by J. Nathan
He eventually released my hand and turned to his door, pulling it open.
I walked back around to my side and got in.
I expected him to turn the car around in the overlook, but he didn’t. He pulled back out onto the road and continued driving along the coast. I wanted to ask what he was thinking. If we were going to move forward as enemies or friends. But the fear of him turning on me, weighed heavy on my mind and caused my lips to remained zipped.
A short time later, Chase hit his blinker again and turned into a gravel parking lot where a food truck sat parked. Once he cut the engine, he hopped out of the car. I followed him to the food truck, where the menu was written on a chalkboard on the side of the truck. Everything contained shrimp. Good thing I liked seafood.
“See anything you’d like?” Chase asked.
“Shrimp tacos and fries.”
He smiled before turning to the worker in the truck. “Make it two.” He pulled out his money.
“I have money,” I said, reaching for my back pocket.
Again, he reached out and grabbed my arm. This time his hand elicited tingles in the spot.
Dammit.
“You’re not paying,” he assured me.
I relaxed as he released my arm and paid the guy in the truck.
“Come on.” He led me to a picnic table where we could wait for our food.
We sat on opposite sides and both stared out at the view.
“You’re quiet,” Chase said.
“I don’t really know what to say,” I admitted, my eyes still on the coast.
I could sense him nodding, as if he understood my sentiments.
“Did I do something to make you hate me when we first met?” My eyes moved from the ocean back to him.
He grabbed hold of the hat on his head and twisted it back around so it sat backward on his head. “I’m a complicated guy.”
“Sounds like a load of BS.”
He scoffed.
“Am I wrong?”
He shrugged.
“I think you’re confused. Like you want to hate me, but you can’t.”
“Oh, I definitely can and have.”
“See? That’s what I don’t get. What did I ever do to you?”
He pegged me with his eyes. “You came to Houston.”
I flinched, his words blowing all clear thoughts from my head.
“I had my whole semester planned out. All the things I needed to accomplish,” his eyes drifted from mine. “Then you showed up and threw everything on its head.”
My heart began to race. What was he talking about? How had I done that?
“I don’t want to like you, Sophia. But I do. And I don’t know what to do with that.” He glanced back to me. “And it’s pissing me the hell off.”
I pressed my lips together, not really sure what else to do in that moment. It confused me. It elated me. It messed with my head. There were two different versions of Chase. The protective, caring one. And the mean, bossy one. I just never knew who I’d get, and that pissed me off.
“So, I guess I picked you up today because I needed to see if I did something nice for you if you’d smile at me the way you smile at fucking Ryan.”
My eyes widened. “Do you want me to smile at you like I smile at him?”
He shrug-nodded, such an unfamiliar vulnerability emanating from him.
“Then be nice to me. I’m not your enemy.”
“It’s not that easy.”
“Try me,” I said.
“I want to. But I can’t.”
“Sounds like the line you fed Chantel.”
His brows drew in. “What line?”
“You don’t have time to date anyone. But if you did, it would be her. You talk in circles.”
He rolled his eyes.
“Don’t roll your eyes. Those words are what keep her coming back to you. That or the sex.”
He burst out laughing.
“What’s so funny?”
“Order three!” the guy from the food truck called, interrupting our discussion.
Chase stood and walked over to the truck. I took that moment to release the breath I’d unknowingly been holding. What the hell was going on? He liked me? He doesn’t want to, but he does? What world was he living in? What world was I living in?
He returned with our food, placing mine in front of me as he sat back down across from me.
We ate in silence for a bit, the crash of the waves the soundtrack to our meal.
He wiped his mouth with his napkin. “Why’d you choose Maine?”
“I wanted to get away from Texas.”
His eyes drifted toward the water as if he were considering my answer. “You mean you wanted to get away from a guy?”
Though he wasn’t looking at me, I shook my head. “I tore my ACL playing soccer my senior year in high school.”
He looked back to me, surprise filling his eyes.
“I had a scholarship to play D1 soccer at the University of Texas that went out the window once I got hurt.”
“That sucks.”
I shrugged, not looking for sympathy. “I just got sick of all the looks of pity around town, so I made the decision to get far away. To try to forget the dream I lost. To start over.”
“So, what happened that you’re back?”
“It snowed. A lot.”
He smiled. “Why aren’t you playing soccer now? Crestwood has a team.”
“I’m just not into it anymore.”
“Sounds like BS.”
“Excuse me?”
“I seem to recall you telling me you don’t back down from a challenge. When you’re pushed, you always push back.”
I chewed on my bottom lip, hating to have my own words thrown in my face. “Maybe I don’t want to admit I’ll never be as good as I once was.” Wow. I’d never actually admitted that out loud. Why of all people had I admitted it to Chase? “Why’d you choose Washington?” I asked, desperately needing to swing the conversation from me.
“How’d you know I transferred from Washington?”
“It’s a small school. Doesn’t everyone know everyone else’s business?”
He shrugged, neither confirming nor denying. “I guess I just wanted to see other places.”
“But now you’re back?”
“I was needed back home.”
“Your family needed you?” I asked.
“Something like that.”
“Is home Houston?”
He nodded.
“I’m surprised you’re in a frat.”
“Why?”
“Just doesn’t seem like your scene,” I said.
“How do you know?”
I cocked my head. “You have to talk and be nice to people when you’re in a frat.”
He laughed, and the raspy sound was slowly becoming familiar to me.
I grabbed a fry and said, “Can I ask you something?”
“Do I have a choice?”
“No.” I said, eating the fry.
He nodded.
“Did you ever meet Sydney Lane?”
Something unrecognizable flashed in his eyes. It was like the mention of her name put everyone at Crestwood on edge. He shook his head. “Why?”
“Her mom was on campus the other day.”
His head flinched back. “She was?”
I nodded. “She was so sad.”
“You spoke to her?”
“I could see she needed to talk to someone.”
“Jesus Christ,” he mumbled, as his eyes drifted out to the ocean.
“Chantel wasn’t happy when she saw us together.”
His eyes shot back to mine. “She saw you with Sydney Lane’s mom?”
“She thought I already knew her.”
“What’d Chantel say?” he asked, suddenly very interested.
“Just that Sydney’s family was to blame for the sorority being closed.”
“Sounds like Chantel,” he said.
“Did she ever show an
y kind of sadness after it happened—you did hang out last year, right?”
He nodded. “Chantel’s hard to read. Her emotions always contradict themselves.” He lifted his chin toward my empty plate. “You done?”
My lips twisted regrettably, knowing that was his way of ending yet another conversation. “Yup.”
He grabbed our plates and tossed them into a nearby garbage can. I followed him to the car. He pulled open the passenger door for me.
“Thanks,” I said, slipping past him and into my seat.
He closed my door and made his way into the driver’s seat. As soon as the car roared to life, he turned up the music and drove us back to campus. The volume left no room for conversation. And that was fine by me. The whole day had taken me by complete surprise, and we only risked spoiling it with words.
When he stopped in front of my dorm a little while later, he finally lowered the music.
I looked over at him. “Thanks for today. I had a surprisingly nice time.”
He chuckled. “Nice, huh?”
“I’ll see you Monday.” I pushed open my door and stepped out.
“Soph,” he said, the nickname rolling off his tongue smooth and sexy and rippling through my stomach like a swarm of bees.
I turned back to face him.
“I had a surprisingly nice time, too,” he said.
Smiling, I closed the passenger door and walked to the entrance of my dorm. I didn’t dare look back. Chase hadn’t pulled away yet, and I really didn’t want to see his pretty eyes staring back at me.
What in the world had just happened? Had we actually shared a nice day together? Had we come to an understanding? And if we had, what did it all mean?
Whatever it meant, I knew one thing for certain. I was so screwed.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
I stood at the mirror, sweeping a little blush onto my cheeks before leaving for History through Film Monday morning. Normally, I ignored such primping, but I hadn’t seen or heard from Chase since our trip Saturday, so…
“Hey,” Chantel said as she stepped into our room, dropping her overnight bag by the door.
I plastered on a fake smile. “How was the wedding?”
“Good. I got back last night and spent the night at Chase’s.”
I steeled my features as jealously swirled in my stomach. I hated that it did. He and I were nothing to each other.
Chantel pegged me with her eyes. “He always knows how to welcome me home.”
I bet he does. I grabbed my backpack off my chair a little rougher than I intended. “I’ve got class. I’ll see you later.” I walked out of the room and hurried down the hall, my mind whirling.
Did our day together mean nothing? Was it just another day to him? He said he didn’t want to like me but he did. Was that just a line? Had I just read too much into him being jealous over Ryan?
Anger mixed with foolishness still coursed through me a few minutes later when I walked into class. Chase’s seat was empty. Good. I didn’t know what I’d say to him anyway.
Professor Irons walked into the classroom, speaking before he even placed down his briefcase. “I returned your papers in the portal. Did you all check your grades?”
I opened my laptop and checked the portal. The comment in the side margin of our paper read: This would have been an A+. Next time get your work in on time! B+
I groaned.
I felt Chase slip into his seat beside me. “What?” he asked.
Without looking at him, I turned my laptop so he could see the screen.
“Well, that sucks,” he said. “I thought he’d forget it was late.”
I scoffed.
“Your next paper is due Friday,” Professor Irons began. “I think you’re really going to enjoy the movies I selected for you this time.”
“How many movies?” a guy in front asked.
Professor Irons’ eyes lit up. “Two. And they’re classics.” He handed out the assignment to the people in front of each row and they passed it back to us.
As I reviewed the requirements, people around me groaned.
“Looks like I’m gonna have to carry us again,” Chase said, attempting a joke.
I ignored his comment. Did he really think I was that stupid? Didn’t he really think Chantel and I wouldn’t cross paths once she left his room?
“Wanna get started tonight?” he asked.
“I’m sure you and Chantel will be meeting up like last night,” I said, finally turning to look at him. See? Not stupid. “Wouldn’t want to get in the way of that.”
His eyes held mine. “Nope. No plans with anyone but you.”
Professor Irons began his lecture, and I turned my attention to him. I spent the entire time ignoring Chase who spent the majority of class staring at me.
What did he want from me? If this was some kind of game, I wasn’t playing.
Once Professor Irons dismissed us, I gathered my things and hurried out of class. I quickly made it down the hallway and stairwell, stepping outside the building where I could finally breathe.
Despite the breeze and chattering of students hurrying to their classes, I still heard the unwelcome sound of Chase’s voice. “Sophia!”
I quickened my pace toward my next class, knowing I had nothing to say to him. We were nothing to each other. There was no reason for me to be mad. And there was no reason for him to explain. I just felt so stupid for believing he wasn’t the guy I initially thought he was.
“Would you hold up?” Chase said, stepping in front of me and stopping me in my tracks.
I huffed. “What?”
“You never answered me about working on the project.”
My eyebrows climbed. “That’s what you wanted?”
He stared out at the bustling quad, avoiding my eyes. “Yeah.”
He was such a liar. “I can’t.”
His eyes dropped to mine. “Why not?”
“I have plans.”
His browns cinched in the middle. “With who?”
Hadn’t thought that far ahead. “Ryan,” I lied.
His eyes darkened, anger looming in them. “Why?”
“Because I like him. And I don’t have to hate myself for liking him. It’s easy. And he makes me smile.” There, asshole. How do you like it?
He buried his hands in the front pockets of his jeans. “Are you hanging out at the house?”
“Don’t even tell me I’m not welcome.”
“That’s not why I’m asking.”
“Then, why? Will Chantel be there and you wanna hang out all together?”
Again, his eyes darted away from mine.
I stepped around him and took off to my next class, leaving him a distant memory—at least for the time being.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
After dinner with Valerie, I returned to my room, thankful Chantel wasn’t there—but wishing I wasn’t curious where she was.
I pulled out my laptop and spent the next few hours completing my Art History assignment about the evolution of the female form. I based my support on various ancient works of art, and it turned out to be a fascinating assignment. Once I uploaded my essay to the portal—which I knew how to do, thank you very much—I tucked my laptop away and ducked out of the room to conduct my pre-bed routine. When I returned, I tucked my toiletries away in my closet.
There was a knock on the door. I stepped away from the closet and approached it. “Who is it?”
“Ryan.”
Ryan? I pulled open the door. “Hey.”
He held up a bag. “I brought you something.”
I eyed it. “What is it?”
“Can I come in?”
“Do you have rope or handcuffs in that bag?”
His eyes widened. “Whoa. What kind of visit do you think this is?”
“I didn’t mean…” My cheeks pulsed with heat. “I meant…Lifetime movies…kidnapping.”
He laughed. “I’m joking. I knew what you meant. And, no. No kidnapping. Not tonight, anyway.
”
I moved out of the way to let Ryan in. He wasn’t as tall as Chase, so he didn’t fill the space the way Chase did when he’d been in my room. “So, what is it?” My eyes motioned to the bag.
Ryan held it out to me.
I took it from his hand. It was heavier than I expected. I leaned against my desk chair and looked inside. I laughed.
“So?” he asked.
I reached inside and pulled out a small billiards trophy. The golden plaque on the front of it read, Billiards Champion Kappa Sigma Fraternity. “Wow. I’m honored. Did you have this made?”
He nodded. “That’s why it took a little while to come in.”
“Well, thanks,” I said, turning and placing it on my desk. “I think it looks perfect right there.”
“And, for the sake of total disclosure, I may have had ulterior motives in bringing that by.”
My eyebrows lifted in question.
“I was hoping I could maybe take you out,” he said. “Seeing as though for some reason Chase already thinks I am.”
I winced. “Yeah, about that.”
“No need to explain,” he said. “I played along, so he totally thinks we’re hanging out tonight.”
“Thanks.”
He shrugged. “Just say you’ll go out with me this weekend.”
“Oh. I…”
His hopeful eyes stared into mine. I had no reason to turn him down, especially now that he covered for my little lie. Besides, I was single and could do what I pleased.
“Sure,” I said.
A huge smile spread across his face. “Great. Let me get your phone.”
I grabbed my phone off my desk, unlocked it, and handed it to him.
He dialed his number and his phone rang. He handed it back to me. “I’ll call you this week.”
I nodded. “’Okay.”
He moved to the door and pulled it open. “Bye Sophia,” he said as he disappeared into the hallway.
I closed the door and moved to my bed. I dropped down with a humph, unsure how I felt about my impending plans with Ryan. Like I’d told Chantel after I met him at that first party, Ryan really wasn’t my type. But he looked so hopeful when he asked, and I just couldn’t bring myself to say no—or confess why I’d told Chase we were going out in the first place.
There was another knock on my door.
I stood and approached the door, thinking for sure Ryan must’ve left something behind and was coming back to retrieve it. I pulled open the door.