All the Right Moves 8/10

[ihearttvsnark]

Title: All the Right Moves
Author: ihearttvsnark
Chapter: 8/10
Fandom: Smallville
Pairing: Chloe Sullivan and Oliver Queen
Banners: geek_or_unique
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 10,399 (total)
Summary: This is the sequel to  Everybody Loves M e. When Oliver returns from the other universe, he realizes that he wants the kind of life the other Oliver has. Chloe is determined to help him become the man she knows he’s capable of being, but it’s not an easy road for either one of them. 
Previous Chapters: | One | Two | Three | Four | Five | Six | Seven |





Chapter 8: Everybody Knows Where We’re Going

Chloe stood in front of the full length mirror in her room scrutinizing her appearance. She knew she was being ridiculous and there was no reason to spend so much time staring at her reflection just like there had been no reason to change her clothes six times. Chloe chewed on her bottom lip as she turned sideways, studying the dark blue dress she’d finally decided on. She’d bought it on a whim a few weeks earlier; it was nicer than most of the other dresses she owned and she liked the way the silky material felt against her skin. It seemed appropriate for a first date.

She’d paired it with her favorite heels and her hair had been another disaster as she’d decided to curl it and then straighten it and then she’d changed her mind and curled it again. Chloe was pretty sure it had been the right decision but it didn’t matter because there wasn’t time to change it again because Oliver was supposed to pick her up any minute. She almost wished Lois was there to give her an opinion but Chloe was glad her cousin was out of town on an ‘assignment’ that Chloe was fairly sure was a weekend in Smallville with Clark.

Of course Chloe no longer had any room to judge her cousin because she hadn’t said a word to Lois about things changing between her and Oliver. She’d attempted to broach the subject and then she’d more or less chickened out because Chloe didn’t want to hear Lois to tell her that things were never going to work or Oliver couldn’t be trusted. Chloe knew that was partially her fault because she hadn’t told her cousin about all the amazing things Oliver had done lately. He made her happy and Chloe wanted Lois to see that but she knew it wouldn’t be easy to change Lois’s opinion.

A knock on the door pulled Chloe from her thoughts and her heart instantly started beating faster in her chest, anticipation coursing through her. She chastised herself for being silly again. Chloe spent more time with Oliver than anyone else; just because they were going out and classifying it as a date didn’t mean that she had to be nervous. Chloe took a deep breath and let it out slowly before she grabbed her purse from the bed and made her way down the hall to the door.

Chloe opened it and smiled at Oliver, ignoring the butterflies that automatically sprang up in her stomach when she took in just how gorgeous he was. She mentally berated herself again since she saw him in a suit nearly every day at the office, but the black on black was really working for him. She willed herself not to blush as she met his gaze. “Right on time, Mr. Queen, I’m impressed,” she teased.

“If I would have known that was all it took to impress you, I would have started showing up on time for work years ago,” Oliver replied. He stepped over the threshold, dipped his head and pressed a quick kiss to her lips. Or he’d intended for it to be a quick kiss, but Oliver couldn’t resist wrapping his arm around her and pulling her closer as his mouth moved leisurely over hers.

She melted into him, her hands gripping the lapels of his jacket and bringing him even closer to her as he deepened the kiss. It didn’t matter how many times Oliver kissed her; he always managed to make her forget everything except him and how good it felt to be close to him. The kiss broke but Chloe didn’t let go of him as her eyes fluttered open to meet his. “Is that proper first date protocol?”

Oliver shrugged. “Hell if I know, but I’m not complaining.” He grinned and kissed her again; this time he managed to keep it short. “You look incredible,” he said as he pulled back and let his eyes roam over her. “New dress?” he asked.

“Maybe,” Chloe replied. She turned away from him to walk to the closet and grab her coat. Her cheeks had heated at the compliment and she seriously wondered if that was ever going to stop. She started to slip on her jacket, but Oliver took it from her before she had a chance, moving in behind her and helping her put it on. She couldn’t help the ridiculous smile that spread across her face. “Thank you,” she said softly, attempting to get a grip before she turned around to face him.

“My pleasure,” Oliver said. He leaned into her and brushed his lips over her ear, letting his hands slide down her arms as he pulled her back against him. “Are you ready to go or have you already changed your mind about me?” he asked as his mouth trailed down to her neck.

She swallowed hard, fighting the urge to close her eyes even as she tilted her head to the side to give him more access to her neck. “I haven’t changed my mind,” she said. But Chloe was worried she was going to change her mind about leaving the apartment and just drag him back to her bedroom if he kept kissing her. She turned around to face him, placing a hand on his chest and gently pushing him back as she sent him a warning look.

“Noted,” Oliver teased. He took her hand from his chest, threading their fingers together and tugging her toward the door. “Did you need to tell Lois you were leaving?” he asked. Chloe hadn’t said anything about Lois’s reaction to the two of them being together and he could only imagine what she had to say on the subject. Oliver hadn’t seen her in awhile so he assumed Clark had been keeping her busy.

“She’s not here,” Chloe replied, swallowing the guilt she felt for not telling Oliver that Lois was still in the dark when it came to their relationship. “So are you ready to tell me where we’re going?” she asked hopefully. He’d been incredibly secretive about the whole evening and it was driving her crazy. On the one hand, Chloe appreciated that he was trying to be romantic, but one the other, she hated being in the dark about anything.

Oliver laughed. “You can see for yourself when you get there but I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.” He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it softly. “Ready?” he asked again.

Chloe nodded. She was more than ready. Ever since she’d made the decision that she wanted to give a relationship with Oliver a real try, she’d been looking forward to getting to know him on a whole new level. Chloe was nervous, but it was a good nervous, an excited nervous. “I’m ready,” she confirmed as she let Oliver lead her out the door.

***

Twenty minutes later, Chloe stood next to Oliver in the elevator of the Star City Renaissance Hotel heading for the restaurant that was located on the top floor. Chloe had never been there, but the steakhouse was supposed to be the best in the city. Some of her nerves had returned when Oliver had left his car with the valet and reached for her hand, but she’d reminded herself that she wanted to be all in. Oliver’s fingers were laced through hers and she couldn’t help the smile that crossed her face. Chloe didn’t care about all the looks and whispers that had surrounded them as Oliver had led her into the hotel. It didn’t matter if people gossiped; she just wanted to be with Oliver.

He smiled at Chloe as the elevator doors opened and he led her into the restaurant. It was one of Oliver’s favorite places and even though he knew Chloe didn’t care about his money or material things, he’d wanted to share it with her. The view of the ocean was breathtaking and the food was some of the best he’d ever had, which was saying something since he’d eaten in the finest restaurants the world had to offer. Oliver squeezed Chloe’s hand as the hostess led them through the crowded restaurant to his usual table.

Oliver ordered wine for both of them and as the server headed for the bar, he saw Chloe chewing on her lip as she stared out the floor-to-ceiling window beside their table. “What do you think?” he asked.

“I think you’re trying to spoil me and it might just be working,” Chloe admitted. She couldn’t get over how amazing the view was. She’d always enjoyed the view from the roof of Queen Industries, but this was so much better because it was closer to the water. She turned away and met Oliver’s eyes across the table. “Thank you for bringing me here,” she said as she flipped open her menu.

“Thanks for coming with me,” Oliver replied, watching her for a moment before he turned his attention to the menu in his hands. The server returned with their wine and promised to be back in a few more minutes to take their order.

“Oliver?”

He glanced up from the menu at the tall brunette who was standing beside their table glaring at him. Oliver mentally cringed as he tried to remember the woman’s name, but it wasn’t coming back to him. He forced a smile onto his face and tried to ignore the sinking feeling in his stomach. “It’s nice to see you,” he lied. “How are you?”

Chloe looked up as well. She’d seen the woman before, but she was having a hard time remembering where. She glanced at Oliver and when she saw the forced smile on his face and the way the woman was glaring at him, it suddenly clicked in her mind why the woman seemed so familiar to Chloe. She was a runway model and Oliver had been photographed with her several times at various parties and clubs right after he’d married Tess.

“How am I?” the woman asked. Her eyes narrowed even more as she crossed her arms over her chest. “You have a lot of nerve asking me that question, Oliver. I can see that you’re struggling to remember my name, so I’ll help you out. It’s Arielle. What happened to calling me?” she demanded.

Oliver was having a difficult time keeping the smile on his face as some of the details started to come back to him. “I know your name, Arielle,” he said, keeping his voice quiet even though she was clearly trying to make sure the entire restaurant overheard their conversation. “I’m sorry if I’ve offended you, but things got rather complicated and my life has gone in a different direction.”

Arielle snorted. “I can see that you’ve moved onto petite blondes,” she commented as her eyes passed over Chloe before her angry gaze shifted back to Oliver. “I thought I meant something to you. Isn’t that what you’d tell me all of those nights you spent me with me instead of your wife?”

Chloe did her best to keep her expression neutral as she felt every eye in the restaurant watching them. It was more than obvious that this woman was trying to put on some kind of show and it was definitely working. Chloe watched Oliver, silently willing him to stay calm. She could see that he was embarrassed, but the only real option he had at this point was to try to talk some sense into the woman and get her to go away.

Oliver counted to ten in his head as the smile slipped from his face. He’d still been spending most of his nights living at the bottom of a bottle when he’d gotten involved with Arielle. He’d known from the start that she’d only been interested in the recognition that being seen with him would bring to her. At the time, he hadn’t cared because all he’d been interested in was letting her warm his bed for a few days. He couldn’t bring himself to look at Chloe as shame coursed through him.

“I’m sorry things didn’t work out the way you wanted them to,” Oliver said. “But I don’t really think this is the appropriate time or place to have this conversation. I’m sorry,” he said again, hoping that would be enough to get her to walk away. Out of the corner of his eye, he could already see people pulling out their cell phones and snapping pictures.

“You’re a selfish pig,” Arielle cried. She turned to Chloe, her voice getting even louder. “If I were you, I’d walk out while you still have the chance. Once he gets what he wants from you, he’ll throw you away too.” She picked up the wine glass and flung the liquid at Oliver. “You deserve to be alone. Bastard,” she added before she turned on her heel and marched away.

Chloe covered her mouth with her hand as she watched Oliver reach for his napkin and attempt to get the wine off his face and shirt. “Ollie,” she started quietly, but stopped as soon as the hostess rushed over to their table. Chloe had no idea what she was supposed to do and she felt her face turning red as everyone in the room continued to stare at them.

Oliver set the napkin on the table and got to his feet. “Please just put this on my tab and give my apologies to the chef,” he told the hostess quietly. “You can put Ms. Hayes’ meal on my tab as well,” he added as he moved around the table and held his hand out to Chloe.

She took it without hesitating and grabbed her clutch and jacket with her free hand as she let Oliver help her out of her chair. Chloe once again ignored the stares and whispers as Oliver led her out of the restaurant and into the elevator. As soon as the doors closed, she let out the breath she’d been holding. Chloe just hoped the news wouldn’t travel fast enough for there to be a crowd waiting when they reached the lobby. “Ollie, are you okay?” she asked.

He nodded; his eyes focused on the numbers above the elevator as the car made its descent. “I’m sorry about that.” Oliver didn’t know what else to say, but he knew the apology wasn’t enough. He also knew there was no way they’d be able to go anywhere else that night without attracting a swarm of paparazzi. “We can go back to my place if you want,” he offered, finally meeting her gaze. “Or I can take you home…” His voice trailed off as he waited for her to answer.

Chloe squeezed his hand. “I want to stay with you,” she said firmly. “Oliver, this wasn’t your fault.” She could see the guilt written all over his face and the last thing she wanted was for him to think she blamed him for what had happened.

Oliver gave her a tight smile and then turned his gaze back to the numbers. He knew Chloe was trying to make him feel better, but she was wrong. This was his fault. He was the one who had made one bad decision after another and now he was going to have to pay for them. Maybe he’d been delusional to think that he had any right to have a normal life after the way he’d behaved in the past. He just wished Chloe didn’t have to suffer because of him.

Chloe wanted him to talk to her and not keep everything he was feeling bottled up to spare her or whatever he thought he was doing. She knew he wasn’t going to say anything before they got in the car, but she really didn’t want him to shut her out. She squeezed his hand, wanting to remind him that she was there for him and she wasn’t going anywhere. Oliver didn’t look at her but she felt his grip on her tighten. Chloe figured that was better than nothing.

Less than fifteen minutes later, she found herself standing silently beside Oliver in another elevator; this time on the way up to his penthouse. Chloe glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, but he was looking straight ahead, watching the numbers climb as they got closer to the top floor. He hadn’t said much in the car either and Chloe knew he was still blaming himself. As the chime signaled their arrival and the doors opened, Chloe placed her hand on his arm to get his attention before he had a chance to step out of the elevator.

“Oliver, it’s not a big deal,” Chloe told him. She’d told him the same thing in the car as he’d driven in silence, never glancing in her direction, but it seemed like he was having a hard time grasping the concept. He still wasn’t looking at her so she shifted so she was standing in front of him as she gently tugged him into the foyer. “Will you please talk to me?” she asked.

“I’m sorry,” Oliver said as he finally met her gaze. He felt guilty for being so quiet but he didn’t know what else to say other than to apologize repeatedly. “That certainly was not the dinner I’d planned for us,” he said. Oliver had wanted to give Chloe a night where they could just have fun and be themselves but he’d obviously forgotten what being him entailed.

“Oliver, stop,” Chloe said firmly. She cupped his cheek in her hand, holding his gaze as she spoke. “I’m not going to let you sit here and feel guilty all night. So what if we didn’t get to eat in that restaurant? It’s not the end of the world and the fact that you feel guilty at all just proves how much you’ve changed.” Chloe wasn’t naïve. She knew exactly what kind of relationship Oliver had had with that woman and tons of other women just like her. But she also knew that he wasn’t that person anymore and she wasn’t about to let his past ruin their evening.

“This is what we’re going to do,” she continued as she brushed her thumb over his chin. “You’re going to go change so you’re not covered in wine and I’m going to order Chinese food for us. Then we’re going to start this date again without all the curious observers and attention seekers. Am I making myself clear, Mr. Queen?”

Oliver had to laugh at that; some of the tension easing from his body. “Crystal clear,” he replied before he leaned down and kissed her softly. Oliver knew he didn’t deserve her, but it meant a lot that she wanted to be with him despite the ridiculous amount of baggage he carried with him. “I’ll be right back,” he said. “Make yourself at home,” he added before he headed down the hall to his bedroom.

Chloe made her way into the living room, shrugging off her coat and dropping her clutch on the table as she pulled out her cell phone and dialed the local Chinese place. She ordered a variety of food and dropped Oliver’s name so they would deliver it quicker; only feeling slightly guilty about that action. She set her phone down and wandered over to the balcony doors while she waited for Oliver to finish changing. As she stared out at the night sky, Chloe realized this was the first time she’d been in Oliver’s apartment without an overwhelming sense of dread in the pit of her stomach. It was a nice change.

***

“Do you want the last egg roll?” Oliver asked as he held the container out to Chloe. They’d been back at his place for about an hour and he’d done what Chloe had asked and let go of most of the tension he’d been holding onto since the incident in the restaurant. He still felt bad about what had happened, but Oliver had to admit that spending time alone with Chloe was even better than anything he’d had planned for the night.

She shook her head as she leaned over to the place the rice container she’d had in her hands back on the coffee table. “No thank you,” Chloe said. “If I eat another bite, I won’t be able to fit in this dress anymore and do not say whatever just popped into your head,” she added knowingly when she saw him start to open his mouth.

Oliver smiled at her. “I don’t know what you’re referring to,” he said as he reached for the egg roll. Oliver laughed when she continued to glare at him. “I didn’t say anything.” He took a bite of the egg roll and gave her a look that was the picture of innocence.

“Mmm hmm,” Chloe muttered, but she couldn’t help smiling at him. Chloe knew this wasn’t the date he’d had in mind, but that didn’t make it any less perfect. She got to her feet, moving around her shoes that she’d discarded earlier and started gathering the takeout containers. “I’m going to go put the leftovers in the refrigerator. Can you pour me another glass of wine?” she asked over her shoulder as she walked toward the kitchen.

“Sure,” Oliver replied. He topped off both of their glasses and then grabbed the remote for the stereo, switching it to one of the jazz stations that he liked to listen to when he was decompressing from a rough day. He smiled at Chloe when she came back into the room a few minutes later, holding out her glass to her. “Thanks for doing that,” he said.

“Thanks for buying me dinner,” Chloe replied as she accepted the glass and sat down on the couch again. She tapped her glass against Oliver’s and took a sip. “This is really good. Lois and I usually buy the cheap stuff that comes in the cardboard containers. It does its job,” she joked.

Oliver laughed. “I’m surprised you’re not an alcoholic after putting up with me all this time,” he commented. Oliver meant for it to be a joke, but he didn’t quite pull it off. “Sorry,” he said, not wanting to bring down the relaxed mood. “This is actually one of my favorite brands. It’s from this amazing winery in Italy. Maybe we can go there someday.”

Chloe bit down on her bottom lip as her heart started beating faster. She knew Oliver well enough to know that he wouldn’t just suggest the invitation as a passing thought and knowing that he wanted to take her to Italy with him made her entire body feel warm. But she did her best to push that particular feeling aside for a moment. She shifted closer to him on the couch, reaching out with her free hand to cover his that was resting on the top of the couch. “You frustrated the hell out of me more often than not and there’s no reason for either of us to pretend otherwise. But it wasn’t all bad,” she said.

He turned his hand over beneath hers and laced their fingers together. Oliver knew he had opened this can of worms with his comment and maybe it was time they faced it. “I never set out to hurt you, Chloe, or make your life miserable. Ever,” he stressed. “But most of the time I was too caught up in my own issues to really think about anyone else or how my bad behavior was affecting people around me. I’m sorry for that.”

“I know you are,” Chloe said as she leaned over to set her glass down. She also knew Oliver had tried to make things up to her in the past and he had come through for her more than once. “Lois never understood why I stayed all this time. Part of it was my own stubbornness,” she admitted. “I do enjoy my job and the team factored into my decision as well. But I always gave you the benefit of the doubt because every now and again you let me see the person you really are. This person,” she said as she squeezed his hand.

Oliver smiled at her, touched by her faith in him. He couldn’t help thinking once again that he didn’t deserve her at all, but he was still incredibly grateful that she wanted to be with him in spite of everything that had happened over the years. “Did you ever consider walking away as something more than just a passing thought?” he asked curiously.

“The night I found you in the rain,” Chloe replied. They’d only spoken of that night once since it happened and all Oliver had really told her was that he remembered it. Chloe had always wondered what had brought him to that point, but it had never felt like the right time to ask. “Will you tell me now what happened?”

He hesitated for a moment as he grappled with the familiar ache in his chest. Oliver knew he owed Chloe an explanation, but he’d never spoken of what he’d learned about Lionel Luthor. Even Tess had been smart enough not to bring it up and she’d been the one to give him the information. Oliver took a long sip of his wine as he tried to find the words.

Chloe could see the pain on his face and she held his hand a little tighter. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. I’m sorry I brought it up,” she said. Oliver had told her at the time that she wouldn’t understand and she’d been too angry with him to care about his reasons. But she could see now that he was genuinely hurting and even though she wanted to help him, she couldn’t help thinking she should have just left it alone.

“It’s not that I don’t want to; it’s just that I’ve never said the words out loud before,” Oliver said. He finished his wine and set the glass on the table before he leaned back against the couch, his eyes on their joined hands. “I was in Metropolis for Lionel Luthor’s funeral and I ended up having a few celebratory drinks at a club with Tess. She wasn’t really her father’s biggest fan either. The next morning when I was mostly sober again, I just wanted her to leave but she had something for me, something she’d stolen from Lionel’s study.”

Hearing that Oliver had slept with Tess was not Chloe’s favorite moment, but she wasn’t completely surprised by the revelation either. She also knew it wasn’t the point of the story and Oliver was clearly upset. She’d always known he had issues with the Luthors, but she could tell this was something that went a lot deeper than an old school rivalry or business feuds. “Ollie, what is it?” she asked softly as she brushed her thumb against his.

“Lionel was the reason my parents died,” Oliver said. He swallowed hard, the lump in his throat practically suffocating him. “He paid someone to sabotage their plane.” His voice shook and Oliver closed his eyes for a moment, trying to get a grip. “There was documentation and records on the guy he paid off to do it. But then…” He paused and took a deep breath before he opened his eyes again, finally meeting Chloe’s gaze. “He tried to have me killed as well. There was this trip I was supposed to go on after high school and I opted out at the last minute.” He told Chloe about the rest of the information he’d found, including the connection between the mechanic and the boat explosion.

“I guess he didn’t want me to be a loose end or something,” Oliver said. He rubbed his hand over his face as his chest tightened to the point where it was getting hard for him to breathe. “Several of my friends died instead of me and I guess Lionel got bored or just wrote me off completely after that because as far as I know, he didn’t try to kill me again.” Oliver knew that his life had been such a mess that Lionel probably figured he wasn’t worth the hassle of trying to kill him.

“Oh my God, Ollie,” Chloe said, horrified. She’d known it was bad when he’d looked so broken, but this was even worse than she’d imagined. She shifted closer to him on the couch, wrapping both her arms around his neck and hugging him tightly. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered as she held him. Chloe couldn’t believe he’d been carrying this with him all this time. She understood now why he’d been so desperate to get back at the Luthors and why he’d tried so hard to drown his pain.

Oliver held her close, taking the comfort she offered. Getting the words out had been hard, but he’d wanted Chloe to know the truth. “I miss them so much, Chloe. All I ever wanted was to be someone they could be proud of and I feel like I’ve failed them over and over again until now. I was so angry and selfish and they would have been ashamed of me,” he whispered hoarsely as he squeezed his eyes shut, fighting to hold back the emotion that was too close to the surface.

“They’re proud of you, Oliver,” Chloe said confidently as she let one of her hands slide into his hair. She turned her head and pressed light kisses to his face. “You made mistakes but everyone has. All that matters is that you’re trying to be a better person and you are,” she stressed. Chloe took his face in her hands and tilted his head so he was looking at her. “You’re an amazing man, Oliver, and I don’t doubt for one second that both of your parents would tell you how proud of you they are if they could,” she said.

He didn’t say anything for a moment; too overwhelmed as the grief and regret that had been consuming him was replaced with something completely different; something he’d known for awhile but hadn’t allowed himself to acknowledge until he heard the absolute certainty in Chloe’s voice when she told him that his parents would be proud of him. Oliver believed her because he knew Chloe wouldn’t say it if it wasn’t true; even to spare his feelings, that wasn’t the kind of person she was.

“Thank you for believing in me,” Oliver said. That wasn’t the only thing he wanted to say; he wanted to tell her that he was completely in love with her and he hoped that maybe someday she would feel the same way about him. But he knew it was too soon to say those words to her and he wasn’t going to put that kind of pressure on Chloe, especially after everything she’d just said to him. So instead of saying anything, he pulled her closer and kissed her, pouring everything he had into it.

Chloe made a small noise in the back of her throat as she tightened her grip on him, returning the kiss as his mouth moved frantically over hers. Every time Oliver kissed her, it was intense, but she felt something more than that this time, something she couldn’t quite understand. But she knew he needed this and she wanted him to know that he wasn’t alone so she didn’t hesitate to kiss him with the same urgency until they were both breathless.

He rested his forehead against hers, a small smile on his lips as Oliver waited for his heart to start beating normally again. “Sorry about that,” he said as he tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. “Pretty sure a conversation that heavy violates the first date protocol.”

“It’s a good thing we like to make our own rules then,” Chloe replied. She returned his smile, happy to see that he seemed a bit more relaxed. “I’m sure it’s not easy for you to talk about your parents but I’m glad that you trust me enough to let me in. That means a lot, Ollie,” she told him softly.

“I trust you with my life, Chloe,” Oliver replied. He’d struggled with trust issues for a long time and he was doing his best to let Clark and the rest of the team in, but he never had to think twice about trusting Chloe. Oliver knew that he would always be able to count on her and he was determined to prove that she would be able to count on him too. “Do you want some more wine?” he asked as he leaned forward to pour himself another glass.

Chloe shook her head. “Mine is still mostly full,” she pointed out as she picked it up from the table. “I guess I’m a lightweight,” she teased as she took a sip. It really was good wine. “I’ve always wanted to go to Italy. Actually, I’ve always wanted to go to a lot of places. So far all I’ve got are Star City and Metropolis,” she said.

“Really?” Oliver asked, surprised. He admittedly didn’t know much about Chloe’s past; only that she didn’t seem to want to talk about it anymore than he wanted to talk about his. “Isn’t Lois’s dad a general?” Oliver knew he had some sort of military job; he’d seen it in the file he’d run on Lois a few years earlier when he’d been looking for something he could use against her so she’d stop making his life hell at every opportunity. “I guess I assumed you visited her a lot.”

“No, her family used to come to Metropolis for holidays because my dad couldn’t really get time off work. He worked at a factory so the hours weren’t exactly ideal. Plus, we never really got that into holidays once my mom left,” Chloe said. She took another sip of her wine, hoping Oliver would let her gloss over the details. She didn’t like to talk about her parents’ marriage falling apart or how her mother had abandoned her and then her father had done the same thing years when he’d taken a job in a different state and basically stopped calling.

Oliver could practically see the walls she was building around herself. He’d known about her parents from the background check he’d run on her after the night they’d met at the club. Oliver didn’t really have the words to comfort her and he doubted she’d want them if he did. He tapped his glass against hers and offered her a smile before he took another drink. “I guess this means I’m going to have to come up with somewhere to take you so you can see more of the world than just Kansas and California,” he mused.

Chloe smiled at him, grateful that he wasn’t pushing her to talk about her family. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust him or didn’t want him to know; Chloe just didn’t feel like it was worth talking about. His parents had died; they’d been murdered by a man he despised and hers had simply walked away because they weren’t interested in being there for her. She knew Oliver would never try to compare the two and he’d probably be upset with her for doing it in her head, but Chloe couldn’t help it. She wasn’t going to saddle him with her petty complaints after everything he’d shared with her.

“You know you don’t have to take me anywhere, Oliver,” Chloe pointed out. She reached for his hand, threading their fingers together again. “I like Star City and I like being with you. I don’t need anything fancy,” she said. Chloe knew that Oliver liked the finer things in life and she appreciated that he wanted to share them with her, but that wasn’t why she was with him and she needed to make sure that he knew that.

“I know I don’t have to,” Oliver countered as he lifted their joined hands to his lips and softly kissed hers. “But I want to. Hopefully next time we go out, there won’t be anyone waiting to throw a drink on me,” he said, rolling his eyes at the memory.

Chloe chewed on the corner of her lip as she tried not to smile. “I don’t know, Ollie. There are probably a lot of women out there who are waiting for the privilege.” She glanced at the glass in her hand and raised an eyebrow at him. “It’s rather tempting.”

“Cute,” Oliver said. He plucked the glass from her and set it down on the table along with his own. “I think you’re cut off for the night, Sullivan. I also think I’m going to have to amend what I said earlier. I trust you with my life, but not with a glass of wine,” he quipped as he dipped his head and covered her mouth with his.

She was tempted to tease him, but it was all too easy to forget silly things like how to use words when Oliver was kissing her. Chloe moaned softly, wrapping her arms tighter around him and pulling him closer as she leaned back against the couch until his body was partially covering hers. She let him deepen the kiss as she ran her hand over his back, feeling his thick muscles beneath the t-shirt he’d changed into.

Oliver broke the kiss when air started to become an issue, but he wasn’t ready to stop touching her. He trailed his lips over her neck, placing soft open-mouthed kisses across her smooth skin. When he reached her shoulder, he lowered the strap of her dress and continued kissing her as he let his other hand slide into her hair. “Chloe,” he whispered as he met her eyes.

Chloe knew what he was trying to say. While they hadn’t exactly kept their hands to themselves, they hadn’t really done much of anything either. She knew he’d been holding back and attempting to let her set the pace while she tried to figure out what she wanted. Chloe appreciated that but she didn’t need any more time to make up her mind. She knew what she wanted.

“I’m exactly where I want to be, Oliver,” she said as she held his gaze so he could see that she was sure.

Part Two