She thought the shower would relax her, butit only made her adrenaline pump harder. So, she grabbed herathletic gear and ran. Her arms pumped harder as she dashed downthe streets. Her mother didn’t live that far from the downtownarea, but Chantelle took another road leading to the bare countryroads.
Her Bluetooth played Toni Braxton’s“Trippin’.” The lyrics only made Lance’s face more apparent. Shefocused her eyes ahead on the road. Her skin stung under thebuilding heat as the sun rose. Aside from the music in her ears,all the other sounds were lost in the whistle of air humming bylike the flight of a million arrows. Slowing her pace, she joggedin place. Looking down the road, she wiped the sweat from herforehead.
Lance. Like a mirage, she envisioned himstanding there. Returning to her run, she sprinted to him. Deepdown, she knew he wasn’t there, but for once in her life, sheignored everything around her. At that moment, no one told her shecouldn’t be with him.
Chantelle pictured his smile and him runningto her. She didn’t realize she was crying until she tasted tears onher lips. Shutting her eyes for a few seconds, she slowed down oncemore. This was ridiculous. Lance wasn’t there. He wasn’tcoming.
Changing direction, she headed home. As soonas she arrived, she would finish her article. She wouldn’t stay forthe wedding. Brenda would have to accept her story the way it was.She would tell the truth. No exploitation. She wouldn’t do that toLance, no matter if it made or broke her career.
Sweat dripped from her skin when she returnedto her mother’s house. She gulped down a bottle of water, tossedher cell on the bed, and stepped into the shower. The water relaxedher muscles once again, and she was ready to sit down to herlaptop. She picked her title, “An Unexpected Love.”
She could tell Lance how she felt, but atwhat cost? Perhaps the moment they shared at the dance studio was amistake. Chantelle sighed, recalling how he held her on the dancefloor. Her back tingled with the touch of his fingers.
Her body froze in her rolling chair, and shefelt rooted in her spot. Her chin trembled. Her stiff fingers onthe keyboard. Chantelle stared at her screen, but didn’t see thewords. Her vision blurred.
She remembered Javier’s words. Would sheforgive herself for leaving without telling Lance the truth? Couldshe go through that again? Not knowing what could have been.
No. Enough hearts had been broken. His andhers. Not to mention a devastating loss.
Chantelle grabbed her cell phone. Taking adeep breath, she called Cameron.
“Hello.” Cameron yawned.
“I’m sorry to wake you, but this can’t wait,”she said, pacing the floor.
“Chantelle? What is it? What’s wrong?” Herfriend mumbled.
“I’m still in love with Lance.” She scrunchedher face as she said the words.
“What?” Cameron choked. She sounded alertnow. “Are you kidding me?”
“You’re acting so surprised.”
“I’m not, but to hear you say it’s...undeniable.”
Chantelle ran a hand down her face. “I know.And to top it all off, I saw his mother at dinner last night.”
“On your date? With Javier?”
“Yes. I always knew, but she still doesn’tlike me. I don’t know the real reason.” She ran her fingers throughher hair. “What does it take to impress her?”
“It’s her loss, not yours,” Cameron said.
She gave a faint smile. “Thank you. I wish Iknew how to handle this.”
“How did Javier take the news? You said hewas nice.”
“He is, but…”
“Lance.”
“Now his fiancé is in town.” Chantelle resteda hand on her hip.
“Life has gotten complicated for you,”Cameron said.
Chantelle plopped on her bed. “I guess if Ihad closure, I wouldn’t feel the need to know.”
“Know what?”
She sat up on her bed. “There’s more, Cam.”She rubbed her forehead. “Lance and I didn’t just date. We... wegot married.”
Silence.
“Cam? Hello?”
“You what?”
Chantelle blew out her cheeks and told herfriend about the events of her last year in high school.
“Wow.” Cam sounded like she could have beenknocked over with a feather. “Why didn’t you—”
“Lance and I never talked about it. After Ileft the hospital, I moved away from Delta Heights to go to school.He didn’t come after me, so I assumed he didn’t want me. I wasyoung and naïve. It shouldn’t have happened anyway, but I was inlove.”
“I can’t imagine and I’m so sorry for yourloss. You two need to talk. Really talk,” Cameron said.
“I agree.” She pulled at the hem of hersundress. Checking the clock on her bedside table, she needed toget back to work. “I’ll call you later this week.” Then her phonebeeped with an incoming call. She clutched the phone before placingit back to her ear. “It’s Brenda.”
“She’s calling this early?” Cameron asked.“It must be an emergency.”
“I’ll talk to you later.” She switched overto answer her boss. “Hello?”
“Any updates?”
“Andrea made it here. I’m adding to thearticle from my interview with them together.”
“Make sure you talk with her one-on-one too.I’d love to know what she thinks without Lance in the room.”
Inwardly, she winced. “Will do.”
“Keep me posted.”
Her boss hung up without another word.
Chapter 23
Lance reserved a private room for him andAndrea for dinner. Aside from ice cream, Italian food was herguilty pleasure. Lance placed his hand on the small of her back asthe waiter led them to their table.
Did she feel his hands twitching? His mindwent to the worst-case scenario. He’d tell her the whole truthtonight. Andrea would then throw her drink in his face and stormoff. The press would have a fit. He’d be labeled as a cheater.Planning his wedding with his ex-wife and his fiancé didn’t knowthe full story.
How did he think he could get away from thetruth? He swallowed. Andrea knew, just not who Chantelle was fully.He’d convinced himself that it wasn’t her business. He didn’tbadger her about her exes. Then again, he would want to know ifAndrea was spending time with her ex-husband. Lance’s head achedfrom the stress building inside. He'd tell his future wifeeverything. He wouldn’t hold back.
Their drinks sat on paper napkins, while lowhanging lights illuminated the secluded
