by Piper Frost
All I can do is stand here and watch her leave, my feet cemented to the fucking floor because I have to respect what she wants to do and if she's more comfortable away from me... Fuck!
Mother fucking Sarah.
“Fuck!” I scream, and all the anger comes out in one fucking swipe of the front counter, sending everything that was on it crashing to the ground. “Shit!”
This is why I haven't done relationships in years. Because somehow I always fuck shit up. I fucking swore to myself it'd be different, I fucking knew it'd be different with her. Because the way I feel about her is different than it's ever been for any other girl. And now all I feel is white-hot motherfucking rage.
“Chill out, Chase. God. What the fuck do you like a girl like that for anyway? You two are complete opposites,” Sarah goes on bitching.
“That's why! Because she's goddamned perfect, and I'm not! Because trash like me makes piss poor decisions every day of his life!” I wave my arms at her. “And for once in my life, it's been so fucking amazing being around someone that's just...happy!” As she stares at me with her lip curled, I can't take it anymore. “Get out,” I finally say.
“What?” She gapes. “Are you fuckin' serious? How about we grab a few beers and you chill out.” She walks toward me.
“I swear to god, Sarah, I've never gotten physical with a fucking girl before but if you don't get the fuck out of this shop right now I don't know if I'll be able to stop myself from throwing you out that door.” I clench my fists at my side, shaking from anger. Anger that I fucking let Sarah go that far because I was too fuckin' stupid to kick her out sooner.
I knew she'd do it too. These are the stupid ideas this girl has in her head. Like she's had me so she feels she has a right to scare off anyone else that wants me. I haven't felt this much rage since Vegas.
“Okay, let's go.” Grant grabs her arms and starts walking her out. “Out you go.” When he shoves her out the door, he locks it behind him then holds up some money. “Kaydence gave me this. It's for her tattoo. I didn't realize what it was for but she asked what her tattoo would normally cost. I'm just realizing now, you probably didn't charge her though.” He crosses toward the counter and starts picking up the mess I made.
I watch him, unable to move because if I do I feel like I'm going to burn shit.
“Give me the money,” I blurt, shoving my hand out to him.
“It's in the draw—”
“Give me the fucking money!” I bellow and he chuckles, opening the drawer and dropping the stack of cash in my palm.
“Maybe you should go upstai—”
“Shut up,” I cut him off then make a beeline for the door.
I have to make this right. I can't let her think I'm okay with the shit Sarah pulled tonight, and by me letting her sit at home alone that's exactly what I'm doing. After checking the empty bar for her, I speed to the ranch, windows down and the fall air whipping my face, trying to cool me off because I'm livid and I can't talk to her this mad. When my truck swings into the driveway of the Kenshaws' house, I kill the lights and hop out. I don't even know where my goddamned girlfriend lives. I know it's on this property, but now I have to go through Brandt to figure out how to get there.
I knock on his door, praying I'm not waking any of the kids up. He swings the door open almost immediately.
“Jesus, clothes would be nice,” I blurt, looking away from his shirtless chest.
“You randomly show up at my door at ten at night and bitch at me about wearing a shirt?” He crosses his arms in front of him. “What do you want, Chase?”
“I need to know where Kay lives.” I finally look at him again and he looks pissed. “Please, Brandt.”
He takes a deep, hopefully calming, breath and nods across the field. “The house back by the creek. But Chase, if you already fucked things up with her you better start packing your bags.”
Ignoring his comment, I turn and jog back to my truck, flipping him the bird on the way. I know the house he's talking about. His dad built it a while back but I thought for more storage, or even a place for the kids to play. It was like a life-sized dollhouse. Only makes sense that's where she lives.
When I pull into her driveway the truck is barely in park before I'm out and knocking on her front door.
“Kaydence,” I call out, starting to panic that she's already finished with me.
The door whips open only a minute later and her brother's glaring at me with a scowl I want to punch off his face. “What the fuck are you doing?” He sizes me up.
“Where's your sister?” I want to shove past him and storm inside, but he looks like he'd fight me on it and that's the last thing I need tonight, even if I want to really fucking bad.
“Ever hear of a fucking phone?” He steps out the door onto the porch and closes it behind him.
“Dude, I don't have time for stupid shit. I can come talk to her whenever I want to!” I snap, attempting to walk around him but he moves into my way. “Is she in there?”
“Why don't you get the fuck off my porch? I don't know if you're drunk or high, but how about you try using a phone. Get the fuck off my porch.”
I growl, shoving my hands through my hair. “I'm not leaving this goddamned house until I talk to your sister, Tyler. I'm almost ten years older than you and can snap you in fucking two with one goddamned arm. So you can let me the fuck in this house, or we can do this the hard way. I've had a shit night, don't fuckin' push me.” I'm almost chest to chest with him.
“I said get the fuck off my porch!” He shoves me down the steps and the second I land on my feet, I go to charge him but the door opens and Kaydence rushes out, grabbing Tyler before I can tackle him.
“What's going on?” she blurts, standing in between us.
“Your brother's lookin' to start a fight,” I say through heavy breaths. I came here to fucking calm myself, but this is making it a hundred times worse.
“Tyler.” She looks over at him and they exchange some look before he walks back inside, slamming the door behind him. “Chase?” she questions like I'm breaking her damn heart all over again.
“I just need to talk, Kay.” I shake my head. “I had to see you. I had to make sure you're okay. We're okay.” I walk back up on the porch, hesitantly taking steps toward her. “Are you okay?”
“I'm fine, Chase,” she claims and moves quickly to stand in front of me. She grabs my arms. “I'm perfectly fine. Why are you so upset?”
“Because Sarah was being a royal cunt to you. And it upset you. And I let it happen then you left and I can't lose you. I just finally got something good in my life, I can't have you running away because of that.” I cup her head in my hands, really needing to kiss her. To know that we're okay.
She grips my wrists. “She's not a royal...she's not that. A cunt, Chase.” She shakes her head, looking away. “She's just...sad, misunderstood, jealous.” With a shrug, a soft smile lifts her lips. “And we're okay. We're perfect.” Leaning up on her toes, she kisses me softly before landing on flat feet again.
“You're not at all mad about that?” My brows dip as I stare into those beautiful eyes. “What she did was incredibly bitchy. I kicked her out. She didn't get her tattoo done. I don't think I'm going to let her come back either.”
“Don't lose clients over me.” She chuckles then glances toward the house. “Come in, it's chilly out tonight.” She grips my hand and pulls me to the door and I worry Tyler's going to start shit again, but as we enter he's not around. “You want something? I don't have beer, but maybe some coffee?” She pulls me to the kitchen.
“Water?” I can finally feel my heart slowing down, so coffee probably isn't the best idea right now. With her smile set, she gets me a glass of water. “Thank you.” I take long, deep breaths because I'm still coming down from that. I watch as she fills a glass for herself and turns against the counter, leaning on it. When she smiles at me it's like nothing that happened tonight's even bothered her. “Why'd you let Sarah walk all over y
ou like that?”
Her mouth opens as she stares at me but doesn't say anything for a minute. “It's no big deal. I don't need your friends to like me to be with you. I think her feelings were hurt that you and her...” She glances away and when I remain silent for a few minutes she walks toward me, pushing herself into my lap.
“Had shitty, meaningless sex? Is that what you're looking for?” My lips lift into a smirk and she rolls her eyes.
“Yeah.” She stands and crosses her kitchen.
“You gonna get all weird every time we come across a girl I've been with? 'Cause if so, this may not be the right town to start this relationship in.” I raise my eyebrows and stand, crossing the kitchen to be near her, needing to touch her. I slide my arms around her and press my lips to the top of her head.
“It doesn't bother me, Chase. We've both slept with other people. It's life. I'm not getting weird.”
I hold her tight against me because she's being weird and she can't seem to stay in one place tonight. I've never had anything like this, with any other human being. The need to make sure she's happy. To make sure she's not just suppressing shit. It's terrifying to think that I care about her this much after just a couple weeks of knowing her.
“You want to stay over?” she asks, her fingers sliding to the scruff on my face. Her eyes hit mine and I can't say no to this girl. Not that I would even want to.
“Absolutely,” I whisper, pushing my lips to hers softly. “Hey, you promise if shit ever bothers you, you'd actually talk to me about it, right? I can take it, you know.”
She giggles and pulls away. “Chase, I'm fine, really. Let's move this to my bedroom. I don't want Tyler to come out here.” Taking my hand, she flips off the kitchen light and leads me down a short hall past a closed bedroom door. “The house isn't that big.” Like I said. Life-sized dollhouse. “You just got the whole tour in a few steps.” She chuckles and closes the door behind us before flipping on her bedroom light.
“Small spaces are easier to clean.” I smile at her. “Your positivity is starting to wear off on me.” I laugh. “That bed comfortable?”
“So comfortable,” she boasts and moves my jacket that she took the other day and hasn't given back. Not that I mind. It's kind of fuckin' adorable.
“You enjoying my jacket?” I ask, sitting on her bed. It feels awkward being in here. Like she's hiding me from her brother or something. That better not be the case, because fuck him.
She grins at me and pulls her sweatshirt off, wearing a tight tank that stops before her navel. “Hmm…I don't know what you're talking about. You want something to eat? Did you eat?”
I laugh off the lie. “I'm good. I lost my appetite earlier and haven't found it since.” My eyes find her nipples and I can't fucking tear them away.
Her lips pull into a frown and she walks toward me. “I didn't eat either. What would help you find your appetite?” She grins and moves closer, biting her lip.
My hands move on their own accord, gripping her hips then sliding up her sides, under her tank, and stopping just short of her breasts. “I could think of a few things,” I murmur before leaning in and pressing my lips to her stomach.
Her fingers slide into my hair and she releases a quiet moan that makes me stop. Her brother's room is right next door. I can't fuck her with her brother right next door.
“From here on out you're staying at my place, doll,” I whisper, looking up at her. “More privacy.” Her stomach growls and her eyes go wide, making me laugh.
“That's embarrassing.” She giggles and covers her stomach. “Stay right here. I'm going to grab us something to eat.” She slips out the door before I can stop her. As soon as the door closes, her purse falls from her small desk and the contents spill out onto the floor.
“Fuck,” I huff, sliding down to the floor to clean it up for her.
Why the hell do girls keep this much shit in their purses anyway? What the fuck is she doing carrying a ball of yarn around? God, there's so much stuff! I feel like I'm doing something wrong, going through her purse contents like this, but I'm just helping clean this up so she doesn't step on it all when she gets back in. I reach under the bed, because I swear something rolled under there, and my hand lands on a bottle. A pill bottle. I pull it out, and my eyebrows crease together as soon as I realize what I'm holding isn't a bottle of aspirin.
“What the hell?” I whisper.
Prozac? Why the fuck would she need Prozac? The girl's the happiest person I've ever seen, and she doesn't seem like someone that would need this. Not that there's anything fucking wrong with it, but Kaydence just doesn't strike me as the type. But then my mind flies to her new tattoo. And now I'm worried there's something I need to be asking her. But is that even my fucking place? She'd tell me shit like this if she wanted me to know, right?
I hear her walking down the hall so I hurry to shove everything else in and put the purse back on the desk, making it back to the bed just as she cracks the door open.
“Hey. That was fast,” I blurt, my eyes flicking to the purse then back to her. “What'd you find?”
“Jalapeno poppers, milk, and cookies.” Unloading, she starts to laugh. “I'm sorry. I haven't shopped in a few days.”
“This spread is amazing.” I scoot over on the bed for her. “I haven't had milk and cookies in so fucking long. Are these homemade?”
“If I lie and tell you they are, will it score me some Betty Crocker points?”
I bark out a laugh, shoving a cookie in my mouth. “Sure,” I say with a full mouth, then grin at her.
She brushes her thumb over my lip and smiles. “I'm glad you came tonight.”
“Me too.” When she takes a bite of a popper, cream cheese plops out the end of it and I laugh at her, wiping it off her leg. “I thought I was a pig when I ate,” I say, still laughing because she looks so embarrassed right now it's adorable.
“The popper came before you.” She gasps at her joke and covers her mouth, dropping back to the bed, laughing her ass off. “I'm sorry. That was awful!” She howls happily and I can't help but smile at her. There's no way this girl's on any type of depression meds. Those can't be hers in that purse and there wasn't a name to prove they are.
“I'm kind of shocked I didn't think of that one.” I lean over her and press my lips to hers. “You taste like poppers.”
“You taste like cookies. Sweet and spicy go together perfectly.” She smiles, sliding her fingers through my hair.
“Yes we do, don't we.” I murmur, then roll to the side of her and pull her against me, wrapping my arms tight around her. “Yeah, your bed's way more comfortable than mine.”
“You're welcome in my bed whenever you want.” She kisses my jaw.
It's amazing how all my tension is gone when I'm with her. I was so worked up earlier I convinced myself I was going to end the night in a fight and probably jail. Something that isn't abnormal for me. But somehow this girl managed to bring me off the fucking ledge and turn me into a fucking sap within a matter of an hour. Her fingers swirl in my hair, around and around, lulling me.
“Chase,” she whispers after we lay here a few minutes. I respond with a hum, almost asleep. “Jo and Kinlee are doing a friendsgiving bonfire later this month. You'll be there, right?”
Fuck me. Jo and Kinlee need to stop tryin' to get the group back together. We've all fuckin' grown out of that phase.
“I uh... I think I have to work that day,” I mumble, half asleep.
“Can you take the day off? So we can go together? I think maybe...” She shifts and is leaning on my chest, grinning at me while I stare at her through cracked eyelids. “Maybe it'd be a good time to let everyone know we're together. Officially? Not an announcement but, you know. We show up together. Stay together.” She pokes the cleft of my chin while grinning down at me.
“Or, better yet, you just come to my apartment that night and we fuck like crazy.” I need to accept the fact that I'm going to end up at this fucking 'friendsgiving' party.
Fuck.
“We can do that too.” She maneuvers to straddle my hips then she wiggles her ass. “But before that, we hang out with our friends, as a couple.”
I groan, gripping her hips to stop her wiggling on me. “Doll, I'm not fucking you with your brother next door. You're going to have to stop that,” I say before taking a deep breath, because control isn't something I have with her straddling me like this. “You really want me to go to that thing? It's gonna be weird. A bunch of my old friends I rarely talk to tryin' to hold on to their youth.”
“Chase, you can get older and stay friends. It's important to keep the people you care about close.” She moves to lay on top of me, her head resting on my chest. “Don't you think?”
“Absolutely,” I mumble, letting my hand smooth her hair down. “I'll go with you if you let me sleep,” I whisper.
“I'll let you sleep if you take off your pants. And your shirt. Just get naked.” She giggles, popping the button of my jeans.
“Sleep, Kaydence,” I groan, trying not to laugh at her and trying even harder not to give in to her, which is really goddamned hard.
“Did you really come here to sleep?” she whispers in my ear before nibbling while her hand starts to stroke my dick.
“Babe,” I blurt, shifting in bed. “I came here to make sure you were okay. To make sure we were okay.” I grip her hand in mine.
“Happiness is a choice. And I choose you. We're perfect, Chase.” Her tongue rims my lips and I groan.
“I'm happy you chose me. But I didn't come here for your brother to listen to us fuck. That shit's not going to happen tonight, especially since he was about to kick my ass when I showed up for even being on this property.”