Reasons Why

Chapter Five

Despite the amount of times she'd heard the term 'jaw hitting floor', Chloe realised at that very second that she'd never witnessed it before. Didi was...astounded...amazed...completely dumbfounded.

Chloe chuckled, "am I that unlikely a candidate?"

Didi shook her head as she fought to focus on Chloe, "of course not! It's just he's...so well known around here. And you were so sure you weren't going to see him again!"

                "I'm not! I'm here for a few weeks. I'm not going to turn daft over some good looking bloke!"

Didi glanced at Luke, then back to Chloe, "damn girl, he's hotter that hot. You've got better resolve than me!"

                "All I want is to get out of here without him seeing me!"

Twenty minutes later Phil was back with the boys. If he noticed the tension between the women he said nothing.

                "Lunch? On me? I promised the guys some salmon fishcakes!"

Chloe stared at him, "salmon fishcakes? Surely kids want McDonalds as a treat?"

Didi laughed, "our favourite waterfront bar," Chloe took that to mean the pub they'd visited earlier in the week, "sells the best fishcakes, and an all-you-can-eat ice cream dessert! It's a boys' special in our house!"

                "So let's go!" Phil insisted, Carter dancing up and down beside him, his eyes already glazed over at the thought of unlimited ice cream.

Chloe darted her eyes nervously around the yard, there was no sign of Luke, so she nodded. But none of them moved that quickly, and she could barely hide her frustration at their ambling gait.

                "Meet us at the car," Didi offered, noticing her discomfort. And as Chloe nodded and jogged for the car park, she turned to Phil. "You will never believe what I'm about to tell you!"

The car park was the other side of the field that fronted the school, and she jogged until she was out of view of the yard and everyone associated with bloody lacrosse. It was the last thing her hangover needed, and she slowed to a stroll making her way to the minivan.

Leaning against the hot metal she covered her eyes, this was a disastrous day all round. All she could envisage was falling asleep in the gingham covered bed in the well ventilated loft that classed as home for the next few weeks. And she wanted to be there now.

                "Come on Neimi, you blonde bastard! I am dying here - official!" A voice called out across the car park.

Luke.

Her escape was thwarted. Chloe didn't know where to hide her face as an open topped BWM emblazoned with a club crest, roared into the car park. Driving was the owner of the voice, and as he pulled to a stop, his face mirrored Didi's expression just a little earlier as he spotted the red faced Chloe leaning against the car.

Cutting the engine, he literally leapt over the closed door to stand in front of her, "Chloe?" Despite his bravado and the arrogance she'd witnessed the previous night, as he stood there, he looked nervous, vulnerable. Ignoring the catcalls from his blonde friend who'd finally climbed into the car, he walked towards her.

She nodded her head, "can't believe you didn't let on, didn't say what you did. Made me look a right fool today!"

He was taken aback, "what do you mean? We hardly got down to shoe size and employer last night!"