on both sides." Chloe told her.

"If you decide to meet him, I think we should come with you, so that you're not meeting a mysterious stranger on your own." Lee told her firmly.

"Alright Dad." Louise said, rolling her eyes at him.

"He might turn out to be like Shayne." Lee pointed out, glancing at Chloe for a moment.

"Yeah, I guess so." Louise said quietly.

"Why don't you send him a reply and see what happens?" Chloe suggested. Louise nodded.

"And make sure you keep me in the loop." Lee told her.

"You do realise I'm not your sister." Louise laughed.

"You kind of are." Lee smiled at her.

"How come you guys are packing?" Kirstie asked as she walked into the room and perched on the sofa.

"I am moving in with Lee." Chloe announced, glancing up as she saw a movement in the doorway, her heart plummeting as she locked eyes with Michelle.

"Really, since when?" Michelle asked.

"Since now." Chloe said shortly, not even able to bring herself to look at Michelle.

"Surely your girlfriend won't be very happy about that?" Michelle asked, turning to face Lee.

"Just ignore her, she just wants a reaction." Louise whispered.

"And don't you feel guilty for taking his time away from his girlfriend all the time?" Michelle tried, rolling her eyes at Lee as she turned to face Chloe.

"I would never do that." Chloe said quietly, glancing at Lee.

"And she would never steal someone that was taken either, because she's a good person." Lee said through gritted teeth as he felt his blood starting to boil.

"Really?" Michelle said, smirking slightly as she glanced at Chloe.

"Even though she has feelings for you?" she said smugly. Chloe felt like she had been kicked in the stomach as Michelle said those words. Even though she'd already told Lee how she felt, Michelle wasn't aware of that. She was prepared to stab her in the back and reveal what she thought was her biggest secret to the man she loved, just to prove a point.

"I'll never forgive you for that." Chloe whispered, her eyes filling with tears. Michelle shrugged slowly, unable to remove the smug smile from her face. Lee shook his head at her as he finally realised just how heartless she could be.

"I already know how Chloe feels and she knows how much I love her." Lee announced, suddenly realising in that moment that he couldn't keep it a secret any longer. Chloe glanced at him as he leaned towards her and placed a soft, lingering kiss on her lips. Chloe smiled slightly at the smug expression on his face. Lee quickly turned to face Michelle, smiling in satisfaction when he realised that he'd finally managed to wipe the smirk off her face.

"Right, on that note we are going." Lee said quickly, standing up and picking up his suitcase, trying to leave the house before Michelle could hurt Chloe any further. Chloe stood up and carefully put on her backpack.

"Give me that." Lee said quickly, gently taking it off her back.

"I can manage." Chloe argued.

"You haven't healed fully yet; you need to be careful." Lee insisted. Chloe sighed and handed him the backpack.

"Thank you so much for letting me stay." Chloe said quietly, quickly hugging Kirstie.

"It's okay, anytime." Kirstie said awkwardly, feeling very guilty that Chloe felt forced into leaving because of Michelle's behaviour.

"The two of you are welcome to come over anytime." Lee said, smiling at Kirstie and Louise.

"C'mon then beautiful, let's go." Lee smiled at Chloe, waiting for her to walk in front of him so that he could make sure that she was safe.