by EmMz
Cautiously, I lowered myself into the cushion next to her. “So what happened?”
Hannah mumbled something I couldn’t quite make out before she sat back up and looked right at me. “Okay, here goes.” She took a deep breath and began,
“So my mom made me take her car and run to the store for her, because she forgot rolls and cranberry sauce for tomorrow. So while I was there, I saw Martin shopping with his mom. I totally freaked out you have no idea. Anyway, I ducked behind a huge tower of cereal so he wouldn’t see me. I would’ve totally taken off, except I panicked and left the stupid shopping cart in the middle of the aisle—and it had my purse in it. So I couldn’t leave it, you know?”
I grinned. “No, definitely not.”
“Well, Martin walked right up to the cart and noticed my purse. Why do I carry yellow purses? Honestly! You’d think I’d learn better! He must’ve noticed it was mine, because I saw him looking around the area. That’s when he spotted me. Talk about give me a heart attack. I quickly pretended to be considering the cereal I was hiding behind—but truthfully I can’t even tell you what brand it was. Anyway, he walked right up to me. Oh my gosh. I thought I would die. My head was down—as I tried to look cool reading the info on the boxes, but when he said, ‘Hi’—so near me—I lost it. Seriously. I jerked up and like an idiot I knocked over like half of the tower—right on the guy, too! Boxes of cereal went everywhere and people had to stop their carts and everything to watch me pick it up.”
“Oh no!”
“Why does stuff like this happen to me? Why?! I mean, like couldn’t I have just gone into the store and bought the two things my mom asked me to without acting like a complete idiot?!”
“So what happened?”
“Well, I spent most of the time just picking up as many boxes as I could and as fast as I could, without causing even more of a scene.”
“No, I mean with Martin?”
“Oh, he was the perfect gentleman—like always. He stayed and helped me pick them up and then when we were done he acted like he was going to say something. But I was so embarrassed my only thought was to get out of there as soon as possible. So I quickly shoved a bunch of the boxes in my cart, said thank you, and then I hightailed it out of the store. I drove straight here. I had to talk to you!”
“Wait. Did you finish your shopping for your mom?”
“No! With him there, are you kidding?” Hannah looked at me like I had grown horns. “No, I just bought the cereal. I figured I’ll wait a few more minutes and then shop once the coast is clear.”
Duh. “Well, that makes sense.”
“So tell me something—anything—to make me forget what a total dork I was just now.”
“Anything?”
“Yeah, I don’t care what it is, just distract me please.”
“Well, uh, Elton’s got a new girlfriend. And she’s from Pedra Vista High.”
“What?!”
Chapter 15
“I hope you know CPR, cuz you take my breath away!”
Okay, so maybe that wasn’t the perfect time to bring up Elton Bloomfield. But honestly, desperate times call for desperate measures. She needed a distraction, the poor girl—what else was I supposed to do? I’m sure I could’ve thought of a million other things, but I didn’t. As it was Hannah left more in a mess than when she came. I had no idea she was still crushing on Elton that hard. Sheez, the guy totally burned her. I guess it’s tough when you’ve liked someone as long as she liked him. Good grief.
My night of “errors” didn’t end there, either. Nope. Just when I thought things couldn’t get worse, Chase came over. I’m not a person who usually whines about the injustices of life, but honestly, Chase Anderson? Were the Fates determined to see me crack? Like, my mom freaking out and embarrassing Ethan wasn’t bad enough. Then the whole Hannah-Elton blunder right afterwards, but having to deal with Chase the same night really was not fair.
“Hey, can I come in?”
Sure. Why not? Might as well join the party. “Yeah, I’m helping my mom in the kitchen, is there something you need?” I asked as I stepped back and let Chase walk into the house. He had a sheepish grin on his face.
“Actually, I need to see you.”
Me? “I thought you didn’t want to be in the same room as me?”
At least he had the decency to wince. “Look. Can we talk?”
“You’re sure you want to hear what I have to say?” I walked into the front room that Hannah had just vacated. “This room isn’t too confining for you is it?”
“Emma, stop. This isn’t like you.”
“What isn’t like me?” I smiled myBradford smile.
Chase stared wearily a moment at it, before nodding his head. “I deserved that.”
Ooh! Why does he irritate me so much?
“I came here to apologize—I would’ve been here before now, but I’ve been away helping my dad with his offices in Durango.”
“Y-you’ve been away?” Concerned, I took a couple of steps toward Chase, before I realized what I was doing and stopped.
Instead he came up to me. “Yeah, and I’ve felt—I’ve—look, I didn’t mean it, okay? What I said at Cassidy’s party was uncalled for. There were many different ways I could’ve got my point across, but I didn’t and I’m sorry. I definitely didn’t mean for you to leave the party.”
His eyes gently tugged at mine and I felt my unease begin to melt. After a few seconds of silence, I lowered my lashes and admitted, “You were right though. I did think I was better than everyone else. And I definitely didn’t go to the party to be entertained and to have a good time. But I was surprised once I got there.” I looked up at him. “Really surprised. And I know I didn’t act exactly like I should’ve, but I—uh, was okay with being there.”
“Then why did you go?” The confusion in Chase’s face as he searched my features caused me to lower my head again. “Em?” He softly tucked one hand under my chin and slowly raised it. “Did you leave because of me?”
I couldn’t look at him. Quickly I turned my head away. In the next instant I felt his arms wrap themselves around me and I was crushed against his hard form. My cheek rubbed up against his sports jacket and I could make out the faintest smell of his Hugo Boss cologne.
It was the cologne that freaked me out a bit. That and the fact I could identify it. All of the sudden Chase seemed different. My senses were in such a muddle, I couldn’t put my finger on what was wrong.
“Sorry, Em. I’m really sorry.”
His deep voice above my head shocked a shiver of sparks down my spine. And after another moment I became aware of his faint heartbeat thudding beneath my ear. This is so weird. Ever so gently—to not hurt his feelings—I pulled away and straightened up my clothing. “No worries. I’m fine.” I tried to laugh and pass it off as if nothing had happened. But something had happened and I was definitely not comfortable.
“Are you sure?” Chase brought his arm up to hold my shoulder and I stepped back away from him.
“Yeah, I-I’m positive everything is fine.” Everything is not fine.
“Okay, well if you say so.” He looked just as uncomfortable as I felt, and for a minute I took pity on him.
Snap out of it. It’s Chase. You’ve known Chase your whole life. So why are you acting like he’s a stranger or something? “Are you coming over tomorrow for dinner with your family?”
“Uh—yeah, it’s your mom’s turn to host it, isn’t it? I should be there.”
“She’s really excited. She’s been cooking up a storm.”
“Just like every time, I’ll bet.”
Why are we talking about my mom? “So, I guess I better go in and help her.”
“Oh, yep—uh, I’ll see myself out. Thanks for listening.” Chase ducked his head and grinned up at me.
“No problem.” I smiled. “Ditto.”
His smile fell as he focused on my mouth. Slowly Chase raised his head and then cleared his throat. “Well, I’ll see you tomorrow
.”
“Bye.”
He was out the front door before I had a chance to walk out of the room.
Thanksgiving Dinner was much better than I expected. The unease and silliness I had felt around Chase the night before had all but vanished. Thank goodness! He came early and helped my dad set up the table and chairs creating a formal dining room, while my mom and I were peeling the potatoes. I was impressed when Chase asked if he could lay out the tablecloth and silverware too. Of course, I was more impressed when I saw his finished product about thirty minutes later. The table looked amazing! He had even at some point brought over flowers for a beautiful centerpiece.
“Let me guess. You took a few culinary arts classes inSpain.”
Chase laughed. “What? No.” He pointed to the elegant table. “Dad made me work in his restaurant for a year. They were real sticklers when it came to everything being just right. I have never known such a finicky manager as the one Dad employs for that restaurant.”
“Really?” I walked around the table and touched one of the dessert spoons—there were two. “You really know how to set all of these in order like that? That’s really cool.” My fingers glided over my mother’s white and gold china plates and then lingered onto the rows of beautifully crafted silverware next to the setting. “Mom’s had this silverware for years and we’ve never used the whole set before.” I laughed as I read my name on one of mom’s regency place cards. “Now I know why, she was probably terrified in case your parents saw that she didn’t know what everything was used for, or where to place it.”
“It’s not hard. Once you get the hang of it.” Chase shrugged his shoulders and leaned over to me. “Just between you and me, my dad’s never worked in his restaurant before. Neither of my parents know how to lay the silverware either. That’s why they used to make me do it.” He straightened a knife that was a bit off kilter. “I bet they would’ve never known the difference, honestly. It’s much easier if you’re using something, than if you’re setting it out.”
“So how do I know that these forks aren’t meant to be here then?” I teased as I pointed to a set of forks on the side of the plate. “Since you’re technically the only one who knows where they go, then how do we know you’re not just making it up anyway?”
Chase straightened up and folded his arms. “Well, you’re going to have to trust me.”
I flipped my hair out of my face and turned around to head back into the kitchen. “Trust Chase Anderson? Ha! I’d rather trust a—”
Chase clutched my elbow, causing me to stop. “Would you rather trust a knight?” he asked; his deep voice near my ear.
“A-a knight?” All of the sudden that weird feeling was back. In confusion my heart began to race.
“Could you ever learn to trust a knight?” He stepped closer behind me and released his hold on my elbow, but I didn’t move. I couldn’t. I was completely frozen.
“Chase?” Why am I having such a hard time breathing?
“Always?”
Always? Okay, now I was lost. The echo of that word vibrated down to the small of my back and up again. My brain was in such a soft warm muddle, I couldn’t think properly. Chase took another step closer and I felt his hands rest lightly on my shoulders. Hugo Boss tickled my senses. I felt if I didn’t move away soon I was going to become a massive pile of putty. Everything was off kilter. I did the only thing I could command myself to do at the moment.
“Mom,” I called. “L-look at what Chase has done to the table.” He stepped back. Thankfully. His cologne slowly left my airways as my mom came in.
“What, honey?”
I took a deep breath of clean Thanksgiving Dinner smelling air. “L-look at the table. What do you think?” I managed to sputter out. I quickly, stepped farther away from the table and willed myself to not run into Chase’s arms and beg to let me smell him again. For some reason his cologne seemed to have the wildest hold over my senses. Never before had I felt the need to be as far away as possible from something, or crave to be so near. I swear if I didn’t know better, I’d say Hugo Boss was my kryptonite.
After dinner we all went over to the Anderson home for dessert. Every year our families swap who would host the dinner and who would host dessert. This year it was the Anderson’s turn for dessert. They had invited a few other families as well. I was really surprised—but shouldn’t have been—to see the Hart family come in the door. But, it was when a sheepish Taylor and Chloe followed shortly after, that I freaked!
“Taylor? Chloe? How long have you guys been in town? Why don’t I ever know anything anymore?”
Chloe laughed and enveloped me in a warm hug. “We just got here this morning. We’ve been over at my parent’s house eating dinner.”
Taylor had his hands full of pumpkin pie. “I would hug you too,” he shrugged, “but my—”
“Hands are a bit full,” I finished for him, as I collected a pie. “There now, you can one-arm hug me.” I giggled when he squeezed my shoulders and then I scooped the other pie out of his hand and quickly set them on the sideboard when Chase yelled,
“Taylor! Get over here and give me a hug.”
“Thanks.” Taylor smiled at me, before he jogged up to his brother.
Chase grabbed him and lightly pounded him on the back. “I see how it is. Go hang out with your girlfriend’s family, before you see me. I know how loved I really am.” He good-naturedly reached up and ruffledTaylor’s hair.
Taylor ducked and chuckled and then asked, “So how have you been? What’s it like back in America, missing Spain yet? Hey, Chloe, come here. You’ve gotta meet Chase.”
“Oops, I’ve been summoned.” She grinned. “Wanna join me?”
“Sure.” I happily followed.
“Okay, Chase,” Taylor said loud enough for anyone in their house could hear. “I know Chloe’s really hot, but you’ve gotta promise me that you’ll remember that she’s mine.”
“Whatever!” Chloe rolled her eyes as Chase swooped her up in a large bear hug.
I could tell she was a little shocked by the attention and a burst of laughter bubbled out of her. “Um, thanks.” She gasped as he set her down. “Now I know whereTaylor gets his boisterous hugs from.”
Chase chuckled. “Yep. And he got them from our great-grandpa Darcy Taylor. That man could squeeze you to death.”
“Well, at least you’d die happy,” Taylor added. He grinned over at me. “You met Grandpa Darcy before he died, didn’t you?”
I smiled at the memory. “Yeah. He gave me a ton of candy bars too! My mom almost freaked out. I was only like what? Seven? Eight?” I turned toward Chloe. “My mom is a stickler about kids and candy. Their grandpa drove her nuts when he was visiting that time—he was always sneaking us candy.”
“That’s why he’d hug us so hard, so he could sneak it in our pockets when no one was looking,” Taylor grinned. “Like I said, you’d die happy.”
“Grandpa Darcy’s hugs were the best.”
“So where’s my candy?” Chloe smirked impishly at us all. I mean, come on if I have to survive anAnderson hug, I should get something for it, right?”
Taylor laughed. “Want some pie?”
“Ha. Ha.” She shook her head and headed toward the kitchen. “I’m going in to help your mom. Anybody else coming?”
“Sure,” Taylor added and then turned to me as we walked through the archway leading to the back of the house. “So did Zack make it back this time?”
I shook my head. I figured Taylor would be sad when my stepbrother couldn’t make it. “Nope. That’s two Thanksgivings in a row. My stepdad was a bit depressed. But he’ll be here for Christmas.”
“Christmas is the best part! That’s when your parents spoil you rotten anyway.”
“Are you coming back for Christmas?”
Taylor looked ahead at Chloe who was just giving a hug to his mom. “Actually, I’m hoping to surprise Chloe for Christmas. He wiggled his eyebrows, held out his left hand and pointed to a very importan
t ring on his finger.
Chapter 16
“Excuse me, but I think I dropped something! MY JAW!”
Shocked I froze in place and whipped my head up to meet his blue eyes. “Are you—are you—? Did you and Chloe—?”
“What? No!” Taylor laughed out loud, causing a few heads to turn in our direction. He pulled me back into an alcove and quietly assured, “It’s a purity ring. Chloe got it for me on our anniversary back in April. She has one too, but I’m hoping to update it.”
“Purity ring?” What in the--?
“Come on! You know, the Jonas Brothers? Everyone knows what a purity ring is.” I stared at him in confusion until he sighed and whispered, “It’s a pledge not to you know—do it, until you’re married.”
“Oh.” I’m such a dork. My face turned bright red. Thank goodnessTaylor had the decency to ignore it.
Anyway, I want to get her something special. Something to let her know I mean business.”
“Oh.” O-oh!
“Right now, I think both of our parents would freak if we announced an engagement, but I think a pretty necklace or earings would be really cool.”
Eeeh. I could only focus on one thing. “An engagement!?”
“Not now!” hushed Taylor. And then I watched his face transform into the happiest and most content I’d ever seen him. “But one day, yeah, that’s the plan. I would love to ask Chloe to marry me.”
I knew it. “Well, for what it’s worth. I think you’re perfect for each other.”
Taylor chuckled. “I just can’t believe she puts up with me. I swear I’m the luckiest guy on the planet.”
His smile was so bright it almost blinded me.
“Hey,Taylor!” Chase good-naturedly hollered, “Stop hiding and help.”
Taylor winked and was gone. For a moment I stood back from the group and wandered into another room to think. It had been almost two years since Taylor had gone with me to the Morp dance his senior year. And two years since the reality of Taylor’s crush on Chloe was something he couldn’t hide anymore. It was at that dance I saw he couldn’t take his eyes off of her. It was also when I mentally and emotionally pushed him out of my heart and let him go. Someone who looked at a girl the way Taylor had looked at Chloe, needed to feel guilt-free in pursuing her. Besides, after that gaze, I realized I wanted someone to stare at me like that.