Chloe knew that Lois had spotted her running through the house and only came outside to see what all the excitement was. She looked up and saw Matthew standing on the rooftop waving at her.
"Oh my … "
"Lois!" Chloe laughed as her cheeks reddened. "Well, actually I don't blame you for staring. He's pretty cute, isn't he?"
"I think I would've run like the wind too if that's what I was off to look at." Lois playfully elbowed her, chuckled, and turned to go back inside.
Chloe stood there staring at the neighbor's guesthouse roof, wishing she could just go up there and talk to him. Matthew was definitely easy on the eyes, and she loved the sound of his soothing, deep voice. But there was something else about him. Something …
Matthew wished the job was finished so he could just go down and talk to her. Hell, dressed like this, I'd be lucky if the guards even opened the gates. He woke up this morning looking forward to getting on the hot roof, which was totally not like him. His curiosity was growing. Curiosity. Yep, that's all it is …
"Who are you waving to?" John asked as he walked over and stood beside Matthew.
"Just a friend I met."
"Holy … " John began staring down at the cute blonde.
"Dude, do you mind? She can tell you're staring at her. Don't act like a dog." Matthew laughed but really didn't want Chloe being gawked at.
"Matt, why is this lady just a friend? What's wrong with you, man?"
"Let it rest." Matthew got up to go get more shingles, and John was right behind him.
"Okay, if she's just a friend, I think I'll go next door and say hello during lunch. You wouldn't mind that, would you?"
"And I think I'll knock you off the roof if you go near her." Matthew grinned evilly but knew his best friend would never step on his toes. "Even up close, she has a beautiful face, bright green eyes, and isn't any bigger than a doll. Hell, I'd probably snap her in half on accident. Besides, I'm not looking for a woman. Get over yourself."
"Okay, whatever you say. But we're going to be doing this roof forever if you don't pitch in. Just because you're the boss doesn't mean you get to be a slack ass." John knew Matthew worked harder than anyone.
When Matthew disappeared to the other side of the roof, Chloe felt no need to sit in the heat alone. She dumped what was left of her coffee in the sink and then reached in the fridge for some juice. She'd just get showered and changed, and find something to do inside. Suddenly, Becky came strolling out of the guest room rubbing her eyes. Even though she just woke up, a stranger couldn't even guess that she was fresh out of dreamland. Her short dark hair was super cute and looked styled even when it was messed up. Becky was beautiful and always carried herself gracefully. She loved acting the part of being a wealthy, young socialite, but her personality was very down to earth. Life was like a big acting class for her, and Chloe was often her audience. Becky could imitate her mother to the tee.
"What are you going to do today, now that you've gotten yourself in this big, delicious mess?"
"You envy me, I can tell." Chloe laughed. "I have to enroll in some classes at the community college and buy some new clothes. Oh, and I need an old car."
"Are you serious? You're actually going to go through with this? He's going to be pretty pissed off if he discovers you're lying."
"Well, we're not going to let him find out. When he gets to know me, none of it will matter to him. A guy like Edmund judges someone based on their wealth, looks, and prestige. Money doesn't have to define who you are. I know there are rich people who cast the same judgment on those who have very little, so don't bother saying it. My parents are a perfect example." God, I hope it won't matter to him.
"This is true. When do you think you'll see him again? I'm not letting you drive back out to Detroit like that. Why don't you invite him over after work to go swimming?"
Chloe laughed loudly. "Could you just see the staff speed dialing my parents?"
"It'll be easy. Just tell them he's a friend of mine. They leave at five anyway, and the roofers will be working passed that. Security won't bother you while Lois is gone. They're lazy."
"Becky, you fine friend of mine. That's perfect! I want you to stay and meet him."
Becky called her mom and let her know she'd be hanging out with Chloe to avoid untimely phone calls looking for her, and then the girls got the details and plans together. Chloe couldn't help but feel saddened. She should be bringing a guy over to meet her mother. She should be picking out classes with her mother. She should be able to talk to her mother! Her father had been nothing more than a ghost all her life. One of the biggest blows was when her mother had asked her to call her by her first name when people were around. She's my mom for God's sake! Chloe knew her parents were in Africa, nothing more specific than that though. Lois didn't even know how to contact them other than through the office, and was told to only do so for emergencies.
Becky saw her friend's mood change, and was afraid she was thinking about her parents. The last thing she was going to do was watch her fall apart again. "Let's go shopping! We have time, so get ready."
Chloe looked up and smiled gratefully. "What would I do without you?"
"Like I'm ever going to let you find that out."
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
The girls decided to take Chloe's Jeep, because driving up to a used car lot would be painful in Becky's Jaguar. Becky threw her keys in her Prada bag and climbed in the passenger seat. Before looking in the mirror to apply some lipstick, she glanced at her friend's face to make sure the sadness was gone. It was.
Chloe told the guards she was going to Becky's. As she drove off the estate, she looked down the street at Matthew's truck. "The car has to be a beater."
"What about your Jeep? You're not trading it in are you? What's a beater?"
"Becky, I love you, but you should let me do the talking on this project."
Pulling up to the dealership, a man dressed in a cheap blue suit and tie approached them.
"Hello, ladies. My name's Bob. Can I help you find your special car today?" he said while he let his eyes roam up and down the young women.
"That would be great, Bob." Chloe shook her head at Becky.
"What's your price range?"
Millions.
"I'm not really sure."
"What kind of money do you make? I can see what kind of financing you can get."
I don't make money. It just shows up.
"I might be able to just pay cash for it. I've been saving for a long time."
"Do you want a car or truck?"
"I think I should get an older car."
"Do you want something sporty?"
God, I feel like I'm joining the military.
"Bob, how about you just take me over to the cars and let me have a look."
Bob talked nonstop, and Becky was on the verge of telling him to shut up. Chloe could tell by her snarl. Finally, after what seemed like a five mile walk, they arrived at the back of the lot where the older cars were parked.
"How about that one over there?" Chloe pointed. Becky gasped. It was a small, very used and rusted brown car. One of the tires was flat.
"That one doesn't run right now. We just got it in. How about something like this?" Bob led the girls to a used Taurus. Chloe and Becky peered inside. It was dirty and had cigarette burns on the seats.
"You've got to be kidding me … " Becky blurted.
"Can you give us a few minutes to look around? If we see something we like, we'll come and get you." Bob stared the girls up and down a little bit more before asking them their first names. Finally, he left them in peace.
Becky grabbed hold of Chloe's arm when her friend wandered towards a car that had holes on the doors and a mirror hanging off. "There are some rules, Chloe. Have some dignity!"
"I can't find a car in here. There're a hundred of them at least. I want a beater, not something that'll give me a disease when I drive it."
"Let's go get a paper and look up some vehicles. I don't like Bob. I want to kill Bob."
"Get in the Jeep."
Sitting in a small coffee shop, Chloe circled a car in the paper with a pen. "This one looks like a strong possibility. It's pretty old but not in horrible shape. Ready to head over there?"
"What if the guy's a whack job? No one will know where we are. We have to have a plan, Chloe."
"A plan. Okay, here it is. If they come at us, I'll throw a wad of cash on the ground. That'll stop them." Laughing, the girls drove off.
Becky couldn't believe the change in her friend. Her spirits were brighter, she was determined, and her laughter was real. She couldn't figure out if Chloe was doing this to get closer to Matthew, or doing it for herself. But at this point, it really didn't matter. She wasn't going to let anyone ruin this for her.
The girls parked in front of the small, beige sided house, and stared at the front of it. On the porch were geraniums in planters, a Big Wheel, and a collection of assorted toys.
"This is the car, the one with the sign in the window. It looks great on the outside."
"This isn't so bad, Chloe. I mean, I wouldn't be caught dead in it, but it's the best beater I've seen. Do you think it has enough rust? I don't see any dents either. Maybe it's too good." Becky looked concerned.