gabe/chloe after violet's relapse

"My office.  Now." Gabe barked through the speaker of my desk phone, startling me because I didn't even know he could do that.  

I smoothed down my skirt as I entered his office, seeing a makeup-less Violet seated in front of his desk, dark circles under her bloodshot eyes.  As I glanced up at Gabe, an electric bolt shot through my gut, telling me my biggest fear had come true.

"Sit," he ordered, pointing to the chair next to Violet.  "You're dismissed," he told her, much to Violet's disapproval.

"Bro, we should all talk this out.  We could figure out a win-win solution."

Gabe's response to her argument was a hard stare, an expression that told me Violet was currently sitting on a warm bottom and if she didn't want more, she'd better obey.  That thought made me squirm in my seat as I wondered how this scene would unfold.

Of course Violet broke first.  "Fine," she said with an eyeroll, then turned towards me.  "I'm sorry, but I had to tell him, especially after everything with Andy."  

My heart sped up as she stood and left, door slamming so loudly that I jumped in my seat. There was a moment of uneasy silence, but then Gabe spoke.  "You've lied to me, Chloe.  For months."

I tried to steady my voice, my eyes welling with regret. "I-I'm sorry.  I should've told you."

"Damn right you should've," he snapped back, his words a whip crack of frustration. "You put this firm, my reputation, and my client's future at risk because you couldn't trust me enough to come clean."

toby & molly convo continued

"I heard things have been rough with Adam lately," Toby said, reaching out for the weed to roll a joint for me.  He was in a "service sub" type mood, which was usually my jam more than his, but I guess he'd been broken down quite a bit over the last few weeks.

"I know you think I should break up with him."

"It doesn't really matter what I think.  Do you see me in any type of relationship?"

I smiled then brought my knees to my chest, hugging them for a moment as I watched his fingers navigate the rolling papers with ease.  "When was the last time you were in a relationship anyway?"

He shook his head.  "A real official relationship?  Not since college."

"But you dated Vic for a minute."

"Yeah, just dated though.  It's not like either of us brought the other home."

"Do you want a relationship?"

Toby licked the paper, sticking it together then handing me the joint.  I knew he didn't want to answer this question, but since he felt guilty he would anyway.  "It's hard to admit and also hard to deny."

"What a non-answer," I teased.

"When I get in relationships, things like my manic episode happen.  Maybe I'm not ready yet."

"Will you ever be ready?"

Toby shrugged, not really looking me in the eyes.  It was weird seeing him like this, kinda defeated.  "I don't know."

Toby’s apology to Molly

“It was wrong of me to lash out at you like that, and I’d like to explain what happened with me.”

His remorse made me uncomfortable. “It’s okay, you don’t have to, I understand and forgive you…”

Toby gave me a pleading look. “I want to, as long as it doesn’t infringe on your boundaries.”

As if I had boundaries? So I nodded to let him continue, squirming in my seat. Why did this make me feel so icky? It kind of reminded me of my dad maybe. But my mind wasn’t ready to go there yet, which piqued my curiosity. I always attributed most of my problems to my mom.

The thoughts made me take a hit off of my vape pen, and out of politeness I offered Toby some. “Nah,” he responded, not giving me his admonishing big brother look like normal. “I think weed is part of what set off my manic episode in the first place.” I cocked an eyebrow since he rarely participated in my favorite recreational activity. “When we were on vacation. I mean, it wasn’t the whole trigger. I hadn’t realized how bad Chloe was for me. I’m trying to not beat myself up even though I think I should’ve known better. But she brought out a side of me that feels good. My nurturing self. When someone wants help, i feel confident that I know what to do. It feels like I have control, but then at some point that power starts slipping away. It turns into an addiction, like if I don’t ‘help’ it’s dangerous. Chloe made me feel powerful and in control, but I wasn’t. And when I finally noticed I was feeling used, it was too late. That’s when you had your work thing and I took out my anger on you. And I am…. Was… upset with you too, but more upset with Chloe and myself.”