Ghosts of the Past

Ghost of the Past: Chapter 19; Pure Poetry

Marshall looks down at the top of Chloe's golden head, he can feel her body softly shaking as she cries into him, he pulls her in tighter, the only reason he felt shit right now was because she did, he fucking hated cheaters but in this situation that didn't mean him so a lot of his guilt was assuaged. He felt her pocket vibrate and she pulled away from him, pulling her phone out he could tell by her expression who the caller was. He watched as she reluctantly answered and turned away from him.

"Hey babe"

He wouldn't admit it to her but hearing that affectionate phrase directed at someone else stung.

"I know, I just had a little bit to drink is all."

She runs her hand through her hair, tousling it loosely around her face

"No, I'm fine, I'm home, Robyn dropped me home"

Her shoulders shrink and she turns further, he can tell she doesn't want him to see this lie, even though she isn't watching him he turns away to busy himself with inspecting her glassware to give her the hint of privacy.

"Robyn as in my female co worker, god chris I have told you about her"

He cant help himself and he turns to catch a glimpse, her whole body has tensed and her knuckles are white

"Look I'm tired I gotta go"

She brushes him off and Marshall returns to the chip in the wine glass he had focused on.

"Yeah you too"

Through the low nonchalant tone he still knew she was reciprocating an I love you, but what had he expected? She was married and despite all that what was happening, had happened, between them she had made a life with this guy. This fucking douchebag that was happy enough to let his wife move overseas and not have any interest in her life at all! He took a breath, he needed to calm his shit on this one, he felt himself shrugging his shoulders and rolling his neck, shaking it off trying to let it go, guess at least one of those shrink tricks had stuck.

He heard the click of her phone and turned back around, she threw the phone onto the couch as if it had scolded her, then ran her hands through her hair again. He smiled despite the shit show that encircled them at the moment, the hair thing was her go to stress move and it pretty much mirrored his own, despite over a decade apart they were still so much alike. Chloe looks up at him catching his smile,

"Its amusing hearing me lie to my husband?"

That sharp defensive tone of hers again.

"No, I was just...you still do that thing with your hair. I dunno its just a bit surreal that you are here I guess"

He wasn't going to address the elephant that was Chris in the room, that wasn't his place and he definitely couldn't judge her when her infidelity benefited him. Her eyes lock onto his and he sees her shoulders relax a little as she offers a small smile, taking this as his invitation he crosses the room and wraps his arms around her, feeling her let out a long sigh of relief as he does.

"So I'm gonna stay."

He states it as fact instead of a question but she nods into him.

"I'd like that"

*

Marshall opens his eyes, squinting at the morning sun coming through the window. He smiles down at Chloe, her head on his chest, arm slung loosely over him, her leg curled up straddling him tightly and her even breaths fluttering against his skin. He kisses the top of her head and reflexively she pulls him in tighter closing the minimal space between their two bodies, he lays his head back against the pillow and stares at the ceiling thinking about the first time he had kissed her.