Almost Lost, Never Forgotten

by T. L. Sieving

  “I see,” I tell him. “How did you know I was with Chase?” I ask him.

  “He called us from your phone,” is all Jax tells me.

  “And where is Chase now?” I ask.

  “He’s at his game. He left you this,” Jax walks over to the table grabs an envelope and hands it to me. I place it next to me and tell Jax to get into bed so I can cuddle with him.

  He lays back and I lay on his chest.

  “Tell me a story, a happy one.” I tell him.

  I have no idea what story he tells me as I drift to sleep.

  I wake up and I see the sun streaming through the curtains and I feel human again. I still feel a little sick, but so much better.

  I hear Jax on the phone talking to someone. “Yeah man, I really can’t thank you enough for helping our girl,”… “Yeah I’ll have her call you when she gets up,”… “Sure thing and I’ll call you again tonight with an update,”… “Sounds good Chase, take care man.”

  What the heck? And the conversations from yesterday come pouring into my head.

  “Were you just talking to Chase?”

  “Yeah, I called him to give him another update. He’s worried about you and I can’t thank him enough for what he did. He wants you to call him when you’re feeling better,” he tells me.

  “Yeah ok,” I say to him and get up to walk to the bathroom.

  Am I dreaming right now? Jax, my boyfriend, is talking to Chase, my ex boyfriend, who also happens to be the guy who yelled at me and tried to ruin our interview… oh, apparently he saved me too. This is a lot to take in right now.

  After I brush my teeth I start the shower and Sam comes in to check on me.

  “Can we go home now?” I ask.

  “Yeah, they’re securing the entrances for us now to make sure we aren’t bothered when we leave.”

  I give her that confusing look trying to urge her to move on, “why?”

  “The paparazzi saw you leave the bar with Chase after I left with Jax. They’re crazy about this story and they’ve been camped out front since Saturday night.”

  “Oh shit, it’s Monday? I should be at work and flying to Detroit to save the interview!” I say frantically looking for my purse.

  “I called Rebekka and you’re not scheduled to be at work this week. Settle down, we’ve taken care of everything,” Sam informs me.

  I’m looking forward to being in my own bed so I say nothing and wait for them to tell me what they want me to do. They’re in hyper, bat-shit-crazy, mode trying to take care of me, and it’s really unnecessary but very generous of them.

  They are taking a whole lot of precautions for us to leave the hotel.

  Having my best friend’s family be so connected in New York has really helped today. They were able to have police barricades block all cars and press from coming on our street.

  Once I finally get home I go straight upstairs to take another shower. I try to remember anything about that night at the bar and I can’t. It’s beyond frustrating to know something happened but have no idea what it was.

  Even though it’s mid-day I still put on yoga pants and a sweatshirt. I want to curl up with some hot green tea and watch a movie.

  Jax and Sam hover over me the rest of the day. Thankfully Ana came over and brought us some dinner or I’m not sure either of them would have stopped to order any food.

  “Alright guys, as fun as you all are, I’m going to go to bed. I know It’s early but I’ve got a lot to get figured out tomorrow at work, you have…” Sam cuts me off mid sentence.

  “Sweety, you have the whole week off.”

  Oh no they didn’t!

  “You have no idea what kind of tight schedule I’m on right now for this project. I’m not hurt and I’m not sick. I need to go to work, period. Got it?” I say a little defensively.

  I mean come on; they’re babysitting me like I’m suicidal. I can’t even think for myself because they hover around me constantly asking if everything’s ok. I don’t know if I am ok because I can’t even sit in the bathroom without one of them checking on me. I’m grateful for the support, but they are overdoing it.

  “I could go with you…” Sam starts and this time I cut her off.

  “No, you have a job that you’re going to tomorrow, and Jax you have a job that you need to go to.” I tell them very sternly and give them the ‘don’t mess with Lucy eyes’.

  “Ok babe,” Jax says with a smirk. We get it. We can back off. But do you really need to go to work tomorrow?”

  “YES!” Ana and I say in unison and we all can’t help but laugh. Thankfully the tension is broken

  “Listen guys, I love you and I’m so glad to have your support. But I need to be able to live my life, which means going to work, kapeesh?”

  “Damn, that bossy side of you is sexy! You should bring it out more often.” Sam says to me with a wink.

  “Damn right it is!” Ana adds.

  I can’t help but laugh at them. Glad both my girlfriends think my bossy side is sexy. I see Jax trying to hide a smile. I guess he thinks it’s sexy too.

  The next day I’m back to work at my normal time, 6am. I’m horribly backed up from missing my trip to Detroit on Monday, so I get into the schedules and figure out how I can save the rest of the interviews.

  I study it for over an hour and see no way to get back on track unless I fly out tomorrow morning and meet with Chase for our first interview Wednesday. We’ll need to get the edits done for a second interview Friday, but I think it should work. This will keep me on track to be in Columbus on Sunday for a first interview with the next player. Bam! I can save this.

  I call the Public Relations people to make sure the Detroit Mustangs can make this work, but I know their schedule and I’m sure they can.

  I spend the day getting caught up and working through some issues. Everyone is leaving me alone which is unusual, but it makes for a very smooth day for me.

  Jax calls in the middle of the day to see how I’m doing so I ask if he wants to come over for dinner but he can’t. He has a dinner meeting but will come over after. I’m a little bummed because I want to spend some time with him. We were having the best night Saturday, I remember that part.

  Around noon I get the call that everything is set up and the schedule is saved. “Wahoo!” I yell out loud; finally some great news.

  “What’s the cheering for?” Rebekka asks me.

  “The schedule has been saved. I’ll head to Detroit tomorrow and go straight from Detroit to Columbus on Sunday.”

  “Are you sure you’re ok with this?” Rebekka asks me.

  “Really? Don’t you dare! Yeah, a week away will get everyone’s minds out of their ass oops, I mean BUTTS” I say loudly and she laughs.

  “Yes it will, firecracker. Yes it will,” she says with a laugh as she walks back toward her office.

  The rest of the day passes quickly and I get caught up just in time to leave for two interviews. The thought of seeing Chase again gives me more anxiety than it did last week when I saw him for the first time. Something happened Saturday night and Chase will have a lot more answers. He saved me. I can’t get that out of my head. Chase saved me.

  Chapter 19

  I arrive in Detroit at 10am and go straight to my hotel to prepare for the interview that starts at noon.

  Last night was an epic fail. Sam was not happy that I was leaving New York for the week and Jax was equally not thrilled with the idea. I didn’t admit to them that the time away from them would be nice too. I still didn’t have much breathing room away from being at work and I was almost at my limit with the babysitting.

  Jax actually flew with me to Detroit on Renault Financials private plane. He was en route to Los Angeles and so this was kind of on the way. Sam’s parents feel so badly that I was drugged in their bar and they are really seriously pissed at the security. I don’t blame them and I certainly don’t blame Jax and Sam, I feel at blame for not paying better attention.

  I’m not sure how I
’m supposed to get them to forgive themselves when I don’t think they need to. Jax can’t stop apologizing and babying me. A few days ago we couldn’t keep our hands to ourselves and now I haven’t even kissed him, except for pecks, since Saturday.

  I wish they knew that their guilt was actually keeping me at a distance. In reality they are pushing me away. What’s scary is I’m letting them because I need time to myself to think.

  Being drugged is very alarming to me and I hope to get answers from Chase. Understanding what he saw and what he did may help me gather the strength to forgive myself and help Jax and Sam get through this with me. The distance will help us all think… at least I hope it helps.

  I drop my stuff off at the hotel and change into a tight fitting Theory dress with a belt around my waist and finish it off with a Chanel jacket. I’m so glad I let Sam pack for me.

  I leave an hour later to head to the stadium that is located in downtown Detroit. There’s no traffic so I arrive safely and make my way to the room.

  The camera and PR crew that are with me today will be with the filming for the duration of the project. I get all my stuff situated and ready pretty quickly. I have to keep myself busy because the butterflies are killing me.

  I go to grab my phone to send Sam and Ana a text but I don’t have good service so I step outside. I literally run right into Chase who’s trying to walk into the room as I’m leaving.

  “Hey Lucy,” he says as he steps back and continues holding me. The door shuts and it’s just us two in the hall way. He’s hugging me and I hug him back. Being in his arms is incredible. It feels so good seeing him and being able to hug him.

  “God Luce, you gave me such a scare. It’s so good to see you safe.”

  I don’t know what to say to him. I bite my lip and take a deep breath. “Chase I don’t know how to thank you.”

  He places his finger on my lips and I feel the familiar spark that I’ve always felt from his touch. I do my best to ignore it.

  “Shh, don’t thank me for that. We can have dinner and talk tonight, ok?”

  “Ok,” I say.

  “Let’s knock this out of the park so we can get to dinner,” I laugh at him; its only noon.

  “Chase its noon. We can get this done pretty fast if you cooperate,” I say to him and nudge him with my elbow.

  I notice how hard his abs are and I know I’m blushing.

  “I’ll cooperate, Lucy, and then you and I can start our dinner.”

  I am so thankful we fell into a friendly banter so easily.

  “Oh, you do have this!” he says as he points at my phone.

  Oh shit, I never did call him.

  Chase is true to his word and the interview is flawless. He’s so passionate about baseball and teamwork and that’ll resonate very well with our viewers. We have a very good rapport and I doubt we’ll need any reshoots.

  Both sides are very happy and we’re able to wrap up completely by 2:30pm.

  I say good-bye to my side and thank the Mustangs team for their support and time with this interview.

  I look over and see Chase waiting for me, very patiently. He winks and I smile holding up my finger signaling for one more minute.

  I grab the rest of my stuff and let him know I’m ready. I already texted the driver I have this week and let him know that I wouldn’t be needing him this afternoon.

  “Much better Chase; it was really nice working with you today!”

  He laughs and nudges me telling me I was much more professional today. I laugh; we both know what happened last week.

  “Would you like a tour?”

  “Are you kidding? I would love one!”

  I’m so excited to have a tour of this stadium from Chase’s point of view. It’s one thing to be a fan, but it’s quite another to be a fan playing for your team.

  “Right this way,” he says to me and points in the direction of the tunnel. We walk through and onto the field toward his home bench. He talks about the call he got moving him up right after getting to the minors. He pokes himself to make sure this is reality. I can see the little boy with big dreams I once knew.

  He tells me about his first home run and about the friends he’s made on the team. He’s so relaxed and energetic about his life, I’m really happy for him.

  After we walk to second base I make a detour to the open field. I always loved how they have such perfectly manicured lawns in baseball. I lay down in the middle of the open field and Chase lays down next to me.

  We talk about my job and how long I’ve been doing it. I tell him about my first interview in Los Angeles and my next one in Columbus. I tell him about Sam and Ana and my life in New York. The conversation flows, but it feels like there’s an elephants in the room with how careful we are scooting around our pasts.

  Chase asks if I’m hungry and I’m surprised to see that it’s already 5:30pm. “Yeah, I’m starving!”

  “Perfect, let’s go eat,” he says as he stands up and extends his arms to help me up.

  We come pretty close and there’s a moment where we silently stare into each other’s eyes.

  I wasn’t looking to see Chase again. I was finally moving on after four years and letting go. A little bit. Now, here he is back in my life, as my friend. I know I can’t leave Michigan in three days and never talk to him again. It’s no longer an option.

  As we’re walking back I take out my phone and text Sam that I’m still doing good. Little miss worry-wart is going to need Botox if she keeps worrying about me so much. I tell her that, but she doesn’t think it’s funny.

  We decide to have dinner at my hotel. It’s the nicest hotel in Detroit and has a great restaurant. The Renaults have seriously taken over my travel and seem to be in charge of all my bookings. I know they feel like I’m their daughter. I’m getting more used to them spoiling me.

  Chase drives us and we go straight to the restaurant. We’re seated right away in a very quiet area giving us the privacy we need. There’s a lot to talk about but I need to ask him about Saturday night, I still don’t know what really happened.

  We both order vodka to start; he has his straight and I add Sprite to mine.

  Not wanting to waste any time, I’m very blunt and ask him to spill it.

  Turns out he was at Club 6 with some teammates and they were in another VIP area. He saw us come in and was considering sending over a bottle to apologize for his behavior, but he didn’t because our area was already filled with drinks.

  He tells me all about the night and pieces finally come together. I don’t remember any of it but he paints the picture well enough for me to understand.

  A lot of what he tells me surprises me and I’m feeling very guilty for cutting him out of my life the way I did.

  “Chase I don’t remember any of this;” I say trying hard to remember that night.

  “Lucy, trust me, you don’t want to remember it.”

  Yeah, maybe he’s right.

  Chase invites me to his game tomorrow and I accept. I’m surprised and even a bit suspicious when he further suggests that he pick me up. “Chase has someone suggested that you watch me?”

  He stops and thinks about his answer. “Sam and Jax are really worried about you. I volunteered to keep an eye on you.”

  I’m not sure why that bothers me but it does. I try not to let it show and simply smile at him.

  “Lucy, do you mind if I walk you to your room and check to make sure no one is in there?”

  “Geez Chase, they’ve really gotten to you haven’t they? They’re crazy about my safety.”

  “I knew I liked them,” he says with a wink as I lead the way to my room.

  He checks out my room and says it looks secure. It’s a little awkward so I thank him for our day and tell him I’ll see him tomorrow.

  I make sure the door is locked before I get ready for bed.

  I grab my phone to text Jax.

  11:00pm

  Me: Hey Jax. I miss you babe.

  11:05pm
/>   Jax: Hey gorgeous, I miss you too. How was your day?

  11:06pm

  Me: My day was very good, thanks. The only thing missing was you. You?

  Jax: Ditto. Can I join you in Columbus Sunday?

  11:07pm

  Me: I’d love that. I didn’t have to beg, too bad.

  11:08pm

  Jax: You don’t ever have to beg. But you can show me what that’d look like.

  Me: Gladly. Can’t wait until Sunday, talk to you tomorrow. xo

  Jax: Sweet Dreams gorgeous, lock the door. xo

  I call Sam and she answers right away.

  I tell her about my day with Chase and our conversation at dinner where he filled me in on everything that he saw.

  Sam is quiet when I go through how Chase saw her talking to someone and saw the scene that quickly occurred. He saw Jax and Sam leave and thought I’d be with them.

  Sam tells me how Jax and I decided that Jax would take her home and I’d make sure Ana and Dexter got back to the house ok.

  It hits me that this is why they both feel so guilty. Sam must feel guilty that she needed help and in return I was left alone.

  “You know that makes sense right Sam? I hope you know I’d make that decision again.”

  I can hear her crying on the line. “I feel so guilty Lucy. I have to get over what that son-of-a-bitch did to me. If I wasn’t so weak about it I could’ve stood up to him at the club. Instead we left you and you were vulnerable.”

  “Sam, knock it off! You left the club and I was there with friends. You know, it’s not normal to be surrounded by security or watchdogs all the time. I was stupid and didn’t watch my drink and some asshole put something in it. Thank God someone saw it and saved me from being raped… or worse.”

  I hold back a choking sob as I say that. It made me sick to hear Chase tell me that asshole had his hands all over me. I’m so thankful that Chase was there and stepped in.

  “Chase was so great, you should know that. He got your phone and called me and Jax. Jax was beyond himself that he wasn’t there to help or save you.”

  “No he wasn’t and neither were you. But that’s not your job. None of this is your fault, ok?”