Chapter 7
Chloe slept through the night, but it wasn’t the most restorative sleep, thanks to vivid dreams that evaporated from her memory as soon as she opened her eyes. Beca was pressed against her back, one arm snugly around her. She adored how tightly Beca held her at night; when she could sleep, Beca’s arms made her feel safe and protected.
She laid still so as not to wake her partner, though the phone on the nightstand seemed to mock her with its unplayed voicemail. She’d have to deal with it later that day and hope it wasn’t enough to upset Beca. She was tired of Calamity’s pursuit of her, but didn’t know how to stop it when the singer was so persistent. Most of all, she wanted to stop seeing that hurt and fear in Beca’s eyes every time the topic came up.
Beca’s breathing against her shoulder changed as she started to wake up. The ginger laid her arm over Beca’s, twining their fingers as Beca mumbled a greeting with a kiss to the back of her neck.
“I can make coffee whenever you want,” Chloe offered quietly.
“Hmm, not yet.” Beca held her closer. “I’m comfy here with you. What time is it?”
Chloe reached for her phone, ignoring a text as she answered, “It’s only 7. No rush to be anywhere.”
Beca smiled. Chloe hadn’t woken up overnight. She chose to see that as a good sign. They laid there quietly for half an hour before Beca reluctantly withdrew her arm. “Okay. Now I need caffeine.” They both got up and padded into the kitchenette where Chloe got the coffee maker started. Beca leaned against the counter nearby, stifling a yawn. “Any ideas for today?”
Chloe took a moment to answer. “There’s something I want to do, and something I feel like I should do. But I don’t want the second to ruin the first.” She poured their coffee, stirring hers slowly as she watched the cream swirl into the coffee.
Leaving her coffee for the moment, Beca turned to face her fully. “We don’t have to let anything ruin anything else, love. What do you want to do?”
The ginger smiled a bit. “I want to check out the hot tub with you.”
“Okay, I’m good with that. And what are you afraid will ruin that?”
“Listening to that voicemail. Because I don’t want to hide it from you, but I hate seeing you hurt.” She sighed heavily. “Is it possible to do both without spoiling anything?”
Beca took her hand. “Chloe, you need to know that you aren’t the one hurting me. It isn’t your fault she’s fixated on you. After coffee, we’ll listen to the voicemail. Then we’ll talk if we need to. Then we can decide when to get in the hot tub. I’m not going to let her ruin our trip. I won’t give her that satisfaction.”
Chloe nodded and met Beca’s deep blue eyes, where deep and powerful love overpowered the concern. “Okay. Though there’s a text I haven’t read yet, too. Must have come in overnight.”
Beca coaxed her into a hug. “Whatever there is, we’ll deal with it.” She kissed Chloe’s forehead and picked up her coffee to move to the table, the ginger following.
They waited till their third cup of coffee to listen to the voicemail. “Hey. It’s me. You must be with Beca or I think you would have answered. I get it. Call me when you have time.”
Chloe all but snarled as she hung up. “The nerve! She’s so self-centered she’s convinced I’m just playing hard to get.” Still mumbling curses, she opened the text message. One look, and Beca clenched her fists, trying not to get up and walk away.
The text was a picture of Calamity in a bikini, lounging at what appeared to be a hotel pool, drink in hand. But it was the words that punched Beca like a heavyweight boxer. “Wish you were here.”
Shaking with the force of her feelings, Chloe put the device on the end table. She put her face in her hands and took a deep breath; she didn’t know what awaited her on Beca’s face. She looked up at her partner after a moment, but Beca was looking at the floor, her head hung low with her hair obscuring her face. “Becs…” Chloe said quietly.
“I would understand,” Beca said after a moment, her tone a mixture of hope and defeat. “I wouldn’t hold it against you. I’ll always love you.”
“No,” Chloe said forcefully, enough for Beca to flinch. She lowered her voice and put a hand on Beca’s back. “You are who I belong with. You are who I’m in love with. I choose you.” Beca just nodded, picking at her nails, head still lowered. “Tell me how to prove it, love. Say the word and I’ll do it.” She blinked hard, trying to forestall her tears. “I’ll do anything, Beca,” she whispered, yearning for a glimpse of those deep blue eyes she loved so much.
The brunette clasped her hands tightly. She didn’t have an easy answer. Because she knew that right now, Chloe meant every word she said. But that didn’t mean she wouldn’t change her mind. “I don’t know, Chlo,” she sighed. “I believe you. I am absolutely certain you mean every word.”
“But?”
Beca finally looked up, eyes dark and stormy with a maelstrom of emotions. “But what if you change your mind? No one, including me, could blame you. I mean, she’s – well, look at her. And she’s musically talented and already successful. Am I really worth settling for when she’s an option?” She had to stand and pace, hands in the pockets of her robe. She could see the tears and pain in Chloe’s eyes and couldn’t face it anymore.
Chloe crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m not settling, Beca. I fell in love with you seven years ago. I met her on a tour by chance. Until Khaled chose you, she and her friends were nothing but awful to all of us.” She paused, feeling anger rise to the surface and trying to think before speaking. “If this is your way of giving up, why not just say so?” Beca flinched visibly and stopped pacing.
“You think it’s easy, back up and letting you make your own choices, when I know what’s on the line? When it’s us on the line? I’m not giving up, Chloe, I just don’t know what to do.” The last came through a clenched jaw, frustration and fear radiating from her. “Fuck, I need a drink.” She didn’t care how early it was. She stalked to the kitchenette and poured herself a whiskey.
“Bring me one, please,” Chloe requested. Beca poured a second drink and handed it to her, standing next to the couch. The ginger took a sip, then extended a hand. “I’m sorry, love. I never wanted to put you through this. I will fix this, for you, for us.”
Beca took her hand and sat, lacing their fingers. “It’s not your fault, Chlo. I know you never asked for this mess. I’ve never dealt with anything like this before. I don’t know what I’m supposed to be doing.”
Chloe squeezed her hand. “I know. But I snapped at you and made an unfair accusation. And for that, I am so deeply sorry.” She leaned over and pressed a kiss to her temple. “I hope you can forgive me.”
Beca’s head snapped around, eyes wide. “Chloe, you never need to ask my forgiveness. You have it, always.” She gripped her hand tight. “There is nothing you could do to make me stop loving you.” Her eyes filled as they pled for belief and understanding.
Chloe put her glass down and pulled Beca into a tight hug. “And there is no one - no one - who could lure me away from you. You have always held my heart, and always will. I will show you - tell you – every day for eternity. Anything to make your pain and fear go away.”
Beca’s composure crumbled, and her tears fell hot against her partner’s neck. She felt Chloe take her glass, and she promptly clung to the ginger as it all seemed to start crushing her. Chloe held her tight and close, whispering her love continuously as she mentally cursed the persistent singer who was the source of all their problems. Gently, she coaxed Beca into her lap to be even closer, her words never stopping.
When her tears ran out, Beca buried her face in Chloe’s shoulder, still gripping her tight. She felt like she should say something, but, “I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything, baby. I don’t think we’ll fix all of it today. But I will spend the day making it up to you.” She kissed Beca’s cheek. “Do you want your drink back?” Beca nodded, and Chloe handed the glass to her. “If you wanna drink today, I’ll take care of you. Anything to make you feel better.”
Beca took a long sip of her whiskey. “Honestly, I’d rather you drink with me. I don’t want to feel alone.”
Chloe retrieved her own glass. “You got it, love.”
By early afternoon, they were fairly drunk. Chloe had turned some music on and cranked the volume and they sang along on and off. Around 1:30, Beca set her empty glass down, rather harder than intended, and giggled. “Oops. Gotta be careful. Think we can get to bed?” She leaned down and dragged her teeth over Chloe’s earlobe enticingly.
Chloe shivered. “If that’s what you have in mind, I think we can figure it out.” Carefully, leaning on each other and walls for balance, they crossed the suite to the bedroom. They dropped their robes and got in bed, but before either could initiate anything, they passed out, courtesy of the whiskey.
***
The next day, after their hangovers, they finally made it to the hot tub. Relaxing into the water, they sat holding hands, content at first to just sit together quietly.
“I love you, Chloe,” Beca said softly. “Nothing will ever change that.”
Chloe shifted closer to her. “I love you, too. And I will tell you every day.” Silence fell again, and Chloe couldn’t help but wonder what her partner was thinking.
“I think I’ll work from home for a bit. I want to be around and available.” Beca glanced at Chloe. “If you’re okay with that.”
Chloe smiled and reached over to turn Beca’s head to face her. “I will always take time with you, even if you’re busy working. I’m perfectly okay with it.”
Beca gave her a small smile. After yesterday, she hadn’t been sure Chole would want her home that much. They’d come very close to fighting, and a part of her was surprised the ginger hadn’t walked out. She leaned close and drew Chloe into a slow, deep kiss. “I want y hand on you, Chlo,” she murmured against her lips.
Chloe lifted their joined hands and placed Beca’s hand on her breast. “Then touch me, Becs. I love you.” She bit her lip at the first brush of a gentle thumb, then moaned quietly as Beca caught the other taut peak delicately between her teeth. “Take what you want, love,” she whispered. She felt Beca’s hand drifting slowly up her thigh, gasping when she felt the first gentle stroke. Groaning, she gripped her shoulders with her nails.
Beca slipped her fingers inside her partner as she lifted her head for a fierce, intense kiss. “Come for me,” she whispered gruffly. “Let me hear you.” Soon, Chloe was throwing her head back with a hoarse cry as she shuddered powerfully, digging her nails hard into soft skin. Beca slowed her thrusts but didn’t stop as she built up her partner’s pleasure again, nipping and biting her neck and shoulder.
“Holy shit… Becs…” She grabbed Beca’s hair in both hands, whimpering and trembling as she came again. She leaned into Beca’s tight embrace, breathing hard against her neck. The encounter had held a level of intensity she had never experienced before. She kissed Beca’s neck. “You are incredible,” she breathed in her ear.
Beca kissed her temple. “That was just the beginning,” she murmured in reply.
***
The rest of the week went smoothly. Chloe was sleeping through the night and there were no further interruptions from Calamity.
As they crossed through the living room towards their bedroom, Amy came rushing out of the kitchen. “I was starting to wonder if you were ever coming back. Why didn’t you tell me you were going away for a week?”
“Sorry, Amy. It came up really suddenly. We just needed to get away in a hurry,” Beca apologized.
“Well, you could have texted. But I forgive you.” Amy turned to walk away, then paused. “Oh, Chloe, someone came looking for you.”
Chloe frowned as she exchanged a look with Beca. “It can’t be…” she whispered. Beca sighed and rolled her suitcase into the bedroom.
“It was that Calamity chick from the USO tour,” Amy confirmed, having no idea what had been going on.
“How did she find out where I live?” the ginger asked.
Amy shrugged. “No idea. She wants you to call her. That’s all I know.” This time, she did return to the kitchen.
Chloe leaned against the wall, her face in her hands. She had to find a way to stop this. Her heart was broken over Beca’s pain; she’d do anything. Taking a deep breath, she went into the bedroom, where Beca was stoically unpacking.
“I have an idea,” Chloe said quietly. Beca paused next to the bed, but didn’t turn around. Chloe went over and sat on the edge, phone in hand. “I’m putting an end to this.” She dialed Calamity’s number on speaker. The singer answered on the second ring.
“Hey, there, red. Finally got some alone time?”
“Look, I’m telling you this once. Stop contacting me. No more texts, calls, visits, nothing. Next time, I get a restraining order.” Chloe could see Beca’s eyes widen.
“Wow. Okay. I thought you’d rather be with someone with a musical future, but hey, there’s no accounting for taste.” Despite her flippant words, there was anger in her voice as well.
Beca reached over and tapped the end call button. She took a deep breath, then resumed unpacking. Chloe watched, aching in her soul at the distress on her partner’s face. When the suitcase was empty, Beca went to the window that faced the backyard, her arms wrapped around herself.
Slowly, Chloe followed to stand next to her. “She’s wrong, love. You do have a musical future.” Her voice was quiet but her tone firm. “I know that like I know my own name.”
“And what happens if it turns out I don’t?” Beca sounded drained and exhausted.
“Then you have a future in something else. It won’t change how I feel about you. I won’t love you any less.”
Beca lowered her head. “I don’t know why she gets under my skin so much,” she whispered. She took a deep breath and looked into her partner’s sky blue eyes. “Thank you for what you did, Chlo. It meant a lot to hear that.”
Chloe opened her arms, and after a moment, Beca turned and leaned into her embrace. “I wish I had done it sooner. But I think it’s over. God, I hope it’s over.” Chloe stroked Beca’s hair softly, holding her tight. She never wanted to see Beca hurt like that again, and she would spend forever showing her how intensely she was loved.