by Anthology
Drew slumped in the chair and leveled me with a glare. “You have one minute. And then I’m reconsidering.”
I sat down on the edge of my bed, my palms flat on my shorts. I needed to word this just right this time, because hell if I was going to lose my best buddy over this. “How long have I known you and Em?”
He flipped his middle finger. “Too long. Maybe we need to change that.”
I stared him down, trying to convey I was trying to be sincere. “I’m serious, man.”
He rolled his eyes. “Twenty-two years.”
“And in those twenty-two years, have I ever done anything that would hurt Emily?”
He frowned, but didn’t argue. “No.”
This was going better than planned. He hadn’t tried to lunge at me once. I’d call that headway. “Then do you really think I’d do something with her just because of a bingo list?”
“No.” He paused and dropped the ice bag onto the table. “But, man, you didn’t see her after her breakup. I just don’t want to see her like that again.” There was a sadness that flickered in his eyes, and I could tell he just wanted his sister to be okay.
I sighed. I got it, I really did, but this wasn’t just a game to me. “I know, but I can’t help how I feel. I couldn’t pass up this chance.” I pushed back the lump in my throat. “I love her. It’s always been her.”
His lip curled and he guffawed. “That’s not how it came out earlier today.”
Thank you, Captain Obvious. The whole restaurant knew that by now. “I’m well aware of that. I have a lot of damage control ahead of me.” I held my head in my hands. “But I promise you, I’d never try to hurt her. I really care about Em. And I might be a shitty friend, but I just can’t ignore my feelings anymore.”
He nodded and looked resigned to this fact. “I get it. And if anyone was going to date her, I’d want it to be a guy like you.”
“We’re cool?”
He smirked. “Yeah.”
“So you’re okay if I date her?” That was a big if, because after what went down in the dining hall, I wasn’t so sure that she’d give me a second chance.
“Yeah.” He reached out with his uninjured hand and gave me a fist bump. “But if you ever hurt her, I will kill you.”
The first smile of the day crossed my lips. “I know.”
Looked like I still had a best friend. Now it was time to get the girl.
Chapter 11
Emily
I managed to avoid Chase for the remainder of the day. Now, all I had to do was make it through tonight and tomorrow morning, have Drew and Melissa sit between us on the flight and I’d never have to see him again. A genius plan. One that sounded downright dreadful, because never seeing Chase again would mean no more chubby bunny contests, no more Breakfast Club quotes, and definitely no more kicking his ass at Mario. And that just sounded downright depressing.
“You’re sure he’s with Drew in the casino?”
Melissa nodded. “Yep. Just you and me doing some karaoke, chica.”
Awesome. Girls’ Night sounded way better than seeing Chase’s face. His adorable face with dimples and blue eyes that matched Cozumel’s water. Yeah, I needed to stop thinking about him. I was just another task on his bingo sheet, and I didn’t want anything to do with that.
“What song do you want to sing?” She handed me the three-ringed binder of available songs.
“I’m feeling some Christina.”
She squealed and fist pumped. “Me too. Duet?”
I smiled, the first genuine one all day, and nodded. We handed the DJ our song choice and waited until our name was called. Not many people were in this section of the ship tonight since there was a wet T-shirt contest going on at the Star Bar. Chase was probably there. Not that I cared, because after I got home tomorrow he’d never be on my mind again. Yeah, maybe if I kept telling myself that, I’d start believing it.
Before I could really hone in on the inner-sulking, the DJ called, “Next up is Melissa and Emily singing Genie in a Bottle.”
My stomach flip-flopped as I walked up to the stage area with Melissa. Being in the spotlight had never been my thing, but I’d have to get used to it if I’d have a career as a lawyer. Plus I didn’t know any of these people, so even if I made a fool out of myself, no one would remember the next day.
The DJ handed us both a microphone and motioned for us to stand by the little TV that fed lyrics on to the screen as the song played.
“Ready to rock this?” Melissa whispered. Her hair was pulled into a high ponytail and bobbed from side to side with each little head movement.
“Heck yes.” And at that moment I was thankful for my best friend and her ability to take boy troubles off my mind.
The music started and I found myself tuning out the people sitting at tables and booths around us and channeled my inner Christina. By the time the song was over, I felt a million times better and now I understood why Chase loved karaoke so much. For a minute you got to be someone else, play a part. And maybe that’s what we were doing last night; playing a role, making one last mistake before we got out into the real world.
But last night didn’t feel like a role. It felt like us—just me and Chase, no worries in the world. Making a connection that I’d never felt with anyone else. And even though I was still pissed at him, I wished he was here to see me totally own that song.
When we finished our last note, people in the audience whistled and clapped for us. And for the first time today, I was truly happy. Melissa high-fived me as we walked off the stage area and sat back at our table. She leaned over in her seat and said, “Can’t wait to hear the next person. I peeked at the sheet and they picked a Spice Girls song. I mean, c’mon, everyone knows they were so two years ago.”
I smiled, thinking back to the conversation I’d had with Chase and how he said he could hit Baby Spice’s notes. A pang hit square in my chest. Seriously, was everything going to remind me of him, or was this just a temporary effect that would eventually wear off?
Melissa took a sip of water and immediately spit it out, the spray hitting my arm. “Holy shit.”
I grabbed a napkin off the table and wiped my arm. “Say it, don’t spray it, M.”
“No, really. Look.” She pointed, in complete awe.
As my eyes scanned the floor, the DJ announced, “Next up is Chase singing Spice Girls’ Wannabe.”
My jaw dropped as I spotted Chase. “Oh my god.” I started giggling.
Chase clicked on his microphone and looked straight at me as he said, “This one’s for you, Em.”
Girls sitting in the tables around us awwed at his dedication. And really, it was pretty cute. Even if I only got just a night with him, he was still the sweetest guy I knew. Sad to think I’d never have a real shot with him.
As the song began, his eyes took on this far-away glaze as if he was in his own zen karaoke zone. And when he opened his mouth, he actually hit notes he was supposed to hit and made them sound decent. He kept his gaze on me the whole time and any ill-will I’d felt for him earlier started to melt away. Slightly. Yes, I was still disappointed he didn’t want anything more than this weekend, but I had my life in New York to look forward to, I had law school. I just wished I had someone to share it with, namely Chase.
As the song ended, cheers erupted from all the tables around us and Chase bowed. I shook my head and laughed as he handed the microphone to the DJ and came over to our table. He gave a sheepish grin and asked, “Can I sit with you guys?”
Melissa looked from me to Chase and when I gave her a quick nod of assurance, she stood up. “I was just going to get some more water. Em, you want anything?”
“I’m good, thanks.” The thing I wanted most was standing right in front of me. Close, but just out of reach, which made it all the more bittersweet that I had one amazing night with him.
Melissa disappeared to the bar and Chase sat down in her seat. He grabbed my hand and ran his thumb over my knuckles, which sent a wave o
f goosebumps skittering over my skin. “I’m so sorry about this morning.”
I shook my head and reluctantly pulled my hand away. “You have nothing to be sorry about. You were being honest and you’re right. It’s just a cruise.” I cast my gaze down, unable to look at him when I said, “We were having fun, that’s all.” Even saying that grated against every fiber of my being. Total bull crap. But saving face felt a lot better than the alternative—setting myself up for failure.
Chase dragged his teeth over his bottom lip and the skin between his brows pulled together. “I’m sorry you see it that way.”
I nodded. “I do.” I so did not. But it was safer this way, right?
He let out a loud sigh and scooted his chair closer to mine. “The thing is, I don’t see us as a one-night thing.” He pulled his sheet out of his pocket. “And it sure as hell wasn’t for a stupid bingo game.” In one swift movement, he tore the paper in half, and both pieces of paper floated to the ground.
“No?” I allowed myself a glimmer of hope. Maybe I hadn’t given Chase enough credit. He was nothing like Brandon. In the years I’d known him, he’d been nothing but great to me—minus the whole spitball thing.
He mashed his lips together and his bright blue eyes shone in the light. “I want you every night. For as long as you’ll have me.”
My pulse hummed in my ears and time seemed to slow down. “Really? But what about the distance? It’ll be tough.”
His warm gaze washed over me. “So? We work through it.”
“And we’ll hardly ever see each other,” I offered, fighting for any sense of reason why this wouldn’t work.
He took a moment, seeming to ponder what I’d said. “There’s the phone. And I’ll write you letters.”
“But what if you find someone else?” Which was the scariest option of all. Because Chase was a total catch, and to lose him would be infinitesimally worse than the wreckage of my last relationship, and that scared the hell out of me.
He took my hand, and this time I let him thread his fingers through mine. “I’ve been in love with you for years. I know that we’re going to live across the country from each other, but we can make it work. I can visit you in New York, and we’ll call each other every day. Plus there’s always AIM.” He cleared his throat and ran his hand through his hair. “If you want me, I’m yours.”
For the second time today, tears welled in my eyes. “Yes.” I wanted that more than anything. I’d never felt this way for anyone and knew deep down that nothing would keep us apart.
He leaned in and swept his lips over mine, that familiar warmth spreading over my skin. And in that moment, I realized no matter where I ended up, Chase would always be home to me.
Other books by Jennifer Blackwood
Drexler University Series
Unethical
Foolproof