Chasing Each Other

by J. D. Rivera

  “Hi,” I called, letting them know I was home.

  “Oh! Hey!” Kristin replied, her face lighting up with a smile.

  Carson came around the counter and pulled me into a side hug, whispering, “Why haven’t I paid attention to her before?” A huge smile spread across his face. Holy shit! He likes her! I hoped he really liked her and it wasn’t about just sleeping with her.

  “Can I talk to you for a second?” I asked him. “In my room. It’s about Hayes.”

  I pulled him down the hallway and slammed the door behind us. “Why do you need to talk to me about Hayes?” he questioned, confusion written all over his face.

  “I don’t.” I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at him. “You better not be using Kristin. She doesn’t need that right now. Especially tonight.”

  He threw his head back, laughing. “Nice to see that’s how you really think of me.”

  “I love you, Carson, but you can’t deny that you sleep around. I don’t want you to hurt her. You know how Sam strung you along?” He nodded. “Well, that’s what Adam did to her. So, please don’t hurt her.”

  “I don’t plan on sleeping with her. She seems…nice. I mean, if you can get over all the flowers everywhere.”

  “So, you what? Want to be friends with her?”

  “Sure, why not?” He walked toward the door, placing his hand on the knob. “I promise, I won’t hurt her. Okay?”

  “Okay.”

  He opened the door and I trailed him back into the living room where I fell onto the couch and he continued to the kitchen. They both came back into the living room a few minutes later wearing huge smiles and carrying a bowl of popcorn and three drinks.

  “22 Jump Street, okay?” Kristin asked.

  “I love that movie. Sounds perfect.”

  Carson sat down beside me with a smirk. “Do the characters remind you of your boyfriend?”

  “I will make sure to tell him you said that,” I said, stifling a laugh.

  “I wonder which one he is. Schmidt or Jenko?”

  “I’m positive he would be Channing Tatum’s character.” I nodded as a chuckle escaped my lips.

  “Hmm, I don’t know. Isn’t Mr. Detective blonde?”

  “Stop calling him that! His name is Brad.”

  “But calling him Brad doesn’t ruffle your feathers.”

  “Miranda,” Kristin began, “why have you never really introduced me to Carson before?” She had a twinkle in her eye and smitten grin across her face. It was nice to see her look that way.

  “I don’t know.” I eyed Carson with a huge smile while talking to Kristin. “I guess I just wanted to protect you. He’s kinda awful.”

  Carson laughed and threw a pillow at me. “Clark, I’ll show you awful! Don’t make me tell the story of when we were in high school and you peed your pants.”

  “That never happened. You liar!”

  He shrugged in response and winked at Kristin. Things were about to get interesting between those two, I could already tell.

  Chapter 26

  Brad

  “Last shot, make it count,” I told Miranda as she aimed the pistol toward the target. I watched her take a deep breath before releasing the trigger and I couldn’t help but think she looked sexy. She tore off her safety goggles and took off toward the target, excitement bubbling from her. I strolled up beside her, impressed with her aim. “That’s almost a bulls-eye.”

  “I know! Ha-ha!” I wrapped my arms around her from behind, kissing her neck and exposed shoulder. She turned, placing her hands on my chest. “What’s next?”

  I tightened my hold around her waist. “I think we should go inside and I’ll show you what I want to do next.”

  She popped up on her tiptoes, gently laying a kiss on my lips. “Or…we could go fishing.”

  “You want to go fishing now?”

  “I do,” she said. “I used to go all the time with my dad and brother. I loved it.”

  “Okay. Let’s go fishing.”

  After grabbing the fishing poles, tackle box, and cooler of water, we made our way to the pond. We both got our lines ready and began casting. It felt nice to do something as simple as fishing with her. My other girlfriends had always hated anything outdoorsy, but I loved being outside.

  “Are you and your brother close? You don’t talk about him much.”

  “Yeah,” she began, “I mean, we are, but we aren’t. He’s two years older than me and moved to Texas to go to college. He doesn’t come back that often…and you know, you just kinda drift apart. But I know he’ll always be there for me.”

  “What’s his name?” I asked.

  “Mitchell. We all call him Mitch.” Her reply was like a punch to the gut. Of all the freaking names in the world, it had to be the same as my old neighbor. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine,” I replied as I reeled in my fishing lure. I cast it again right before she stepped beside me. “I could’ve hooked you. I’m sorry.”

  “I was watching.” She wrapped her arms around my waist. “Wanna tell me why my brother’s name upset you?”

  “It’s nothing.”

  “It’s not nothing. Tell me.”

  I sighed as I let my free hand trail through her hair. “Mitchell was the last name of my neighbor who was murdered when I was a kid.”

  “Oh, baby, I’m so sorry.” And just like that, she had cheered me up.

  “Baby, huh?”

  She nodded. “Yep, I’m not creative enough to call you anything else.”

  “I was sure it would be hunk or something,” I replied just before kissing her.

  She pulled back slightly. “I don’t think I would ever call anyone ‘hunk’. Sorry. Although, you are a hunk.”

  I dropped my fishing pole before slamming my mouth on hers and fisting my hands in her hair. She grabbed my shirt, pulling me closer as a moan escaped her throat. The sound encouraged me, almost giving my tongue permission to seek entrance into her mouth. She parted her lips instantly and our tongues slid across each other. But it wasn’t enough. I needed more. I pulled back slightly, panting. “Why don’t we reel in our lines and go back to the house?”

  “Sounds good to me.” She grinned. In a split second, she was at her pole reeling it in as I did the same. We both tossed the poles on the ground, then collided again. At that moment, I realized we’d never make it to the house. Luckily, I’d slipped a condom in my wallet earlier.

  ***

  “You didn’t get hurt did you?” I asked, referring to the sticks and rocks lying on the ground.

  “No. I’m great, actually.” She laughed. “I can’t believe we just did that. Oh gosh, anyone could’ve seen us.”

  It was my turn to laugh. “Do you see anyone around, beautiful? I think we’re safe.”

  “Still…”

  I slanted my mouth over hers, kissing her softly. “Relax. We are on the back of the property with no neighbors. Nobody saw us.” I let my fingers trail through her hair and down her back to rest on her butt. “Do you want to find our clothes and maybe head back to have dinner?”

  “Yeah,” she said as she began to stand. I lay in the grass a few minutes longer, just admiring the view of her looking around for her clothes.

  “Stop looking at me and get dressed,” she demanded.

  “Maybe I’m just going to walk back naked?”

  “No, you are not. We’ll never make it back.” She picked up my pants, tossing them at me. “Now, get dressed.”

  I laughed. “Yes, ma’am.”

  We both threw our clothes on and grabbed our fishing supplies before heading to the house. We walked in silence, neither of us needing to say anything. We arrived at the house a short time later. “I brought some ground beef and stuff to make hamburgers in that bigger cooler.” I pointed. “I’ll grill the burgers if you’ll put the poles and tackle box back in the shed.”

  “Sounds good to me.” She left the house and I went to the sink to wash my hands. I was drying my hands when my
cell phone rang.

  “Hello,” I answered.

  “Hey. Are you busy?” my mom asked.

  I didn’t want to tell her I was busy because she wouldn’t tell me what she needed, but I didn’t want to say nothing either. “What’s up, Mom?”

  “I was wondering if you’d be free tomorrow to help me with something.”

  “Sure. What is it?” I asked, wishing she’d just spit it out.

  “My washing machine broke so I bought a new one. I need someone to hook it up.”

  “Sure. I’m out at Grandpa’s right now, so I’ll be around to help you tomorrow night. Is that okay? Or do you need it now?”

  “Tomorrow night is fine. Thanks.”

  “I gotta go. Bye, Mom.” I hung up just as Miranda entered the kitchen. She looked upset and wouldn’t look at me. “What happened?” I asked.

  “Nothing,” she replied, staring at her feet.

  I hated that she was hiding something from me. “Nothing’s wrong my ass. Tell me.”

  “I said it was nothing.” She finally looked at me. “Please, just drop it.”

  “Fine,” I conceded, knowing she was stubborn and wasn’t going to tell me. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t hurt and piss me off a little. “If you want to get all the other food out, I’ll start on the meat.”

  She nodded and walked past me to wash her hands. I didn’t want to fight with her and although we technically weren’t fighting, it felt like it. I leaned against the counter and waited until she had washed and dried her hands before I caught her by the wrists, hauling her toward me. I wrapped her arms around me and reciprocated the gesture with my own. “I don’t want to fight and I don’t want you to be sad. If you don’t feel like you can trust me enough to tell me why you’re upset, that’s okay. Just know I’m here and you can trust me.”

  “Thank you. I will…just not right now.”

  I kissed her once more before grabbing the meat and exiting the house to start up the grill. Ten minutes later, she opened the door and stepped outside. She took a seat in one of the lawn chairs, crossed her legs, and began to chew on her thumbnail. Something had majorly upset her and I didn’t understand why she wouldn’t tell me. I knew I might not be able to fix the problem, but wasn’t I supposed to be a support system for her?

  “The burgers are almost ready. Medium-well okay with you? Or do you like them burnt?” I asked, trying to make small conversation with her.

  She dropped her hand from her mouth and smiled. “Medium-well is perfect.”

  “Okay.” I placed the hamburgers on two plates and handed her one. “Do you want to eat out here on the patio or inside?”

  “Out here would be great. I left the food inside so we wouldn’t have to worry about flies.”

  We both fixed our hamburgers in silence and I went outside first. I felt like I had tried to make conversation, to move on, but she wasn’t. She was so wrapped up in whatever was bothering her, she would barely even talk. I bit into my burger, pissed as hell at the situation. How had we just had sex down by the pond not even an hour ago, and now this?

  My phone began ringing in my pocket and I pulled it out, noticing it was work. “Sorry,” I mumbled in her direction, but she didn’t acknowledge me at all. “Nicholson.”

  “Lieutenant Mack here. Patrol just called in a homicide.”

  “Okay,” I replied before the Lieutenant rattled off the address and available details. “I’m about forty minutes out, but I’m on my way.” I disconnected the call and looked at Miranda, who was actually looking back at me instead of the landscape. “I’m sorry, but I have to go to work.”

  “Time to catch a killer?” she asked, a hint of a smile on her face.

  “Something like that.” I stood up but she grabbed my shirt to stop me. “What?”

  She rose from her chair, fisting my shirt and drew us closer. “I’m sorry. I just…I’m scared that if I tell you…you’ll leave me.”

  Was she insane? I would never leave her. Wrapping my arms around her shoulder, I whispered, “Never. Nothing could make me leave you.”

  “I want to believe that. I really do.”

  “Then do,” I replied before capturing her lips with mine.

  ***

  I arrived at the scene, immediately finding Rob to get more details. “What do we have?” I asked.

  “Male. Late teens, early twenties. Gunshot wound to the back of the head.” We both stepped closer to the scene and my stomach rolled. Blood and brains were splattered on every surface of the alley. I glanced around the scene, looking for anything that may not have been noticed already when a small light caught my attention from beneath a dumpster. I walked closer, noticing it was a cell phone ringing.

  “Get someone over here to bag this. Cell phone,” I hollered toward Rob.

  I stayed hours, combing the rest of the area, looking for any possible clue. My eyes were bleary and the smell of death clung to my nostrils by the time I arrived back at my apartment. Dropping my phone, pistol, and wallet on the nightstand, I walked straight to the bathroom and turned the water on as hot as it would go. I ripped my clothes off and climbed inside the steamy shower where I scrubbed my body as much as possible.

  It wasn’t that I hadn’t seen worse, it was the fact that my mind was already in a bad place. I was worried about Miranda and whatever secret she was hiding from me. I had always known she was sad, but since we had started dating, it seemed she was getting better, happier. I had hoped I had something to do with that, but if she couldn’t trust me with her secrets, was I really making her happy? I didn’t know and I needed to stop thinking about it—I had a homicide case to think about.

  When the water turned cold, I crawled out of the shower and dried off. I slipped on a pair of clean boxers as my phone buzzed from the nightstand.

  Miranda: I love you. Thank you for finding me worthy.

  And she just confirmed what I already knew. She wouldn’t tell me anything that could push me away.

  Chapter 27

  Miranda

  They always say good things happen when you least expect them and I knew that was true. Brad and my relationship had completely taken me off guard and it was the best thing that had ever happened to me. But unfortunately, bad things could happen when you least expect them as well.

  Life had felt perfect, Brad and I had spent the afternoon shooting, fishing, and having sex. But that all crashed down around me as soon as I gathered the fishing supplies to put away. I received a text from Preston that had halted me in my tracks.

  Poco Richard: Enjoy your boyfriend while you can. Once I find you, he’ll want nothing to do with you.

  I was still staring at the text when my phone began ringing and Poco Richard flashed across the screen. My heart completely stopped and my lungs froze. I was so startled, my shaky hand accepted the call instead of ignoring it. The voice that haunted my dreams began saying something as I stood motionless, holding my phone.

  I have no idea where it came from, but suddenly I was yelling, “You’re the worthless one! Leave me alone, you jackass!” I quickly hit end and tried not to pass out at what I’d just done.

  I stood there for a few more minutes, staring at the phone, completely immobile. Did he know I was dating Brad? Had he seen us together? I felt like I was going to be sick.

  A little while later, I was able to compose myself and join Brad in the kitchen but he immediately knew I was upset and I just pushed him away by not confiding in him.

  That was Saturday night and I had barely heard from him since. He said he was busy working this homicide case and I knew that was the truth, but a part of me wondered if he was staying away—distancing himself—on purpose.

  Trudging into my Monday morning class, I felt like either crying or throwing up. All I could think about was Brad and Preston. Brad because I wondered how much longer I actually had with him, and Preston because I had no idea whether he was actually watching me. Knowing him, he could’ve just been playing mind games with me. He
could’ve just been guessing about the whole boyfriend thing just to get a rise out of me. A part of me regretted yelling at him on the phone because I knew how angry and violent he could get if he was pushed while high. But another part was glad I’d kinda sorta stood up for myself. If I thought I was scared before, I had no idea just how scared I could get.

  Carson sat down beside me but didn’t say anything, which was odd. He always had something to say—maybe I’d pissed him off and didn’t know it.

  I glanced at him from the corner of my eye, noting the smile on his face as he read something on his phone. “Hi,” I called in his direction.

  He swiveled in his chair to face me. “Hey. I didn’t even notice you come in.”

  “I was already sitting here.”

  “Oh,” he said. “I guess I wasn’t paying attention.”

  Since he was talking to me, I figured he wasn’t mad at me. “What were you smiling at on your phone?”

  “What? I wasn’t smiling.”

  “Oh, yes you were.”

  The corner of his mouth tipped up. “I was just talking to someone and they said something funny.”

  I wanted to press him further like he always did me, but the professor bustled into the room and class began.

  ***

  Work was slow and I found myself checking my watch several times and checking on my tables way more than necessary. Each time the door opened, I jumped out of my skin, worrying Preston had found out where I work. Get a freaking grip.

  I had just propped my elbows on the bar when Gage stepped in front of me. “Bored?”

  “Yes, very,” I answered. “I’m almost tempted to start cleaning the windows. Almost.”

  “I don’t think I could ever get that bored.” He chuckled.

  “So, what’s been happening in the life of Gage? I feel like I haven’t talked to you in forever.”

  He shrugged. “Nothing much. Just working. Oh,” his eyes lit up, “I got a new tat. Wanna see?”

  “Yeah. Show me!” I practically yelled, getting way more excited than necessary.

  He turned around and lifted his shirt to reveal a muscular back covered in what looked like a huge tribal tattoo. It wasn’t anything spectacular, but paired with his sculpted back, it was definitely a great tattoo. “You like?” he asked, turning to face me.