Reasons Why

Chapter Seven

                "So you're seeing him later?"

Chloe was sat at the breakfast bar trying desperately trying to eat pancakes without conversing at great length with Didi. She'd hardly slept with frustration, and she rued the way the night had ended so abruptly. Phil had taken the boys to swimming lessons, and since he'd left Didi had been fishing for information.

                "We're going to the game; I've said I'll hang around afterwards."

Didi handed her a mug of coffee, "you seem a little despondent."

Chloe groaned, dropping her knife and fork, "I'm here for a few weeks..." She shook her head.

                "Hey, Anastasia married Christian Grey after about a month and that worked out!"

Staring at her sister-in-law for a moment she laughed, "Fifty Shades is a work of fiction, and it's about a naive virgin and an over possessive perverted sexual predator! This is hardly the same!"

Didi laughed, "I'm glad to hear Luke is none of those things!"

Grinning despite it all, Chloe replied, "I know you want me to be happy, but I don't know if a loose affair with a man like him is best for me."

Coming across to her, Didi placed an arm around her shoulder, "we're not trying to sell you off to some fit man, it's just..." she giggled, "if I were ten years younger and fifty pounds lighter I'd not be able to say no...if I was single of course."

Getting ready for the game was a confusing issue, after all, this was in effect a sporting event AND a second date. She was more annoyed that she wanted to look great for him. She wanted so badly to turn up in her scruffiest clothes, but she knew she couldn't. Saying that her travelling wardrobe was miniscule. So she had to settle for a denim miniskirt and a gypsy blouse in a floral pattern that sat off her shoulders and her flat sandals. It was a compromise.

The arena for the game was full to the brim a couple of thousand people all focussed on the box in front of them. How much of a buzz must this be? She wondered as the teams emerged. Phil had explained on the way over that there were only a few games left before the end of the season, and at the moment playoffs were beckoning, and so the games were sell outs, and the atmosphere electric. He led her to a bleacher type seat at one end of the arena behind the goal, then proceeded to explain the nuances of the game as she was a complete novice.

Then it started. And it was fast! She could hardly keep her eyes on the ball as they ran, threw, hurled into each other. It was very exciting. Phil gave a running commentary from her side, and she seemed to hold her breath every time Luke had the ball.

They won, eight seven, and it was as close a game as the score indicated. Chloe had controlled her nerves and anxiety of the situation by joining Phil and Carter in hot dogs and popcorn. But the hot dog wasn't a patch on the one she'd eaten loaded with sauces and pickles walking home via the boardwalk as the sun started to rise a couple of days earlier. It was at that moment, and with that thought that she realised that she no longer had control over the situation. She WANTED to spend time with him, and she'd regret not doing that. Phil was right in one thing. She deserved some fun.

Chloe didn't know when Luke found her in the crowd, but for the last half of the game his eyes did wander from game play to her far more often than was necessary. And the last time she'd silently scolded him, and that made him laugh. After the success, the team circled the box with a victory, and it was then that he sought her out.

                "Meet me outside?" he asked through the Plexiglas. "You know my car!"

Her nod of agreement made his eyes light up in a ridiculous fashion, and he rushed off to change.