K. Robinson - Tainted

When I walked into Dr. Peters’s office to say good-bye, it just felt right. I was ready to move on with my life.

He glanced up at me. “Hello, Drake. I assume this is your farewell visit.”

“It is. I just wanted to say good-bye and thank you for everything.”

“No thanks are needed. You did all the work. I was just here to help you along.”

“Well, you did your job then. I haven’t felt this good in a long time.”

“I’m glad to hear it. If you ever need anything, you have my number. Don’t hesitate to call me, and I mean that.” He pulled a piece of paper out of his desk drawer. “And here is your certificate for completing the program. I thought you might need it as proof for certain people.”

Chloe. He knew that I was going to go after her, and he wanted to help me in any way he could.

“I will, and thanks again, doc.” I waved and then turned to walk out the door.

As soon as I reached the desk in the main lobby, I heard someone shouting my name. I looked up just in time to see Jade throwing herself at me. She wrapped her arms around me and buried her face in my neck.

“Whoa! Hi to you, too.” I pried her off of me.

“Sorry. I’m just so excited. You’re free!”

Eric and Adam were standing a few feet away. Both of them were grinning from ear to ear.

Eric stepped closer and gave me one of those one-armed hugs that only guys could pull off. “It’s good to have you back.”

“It’s good to be back. I’m ready to get out of here.”

I glanced at Adam, but he rolled his eyes. “Don’t expect me to get all misty eyed over you. I’m glad you’re back. Let’s leave it at that.”

I laughed. “Missed you, too, jackass.”

It took me a few minutes to sign all the paperwork to check myself out. As soon as I was finished, I followed the band out to the parking lot. They stopped in front of a brand-new Dodge Charger.

“Who does this belong to?” I asked.

“That would be me. It was the first thing I bought with the money from the label,” Adam said as he unlocked the car.

“He’s not kidding either. As soon as they put the money into our accounts, he went to the dealership and bought this thing.” Jade said as she shook her head.

“I hope it lasts longer than the rest of your cars.” I grinned.

“Fuck off and get in,” Adam growled. “And don’t scratch my baby.” He sat down in the driver’s seat.

Jade took the passenger seat while Eric and I climbed into the back. I had to admit that Adam’s new car was a sweet ride, but I still preferred my baby back home. Hopefully, I could go back and pick it up soon.

Jade turned around to look at me. “We just signed the papers for your new place yesterday. Are you ready to see it?”

On their last visit, she had informed me that they were going to get me a place, so I’d have somewhere to go once I was released.

“Yeah, but I need to make one stop first,” I said.

“Sure. Where to?” Adam asked as he started the car. He began pulling out of the lot.

“The nearest jewelry store.”

I couldn’t remember the last time that I’d been this nervous. I could do this. I knew I could. Then, why had I sat in my car for the last hour, staring at the house across the street from me? I needed to man up and take care of this shit.

It had taken me forever to find her. Without thinking, I’d driven to the dorm where she was staying before she moved in with me. I walked straight up to her room and knocked on the door. Imagine my surprise when two girls who I’d never seen before had answered the door. I’d tried Amber’s room next, but again, two girls who I didn’t know had greeted me. I’d even tried the bar, hoping that maybe she still came in here occasionally. No one had seen her in months. It was like she’d just disappeared from the face of the Earth. When I’d stopped at her Starbucks, at least people knew who she was, but they had no idea where she could be. She hadn’t worked there since we left the summer before.

I’d finally hit some luck when I stopped at a gas station to fill-up.

Her old roommate, Rachel, pulled in next to me. When she got out of her car, the shocked look on her face was priceless. I knew it was safe to say that Rachel had talked to her since our split. There was no other explanation for the way her mouth had dropped open.

“Hey, Rachel.”

“Drake? Holy crap, it is you! What are you doing back here?”

“Trying to find Chloe. The keyword there is trying. Do you know where she is?”

She bit her lip, clearly debating on whether or not to tell me.

“Please. I need to find her,” I pleaded.

“I’ll tell you where she is, but if this goes south, don’t tell her it was me.”

I grabbed a crumpled piece of paper and a pen out of my car. I smoothed out the paper, and I wrote down the directions as she gave them to me.

I started to get into my car, but then I stopped. “Rachel?”

She looked up. “Yeah?”

“Is she…I mean…is Chloe with anyone?”

She gave me a small smile. “Not that I know of.”

I wanted to jump up and down, scream, and fist-pump, but I contained myself. Chloe wasn’t with anyone. She hadn’t forgotten about me.

“Thank you.”

I pulled myself back to the present as I threw open my door and walked across the street to her house. If I didn’t do this now, I never would. Before I chickened out, I pounded on the door. I waited a minute or two before knocking again. There were lights on inside, so I knew someone had to be home. If no one would answer, I planned on sitting in my car until someone opened the door.

Just as I was turning to walk away, the door flew open.

“Yes?” Chloe asked grumpily.

I turned to face her and froze for a second. She was as beautiful as I remembered. She had her hair tied back in a messy bun and was in old sweatpants and a simple shirt, but she still took my breath away. It had been like this from the beginning. There was just something about this woman.

“Hi, Chloe.” I gave her a small smile.

Her eyes widened in shock just before she slammed the door in my face. Well, that went as I’d expected, but I wasn’t about to give up that easily. The girl was going to talk to me whether she wanted to or not. I stepped forward and pushed the doorbell that I hadn’t noticed before.

I could hear someone shouting inside, and then it was absolutely quiet. Now, what the hell was I supposed to do? Should I stand on her porch all night and hope that she came out eventually?

My head snapped up as the front door opened again. Instead of seeing Chloe, Amber stepped outside and closed the door quietly.

“Well, if it isn’t Mr. Rock Star himself,” she growled.

It was safe to say that Amber wasn’t a fan of mine.

“Hi, Amber. How have you been?”

“Don’t even. Chloe hasn’t heard from you in months, and then you just show up on our doorstep with no warning! You are the biggest asshole on the planet, Drake Allen!”

“I know I am, okay? You have every right to be mad at me, but I need to talk to Chloe.”

“Why? What could you possibly have to say to her that will fix the past six months of her life? You destroyed her, Drake! Just when I thought she was doing better, you come back and fuck it up all over again. She’s trying to move on!”

“I don’t want her to move on, Amber. I love her, and I can’t stand the thought of her being with someone else.”

“Then, why didn’t you come back before now? You broke her, and Logan and I were left to pick up the pieces!”

“I couldn’t.” I ignored the jealousy I felt about Logan taking care of Chloe.

“Couldn’t? Or didn’t want to?” She glared at me.

“I couldn’t. I wanted to come after her, but I knew she’d never give me the time of day until I got my shit together.”

“And have you? Or are you still using?”

“I’m clean. I went into rehab and sobered up. I spent the last month making sure I could do it, and now, I’m back for what’s mine. I love her, Amber, and I can’t give up on us until I see her one last time. If she doesn’t want me anymore, then so be it, but I have to try.”

Amber looked at me. I knew she was trying to figure out if I was telling the truth. “You two were perfect together. I’ve never seen her as happy as she was with you.”

“Until I fucked it all up,” I said, ashamed to admit the truth.

“Until you fucked everything up. I’ve always liked you, Drake. Really, I have. But I don’t want to see her go through what she’s went through these last few months again.”

“I’ll never hurt her again. Please let me talk to her. I just want to explain everything. I want to spend the rest of my life with her.”

She raised an eyebrow. “You do realize that you’re a rock star now? At least, you’re almost one. You’ll have thousands of women throwing themselves at you. Do you really think you’ll be able to be faithful to Chloe?”

“I couldn’t care less about any other woman out there. Chloe is the only girl I’ve ever cared about.”

She sighed. “I’ll help you, but this doesn’t mean that I don’t think you’re an asshole. Because I do.”

I smiled. “I’ll make it up to you, too. I swear. I’m sure you’d like to see Adam sometime soon.”

Amber’s cheeks turned bright red, but she pretended not to be bothered by my mention of my band mate.

“I couldn’t care less about Adam. Now, come on, I’ll sneak you inside.”

She stepped back into the house, looked around, and then motioned for me to follow. She led me into the living room and pointed to a chair. “Sit there and be quiet. I’ll see if I can get Chloe to come out of her room.”

I watched as she turned and disappeared down the hallway. I heard her open a door and close it. Then, the house was eerily silent, and I strained my ears to hear anything else. After a few minutes, I finally gave up and slouched down into the chair. I was going to get my chance to talk to Chloe, and I didn’t want to mess it up. This was my one shot, my only shot, to prove to her that she mattered to me. No pressure or anything.

Finally, a door opened, and then I heard Amber and Chloe talking as they came down the hallway. This was it—now or never.

Amber and Chloe appeared a second later. Chloe didn’t even glance my way as she walked to the couch and sat down. Amber, on the other hand, stopped right in front of me, trying to block Chloe from seeing me.

“Thanks for being here for me, Amber. I don’t think I would have made it through these last few months without you,” Chloe said as she pressed the play button on the remote.

“Uh, no problem. Listen—” Amber started to say.

Chloe interrupted her. “I’m serious. We both know I was a fucking wreck, and you helped me get my shit together. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from all of this, it’s that men are total and complete dicks.”

“Well, see, Chloe—” Amber said, trying to get her to shut up.

“Take my word for it. Men are nothing but coldhearted bastards. Look at Drake. I loved him more than anything, and he just let me go. I hope he’s enjoying the good life out in Los Angeles without me. I hope he finds some nasty groupie who gives him every STD known to man.”

I was the biggest asshole in the world. I’d broken the heart of the only girl who I’d ever loved.

“Chloe, shut up!” Amber shouted.

“No, let her finish. I’m curious as to what else she has to say about me,” I said, unable to stay quiet.

Amber sighed and moved, so Chloe could see me. When she turned around to look at me, her mouth dropped open in shock.

“In my defense, I tried to warn you,” Amber said.

“I thought you said you got rid of him!” Chloe groaned.

“I said, I took care of it. There’s a difference.”

“Whatever. I’m done talking now. Both of you can go jump off a bridge.”

“No, keep talking. I’d love to hear what else you wish upon my poor dick. That kind of hurts, you know. I’m quite fond of that certain body part.” I smirked at her. I couldn’t help but tease her.

“I want him out, Amber. Now,” she growled.

“Just listen to him, please. If not for him, then do it for yourself. You deserve that much,” Amber pleaded.

I watched as Chloe looked back and forth between Amber and me. I could practically hear the wheels spinning in Chloe’s head. I just hoped that she would give me a chance to talk.