Chase & Chloe

by Simone Elise

  Declan was leaning against the car, smoking. He shrugged his shoulders. Just like me, he wasn't giving Chase any information.

  "You two are bloody hopeless!" Chase looked between the both of us, like this was our fault.

  "Not our problem you can't keep your women apart," Declan said with a glint in his eyes. He was as pissed off with Chase as I was.

  "Massie is not my woman. She's the Real Estate agent!"

  "Funny, looked a bit more than that." Declan threw his cigarette down and stomped on it. "Can we head home now?"

  "And just leave Chloe here, in a place she doesn't know? With no money?" Chase basically roared at him. "ARE YOU STUPID?"

  "No, you are." I pushed him in the back. "Chloe will come home when she wants to. No way will we find her in this city." Considering I knew where she was and she was safe, I wasn't concerned. She'd be at the university. "Let's go home." I opened the driver’s side door and watched Chase have a debate with himself.

  He could be as angry as he wanted with himself, it wouldn’t change a darn thing.

  Chloe's Point of View

  University libraries always calmed me; something about all the other students working on their goals and futures. It just encouraged me, which was why I was getting so much work done. I had researched all my references for the essay I was working on - The Importance of a Balanced Diet.

  "What are you working on?"

  I looked up, seeing a guy studying me.

  "Um…an essay." I noted his shoulder bag and the fact that the library students were slowly disappearing as the night crept in.

  "Just finished one myself." He extended a hand. "Scott."

  "Chloe." I took it. "You a student here as well?"

  Scott pulled up the seat next to me. "Graduated actually, but now studying a Masters."

  "Nice work." I was impressed. He didn't strike me as the type of guy that would want to further his education.

  "So what's your poison?"

  "What is my Bachelor in?" I laughed at his chosen words.

  "Yeah, you strike me as a teacher."

  I shook my head. "No way! I could never do that."

  "So what is it then, if I'm wrong?"

  "Sports and exercise science."

  "Should have guessed." He smiled, shaking his head.

  I narrowed my eyes at him. "What's that meant to mean?"

  "Well, you are clearly fit and I picked you as my type of girl. I just finished my Bachelor in that. Now I'm working on my Masters in teaching. I own a gym, and I want to be able to teach personal trainers."

  "Really? You own a gym?"

  "Yeah, it's not far from here, actually. Most of the students go there because I give discounts." He shrugged like he wasn't doing something majorly nice.

  "That's really sweet of you."

  "If I knew that would get your attention, I would have led with that." He laughed. "You wouldn't be a personal trainer, would you?"

  "With my passion being it, I should be, but I'm nowhere near qualified."

  "How far are you into your Bachelor?"

  "With credits, this would be my second year."

  "Then you are qualified in my books, if you can give me at least one reference." Scott didn't know I was even looking for a job. My mind went blank for a reference. Then my eyes slowly widened.

  "I do have one, but he is in a different state. I'm new here."

  "Phone reference is fine."

  "He taught me everything I know." I pulled out my phone, knowing Jenkins’s number by heart. It had a lot of nines in it, so it was easy to remember. "I don't know if he will answer, he doesn't know this number." No one did.

  I waited for it to go to voicemail but, to my surprise, he answered.

  "Hello?" He was out of breath and if I looked at the clock, I knew it would be around seven and he had just finished his night workout.

  "Hey stranger." I smiled into the phone.

  "Chloe? Second phone call today, I must be doing something right." He blew into the phone.

  "I actually need something from you." Was this crossing a line?

  "Shoot."

  "I need a reference." I looked at Scott. "Just go on about how awesome I am. It's for a personal trainer job."

  "Perfect for you. Hand me over."

  "Thanks, Jenkins." I handed Scott the phone. "His name is Jenkins," I told Scott.

  I listened to Scott and Jenkins talk. Heard Jenkins say how passionate I was. Scott asked numerous questions, and I just sat quietly until he handed me back the phone.

  "Cleary I'm getting the better half of this deal." Scott grinned at me. "Jenkins speaks highly of you."

  "He is a good friend." I took the phone.

  "So, you busy now? Or do you want to come and see the gym? I don't want to pull you away if you are on a roll with your essay."

  "No, that's fine. I'm finished." I closed my laptop, gathering it up with my books. "I really need to get a bag."

  "Here, let me help." He took the textbooks off me. "So the gym is just a few blocks, but I don't like leaving my car in the car park here. Don't mind a short trip, do you?"

  "No, that's fine. If I had a car, I would fuss over where I left it as well."

  We walked out of the library. I was new to the campus, so I assumed we were heading for the car park.

  "So, do you like being thrown into the deep end?" Scott grinned at me.

  "I'm not really dressed to train." I looked down at my dress and slip-on shoes.

  "Good, because I was planning on you helping me train a few people."

  I had had enough personal training sessions with Jenkins to know what they were like, so I smiled. "Sure, I can help. Guess we will see if I'm any good, right?" I can't believe I was leaving with a complete stranger. Was I insane? Should I tell someone I was going with him? "So, what's your last name?" I asked, keeping pace with him.

  "Daniels. Why?" He frowned at me.

  "No reason." I unlocked my phone and went to Marc's number.

  If I disappear, I was last with a Scott Daniels. He is from the university. Owns a gym. That's all I know – Chloe.

  I sent the quick message to Marc and smiled at Scott. So if I did disappear, at least someone knew who I was with.

  My phone buzzed back.

  Come home, and you ARE the best woman I know.

  I smiled. Well, at least he knew what I saved my number under.

  ***

  "So square your shoulders, straighten your back." I placed my hand on Ash's back. "Perfect, now squat down, like you are going to the toilet. Chest out."

  "Like this, Chloe?"

  "Perfect. Now is that weight alright? Not too heavy?" I asked, concerned.

  She started squatting with the weight and smiled at me. "Nah, it's perfect. You were right about the extra five kilograms."

  "Great, now do twenty, we will break for thirty seconds and then go again," I said to Ash. She was working on technique at the moment, and I was doing my best to help her. Surprisingly, I wasn't doing that badly. I was in my comfort zone.

  "It is so nice Scott hired a girl. I swear this place is all men," Ash said as I kept count of her reps.

  "I'm still on trial. I've only been here for a few hours, so I wouldn't get too excited." It was nice she was being nice to me, but I wasn't expecting a permanent job out of it. "Alright, break."

  Ash puffed and put the weights down and grabbed her water.

  My phone started ringing on the counter. I saw Marc's name flash. "I'll be one sec, Ash," I said, grabbing the phone. "Hey, Marc."

  "Chloe, when are you coming home?" Marc sounded extremely pissed off. "Chase wants to know."

  Chase wants to know.

  "You told him you had my number?"

  "Regretfully yes. If I hadn't, he would have us searching the city for you." Marc said it like Chase had had them searching the city for me.

  "Well, tell him not to worry. I'm fine
."

  "He doesn't want to know if you are okay. He wants to know when you are coming home."

  "I'm at work now. Once I finish, I'll get a cab…"

  "Work? What do you mean work?" Marc cut me off.

  "I got a job."

  "Between now and the time you left me?"

  "What can I say? I'm a quick worker. Look, I have to go. Just tell Chase I'm fine and give him my number."

  "You sure you want to talk to him? Cause I won't be able to stop him from messaging you."

  "Yeah, yeah, it's fine. I have to go." I watched Ash get back in front of the weights. "Bye Marc."

  "When will you be home?"

  "What time is it now?"

  "Ten thirty-six."

  "I'll try to be home before midnight. I still have to get a cab to the middle of nowhere. I might end up staying in the city."

  "With fucking who?"

  "Scott offered me his couch before, because I said I live outside town."

  "Chloe…"

  "Don't say anything to Chase." I cut him off. "And I don't need a lecture."

  "Well, you are bloody well getting one."

  I rolled my eyes. "Fine, go."

  "You don't go sleeping at someone's house," Marc was saying, but I heard something in the background.

  "Fine, I won't stay there. Just don't expect me to be home by midnight, okay? And you can tell Chase that too."

  "Yeah, he heard." Marc grunted. "He isn't happy."

  "When is he? I have to go." I hung up and went back to Ash. "Sorry about that. We were up to your second set, yeah?"

  She nodded, and we picked back up where we left off.

  My phone started vibrating again. I glanced at it, knowing that number. Chase. I picked the phone up.

  Where are you? I'm coming to get you.

  "Boyfriend?"

  I looked up at Ash, who was smiling at me.

  "Um…I don't know." I was honest. "Dating doesn't automatically make him your boyfriend, does it? Like you can date multiple people at once, right?"

  I never had any girlfriends; never had a girl to talk to.

  "Depends on the guy." She shrugged. "Does he act like he is your boyfriend?"

  "I've never had one so I don't really know how one is meant to act, if that makes sense." I went and stood behind her.

  "Well, is he protective of you?" Ash grunted, lowering down to squat.

  He was more than protective of me. "Yes. I guess when I think about it, his favorite word is mine."

  I saw Ash's smile in the mirror as she squatted again and she came back up. "Do you consider yourself his?"

  I had. For months. Without ever expecting to see him again. He had a strong hold on my heart, but he didn't have all of it. There was still a piece that belonged to me. I hadn't given him everything.

  My phone buzzed in my hand.

  Please tell me where you are. It's Chase.

  Did he really think I didn't know his number? I had to reply otherwise he won't stop messaging me, but I wasn't having him come pick me up.

  I'll be home when I'm done. I sent it and went back to counting Ash's reps; the phone buzzed in my hand right away.

  How mad are you?

  To be honest with him, I wasn't mad. I expected it. Maybe that's what was disappointing.

  Not mad.

  And truthfully, I wasn't.

  Come home then.

  Can't. Working.

  You don't need a job.

  Can't talk Chase, I'll see you later.

  You promise you will come home?

  Yes.

  I'm sorry baby girl.

  I locked the phone, putting it on the bench. Why was it whenever he called me baby girl, I melted? Like he could do no wrong whatsoever. How could he blind me so easily? Two words and I was his. Did he know that?

  “Okay, I swear you have my whole focus on you," I said to Ash.

  "Good, because I'm telling Scott I want my next session with you." Ash grunted from the weight.

  “Okay, maybe we should ease that five kilograms off," I said, going to her shoulders and taking the weights off her. It was only now, as I carried forty kilograms easily, that I was thankful to Jenkins for pushing me into weights.

  I really owed him one.

  Chapter 56

  Chase's Point of View

  "That's it; we are going looking for her." I had been pacing on the balcony, checking my phone every five bloody seconds. I walked through the open doors. It was one of those nights where it was nicer outside than it was inside.

  The boys looked up at me, frustrated. I think for the past five hours I had had them doing everything humanly possible to find her.

  "We just got back!" Archie complained. "I swear I've checked every bar on the coast."

  "It's been hours." I muttered. I knew something was stopping her from coming here, and that something was me.

  "Nine." Marc sipped from his beer, looking deadly calm.

  "Thanks for that," I gritted out. "Come on the lot of you, we are going out."

  Oliver looked up from the television screen. "Come on Chase, it's pointless, she could be anywhere."

  "It's your job to have all our phones tracked so blame yourself." It pissed me off to no end, the fact she had a phone and I didn't have her number.

  "Marc, get up." I grunted, kicking his legs.

  "What time is it?" He asked, reaching into his pocket.

  "Ten thirty." I had been watching the clock intensely. If there was one thing I knew, it was the bloody time.

  "She should be back by now," Marc frowned.

  "That's what I've been saying all afternoon and night!"

  "Yeah, but that's cause you didn't know where she was." Marc smirked at me.

  My expression dropped. "You. Knew. Where. She. Was."

  "MAN! SERIOUSLY! WE'VE BEEN LOOKING EVERYWHERE!" Oliver yelled at him for wasting his time.

  "You didn't actually think I let her leave without telling me where she was going?" Marc looked at me, as if to mock. "I told you I'd look after her if you screwed up."

  Declan jumped at me before I launched at Marc. I fought him off, but Dan got in the way.

  "CALM DOWN, CHASE!" Dan yelled in my face. "We know she is fine so calm the hell down. Smashing Marc up won't change anything."

  "It will make me feel better," I gritted out.

  "It's always about you, isn't it?" Marc swallowed the rest of his beer. Dan couldn't stop me even if he wanted to. I dragged Marc out of the armchair and smashed him down on to the glass coffee table, smashing it into pieces. He groaned in pain, but he better start praying to God because I had only just started.

  I had my hand around his neck when Dan and Declan grabbed a shoulder each and pulled me off him.

  "Come on, guys. I liked that table." Oliver grumbled and went to help Marc up. Marc just smacked his hand away and pulled himself up.

  "WHERE IS SHE?" I yelled over Dan and Declan.

  "I don't bloody know now!" Marc cursed back at me, "I think you broke my bloody back!"

  "That's not all that's going to be broken once I'm finished with you."

  Dan and Declan's grip on me tightened as they held me back.

  "I'll call her, okay!" Marc picked his phone up off the ground.

  "YOU HAVE HER NUMBER?" Was he making me go insane on purpose? How many times had I asked them if they had it?

  "Like I said, I'm looking out for her," Marc said, the words coming off his lips, and I charged, knocking Dan and Declan back. I wouldn't feel better until I got a few good punches in.

  My fist connected with his jaw, and suddenly all my built-up frustration was coming out but he wasn't taking it willingly, punching me back with just as much force.

  Oliver and Archie pulled at Marc, while Dan and Declan pulled at me. We brothers didn't grow up without the odd punch-up. Normally, we always backed off before it got serious, but it crossed serious as soon as
Marc said he kept Chloe's number from me.

  "Fuck off, Chase!" He punched me and pushed me back. "Look, I'll call her okay?" He picked his phone back up, which was amongst the broken glass.

  "Put it on loudspeaker." If he knew what was good for him, he would bloody well listen. He was still within reach. He rolled his eyes. Suddenly, the only sound in the room was the ringing and the panting of my brothers from pulling us apart.

  "Hey Marc," Chloe answered, not sounding the least bit angry with him. She picked up his phone call. She gave him her number. I guess I should be thankful at least now I could hear her.

  "Chloe, when are you coming home?" Marc basically roared at her and looked at me. "Chase wants to know."

  "You told him you had my number?" She sounded surprised. Why didn't she want me to have it? Would she rather I crawl through the city looking for her?

  "Regretfully yes. If I hadn't, he would have had us searching the city for you." Marc left out the part where I had had him searching the city for her.

  "Well, tell him not to worry. I'm fine." She sounded fine. Busy even.

  "When is she coming home?" I said to Marc, trying my best not to scream it at her. She had no idea how insane I was feeling right now. Ready to tear this place apart. Fuck it, I was ripping into Marc like this was his fault.

  "He doesn't want to know if you are okay. He wants to know when you are coming home." Marc gave me a pointed look. I rolled my eyes. Of course he would make a point to make it sound like I didn't care about her.

  "I'm at work now, once I finish, I'll get a cab…"

  Work. What the hell?

  "Work? What do you mean work?" Marc laid into her, asking her the same darn question I was thinking.

  "I got a job." She said simply. Like it wasn't a big deal and anybody can walk out and get a job within nine hours.

  "Between now and the time you left me?" Marc checked, sounding as surprised as me.

  "What can I say? I'm a quick worker. Look, I have to go. Just tell Chase I'm fine and give him my number." Chloe sounded distracted. Like I was the last thing on her mind. Where was she working? More importantly, what was she doing?

  "You sure you want to talk to him? Cause I won't be able to stop him from messaging you," Marc scoffed, knowing I would abuse the number as soon as he gave it to me.

  "Yeah, yeah, it's fine. I have to go." Chloe didn't seem to care whatsoever. "Bye Marc."