Chasing Chad

by Jeanisse, Bella

  She hid her slight jealousy as best as she could. For as far back as she could remember, she hated when Chad was attached, although she wanted him to be happy. It was hard to explain.

  Crystal let it go and waited. Maggie gave off a strange vibe, but she was sure it was only in her head.

  “Tell me about yourself.” Crystal patted the space next to her. “Chad told me you work at a boutique. Do you like it?”

  Maggie sat down and smiled. “The discount is great. They have unique clothes. You might find something you like there.” She almost snickered. That would be the perfect way to get rid of her.

  “I’ll have to check it out.” Crystal made a mental note to do just that.

  Chad smiled when he heard the girls giggle together. That meant they were getting along. He had mixed feelings about that. It would make things easier, though.

  “Do you live on the first floor across the street?” Maggie hoped she could mask her hatred of the other woman.

  Crystal looked up, confused. “Uh, what?”

  “Just curious where your apartment was.” Maggie saw the suspicion in Crystal’s eyes. “I heard you live right across the street.”

  “Yeah.” Crystal glanced up. “It’s safer than my last apartment.”

  Maggie caught a hint of fear in Crystal’s eyes. “Is something wrong?”

  “Uh, no. I’m fine.” Crystal hated when her past haunted her. “Can we talk about something else?”

  *** ♫♪♫♪ ***

  “Can I get you anything? A drink maybe?” Maggie leaned over Chad so that much of her cleavage was exposed.

  Phil stared at the woman who hung over Chad. She shifted, and he swore he saw a hint of nipple. “I can use something, anything.”

  “Don’t start, Phil.” Chad knew what Phil meant.

  Maggie whispered in Chad’s ear, “How about I take you to your room for a blowjob so you can concentrate?”

  “Shit!” Chad banged his leg on the table. “Not tonight, please.”

  Phil’s mouth dropped then he muttered, “Whoa.” He swallowed hard. “If you don’t mind, can you get me another beer?”

  With a grin, Maggie bounced to the refrigerator and took a cold one out. She slinked up to Phil. “Here you go.” Since bluntness doesn’t work, jealousy may. “Need anything else?” She draped an arm over Phil’s shoulders and let her bare upper breast brush his cheek.

  It took all Phil’s strength not to snake his tongue into her bra. “Lots of things, but doubt your man will let me do them.” His eyes opened wide when she placed his hand on her ass. “Uh, wait a minute.” He quickly stood. “Not… um… It’s getting late.”

  Sam held in the laugh. It was the first time he had seen Phil avoid a woman’s advances. “I guess it is.”

  “You guys giving up for the night?” Crystal walked into the room. “Does that mean the next game will be on the tour?”

  Chad got to his feet. “Most likely.”

  “Be right back.” Giovanni placed a kiss on Crystal’s cheek then disappeared down the hallway.

  Maggie looked around. She had spooked Phil, which she hadn’t thought was possible. Many times she had seen him at gigs, all over women. She was sure he would at least try to sample her wares. Obviously not.

  Determined to trick one of Chad’s friends into touching her, she scanned the room again. Then she smirked. Even better.

  She slowly moved toward the hallway. When the bathroom door opened, she smiled at Giovanni. Snagging Crystal’s man should piss her off. Maybe enough to sway Chad away from her.

  “Uh, hi.” Giovanni swallowed when Maggie stepped into his path. He didn’t know enough about her to trust her. “We’re about to go.”

  Maggie laid a hand on his side. “Don’t go yet. I was thinking maybe we can swap partners tonight, or just have a wild foursome.” Her hands went up his body then down.

  “What?” Giovanni was almost positive he had heard her wrong.

  She licked her lips. “Chad’s hung up on your woman, and I want in his pants. She gets his pants off, and I get to fuck him.” One hand settled over his crotch.

  “You’re crazy.” Giovanni gently pushed her and rushed back to his woman. “We need to go.”

  Crystal had rarely seen Giovanni so freaked out. “Why? What happened?”

  “I was kidding.” Maggie followed Giovanni.

  She realized that Chad’s friends were not like most musicians she had been with. Normally her advances would be accepted immediately. The Triple Threat guys had some integrity.

  “You should’ve seen the look on his face.”

  Giovanni stared at Maggie. “It was a joke? Didn’t sound like a joke.” He hoped Chad hadn’t gotten involved with a nutcase.

  Minutes later, the group had left. “It looks like the boys had fun.” Maggie washed out the empty beer bottles in the sink. “Did you?”

  Chad piled plates next to the sink. “Yeah. Glad you and Crystal got to talk. She was hoping to get to know you some. She worries too much.”

  Bet she wants you to comfort her. Maggie couldn’t help but suspect the two of them were still a thing. Why else would he refuse me?

  CHAPTER TEN

  Maggie looked up when the bell rang above the door the next afternoon. She was a bit shocked to see Crystal and Giovanni walk into the boutique.

  As was customary, she smiled and shouted, “Welcome to Tessa’s Creations. Let me know if there’s anything I can help you with.”

  Crystal waved. “Thanks. I’ll let you know.”

  She headed for a rack of jeans and was excited to see they had black ones with strategic tears. They had talked about getting some new clothes for the tour. That day was as good as any to shop.

  Across the room, Maggie watched the couple. Jealousy filled her veins. She had always been envious of Crystal. It was obvious that Chad was still in love with her.

  She also hated that men fell over themselves to be near Crystal. On top of that, she was sure Crystal had a better body than her. Chad’s reaction to her nudity sealed it. He had obviously seen Crystal naked as well.

  Her eyes followed Crystal around the room. The sexy sashay kept her man’s attention for sure. Maggie wanted Chad to look at her like that.

  What do I have to do to turn his head? Should I dress like her? Act like her? Maybe I should dye my hair dark brown and get blue contacts. I can look like Crystal for him.

  “Maggie?” Crystal walked up to her with an armload of clothes. “Can I try these on?”

  Slowly, Maggie glanced up. “Uh, sure.”

  “Do you work on commission?” Crystal asked quietly.

  Maggie cocked an eyebrow. “Um, yes. Why?”

  “Good. I’ll try to get as much as my budget allows.” Crystal’s face lit up. “So it’ll make you look good. You have some real cool clothes here.”

  Confused, Maggie led Crystal to the dressing room in the back. Crystal made it hard to hate her. Maybe I’m wrong about her. I can’t be.

  “I’ll be right here if you need me,” Giovanni said as he sat in a nearby chair.

  Maggie opened a door and waved Crystal her way. “Anything that doesn’t fit I can switch out for a different size if available.”

  “Thanks!” Crystal closed the door behind her. “You weren’t kidding when you said the clothes here were unique.

  Her eyes on Giovanni, Maggie smiled when he turned away. She wanted to find out if Crystal looked better than her.”

  When the dressing room door opened suddenly, Crystal cried out and pressed her body against the far wall in fear.

  Filled with remorse, Maggie closed her eyes for a few seconds. “I’m sorry.” She had wanted to catch Crystal off-guard. The fear in Crystal’s eyes made her heart melt. “I opened the wrong door. Are you OK?”

  Crystal nodded and took a deep breath. “I think so.”

  “Everything OK?” Giovanni knew that scream.

  While she shook, Crystal nodded. “I’m fine, just startled.” She clung to Gi
ovanni in only a pair of panties.

  Still unsure, Maggie walked back to the counter where she had been folding clothes. Everything she had thought she knew about Crystal had been proven wrong in the last week.

  The beautiful woman was far from perfect and not out to steal Chad for herself. Maybe I misjudged Chad, too? Can a man really be that much in control of his sexual desires?

  *** ♫♪♫♪ ***

  “Crystal!” Blindly, Chad searched the bed for her. Then he slowly opened his eyes. She wasn’t there. “This is what you get for sleeping in the middle of the day.” He punched the bed, frustrated. “I need to start over.”

  It was something he had thought about many times, buying a new bed. The one he had reminded him too much of Crystal. It had gotten to the point of insanity. He had to do something to lessen the reminders.

  “Today’s the day.” Chad rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling. “Today I let the reminders go and move on with Maggie.”

  He wasn’t sure if he could go as far as sex. His way had always been slow. Even as a teenager. Trust was a big deal to him. More than once he had found out a girl was lying to him. He waited until it felt right before he slept with a woman.

  It made him seem quite old fashioned. He was to a point, unless Crystal was involved. She made all of his morals go out the window.

  It was important to take the first step, no matter what the next was. The one thing he wouldn’t do was move. That house held much too much sentimental value.

  He reached for his phone and dialed Crystal. “Hey, what you up to?”

  Crystal glanced up at the racks around them. “We’re at Maggie’s store. This place is great.”

  “Really?” Chad was slightly surprised. “Plan to wear one of your new outfits for our double date tonight?”

  She smiled widely. “I do. What’re you up to?”

  “Who is that?” Giovanni nodded at the phone.

  “Chad.” Crystal turned back to the phone. “Giovanni’s being nosy.”

  That made Chad laugh. “Bet he’s having fun at that shop.”

  “He’s definitely bored.” She glanced over at Maggie. “Got plans before dinner?”

  Chad sat up. “Kinda. Maybe you-” He quickly cut himself off. If she comes with me, that’ll defeat the purpose. “Maybe you guys could figure out where we should go tonight. I have some work to get done first.”

  “OK.” Crystal had a feeling he had planned to say something else, but she didn’t push. He had been slowly pulling away that week, which was good for him, although it hurt. “I’ll text you when I come up with something.”

  He ended the call and sighed. “I really hope this works.”

  *** ♫♪♫♪ ***

  Chad stood in the doorway to his bedroom hours later. He stared at the huge king-sized bed that dominated the room. So he wouldn’t change his mind, he had paid for same day delivery.

  It looked out of place and made the whole room seem off. He had changed the color scheme of the room as well, which was also to drive the memories away.

  “It’s definitely different.” He sighed and flexed his arms. “Wonder what Crystal will think.”

  Those words didn’t kick start memories which was good. Maybe it really worked. He couldn’t be sure until there was a trigger.

  The mattress was even a bit softer. He had laid on many of them that day. The one he had chosen had actually relaxed him. That was quite rare.

  “OK. Now what do I do next to let her go?”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Crystal walked into Chad’s room and admired the new look. She and Giovanni had stopped by Chad’s just before the double date. “I love the red.” She ran a hand over the new duvet on the huge bed. “You always had good taste.”

  Giovanni leaned on the doorway. “She’s right. Looks good. What made you switch things up?”

  “Needed a change.” Chad watched Crystal as she touched the new curtains. “It was time,” he whispered to himself. When she ran into Giovanni’s arms, his chest constricted. She’s not coming back to you. That’s why you moved on.

  With difficulty, Crystal climbed up onto the bed. “Wow, that’s high up. Perfect for you.” She couldn’t imagine him with another woman in it. That would be too painful.

  Chad averted his eyes. With Crystal on the bed, it encouraged fantasies. At least they’re not memories. He glanced out the window. “I’m picking up Maggie in about twenty minutes.”

  “Is it me, or is she a bit…” Crystal wanted to like her more than anything. “Well, I guess, some of her answers seem odd.”

  Taken aback, Chad stared at her. “Uh… I hadn’t noticed.”

  “Maybe she’s just nervous around me.” Crystal wasn’t sure why that would be possible. She laid back and sighed. “I love this bed!”

  Chad groaned silently. Images of her naked, spread eagle plagued him. He stepped toward the hallway. “I should start getting ready.”

  “We’ll wait in the living room.” Giovanni tugged Crystal out of the room.

  *** ♫♪♫♪ ***

  “We’re meeting Giovanni and Crystal at Fortunato’s,” Chad explained when Maggie sat next to him in his van.

  His eyes went over her bare legs when she opened her coat. Her short skirt made no sense. However, he was glad she had clothes on under the coat.

  “Hope you like Italian.”

  She grinned. “I do. I’m not really picky.” She watched him put the van in gear. “What do you usually get there?”

  “Depends.” He drove toward the restaurant as he thought. “I like almost everything on the menu. It’s my favorite Italian place.”

  Maggie was glad he was willing to share something like that with her. “Then I’ll let you choose for me. Anything but clam sauce.”

  Chad couldn’t help but burst into laughter. “Good thing you warned me. That’s my favorite dish there.”

  She smiled. “OK. Good to know. Anything but that.”

  When Chad pulled into the parking lot, he spotted Giovanni’s van and parked next to it. “Do you have any allergies?” He hadn’t thought to ask that previously.

  “Um, just to strawberries.” She was confused by the surprised look on his face. “Something wrong?”

  He shook his head. “Nah, that’s just my favorite fruit. I’ll make sure not to feed it to you.”

  Crystal waved excitedly when she noticed Chad walking toward the building. She hadn’t been on a double date with Chad in a long time. The smile on his face made her smile as well. It was great to see him happy.

  “After you.” Chad held the door for everyone. Then he followed them to their table.

  Maggie glanced around. “This is a nice place.” It was a bit dark, but that was part of the intimate atmosphere. She could see her and Chad fooling around some if they were alone. If I can ever get him to go past kissing.

  “After this, how about we go ice skating?” Chad had tried to think of something different to do.

  Thrilled, Maggie half-shouted, “I love ice skating!”

  “You do?” Chad had no idea. He still didn’t know much about her.

  She bounced in her seat a few times. “Yeah, I wanted to be a figure skater when I was a kid. It was a bit too much work, so I quit.”

  “You did?” Chad was interested. “Were you good?”

  Her gaze drifted up as she reminisced. “My trainer said I was. I won a few medals. The schedule was grueling, though. By the time I turned 13, I was more interested in boys than daily practice.”

  “Crystal skates, too.” Chad remembered watching her at the rink many years ago.

  Slightly embarrassed, Crystal shook her head. “I wasn’t competition worthy like Maggie.”

  “Yes you were, but trainers cost money.” Chad knew Crystal was much more talented than she gave herself credit for. “That’s why the hockey team wanted you.”

  Giovanni’s eyes widened. “You played hockey, too?”

  “What do you mean ‘too’?” Crystal�
��s face screwed up.

  With a sly grin, Giovanni answered, “I played before high school. That was the one thing my dad was proud of.” His expression turned sad. “Never mind.”

  Crystal laced her fingers with Giovanni’s. “We talked about this. I’m sure he’s proud of you now.”

  “I know,” was Giovanni’s soft reply.

  Chad patted Giovanni’s back. “I seen some of the pictures of you in uniform at your mom’s. Both of your parents were proud of you. They still are.” When Giovanni nodded, he shifted the subject a bit. “Seems like I’ll be slowing the three of you down.”

  “Please.” Crystal rolled her eyes. “He’s mastered anything on wheels. You should see him on a dirt bike. He can run circles around just about anyone.”

  “This I gotta see.” Maggie grinned. “Maybe when the weather warms up you can show me.”

  Chad’s face fell. “Uh… You know we’re leaving on tour in a few weeks, right?”

  “Oh yeah.” Maggie had forgotten about that. “It’s most of the year, huh?”

  He nodded. “Yeah. I thought you knew.”

  “I did, just forgot.” She wasn’t sure if she would have enough time to make him fall in love with her before he left. I need to step it up and fast. “Are we still going out for New Year’s Eve tomorrow?”

  Chad met Crystal’s eyes and saw the concern. Then he turned to Maggie. “I almost forgot about it.”

  “So then you changed your mind?” Maggie gave him a look of hope.

  He smiled. “No, just forgot to tell you I have a party to go to. If you’d like to come, you just need to dress up. It’s black tie according to the invitation.”

  “That sounds awesome!” She took a few seconds to tame her excitement. “Whose party is it? One of your friends?”

  Crystal grabbed Chad’s hand. She saw the hesitation in his eyes and felt his apprehension. “You sure about this?”

  “It’s fine.” Chad swallowed nervously. If she went all fangirl at the party, he would be humiliated. “Um, it’s at Tommy Fischer’s place.”