“Come for me baby, show me how good it feels.”
My back arches at the memory of his voice, and I lose my breath. The wave of my climax washes over my body, my center pulsing as white-hot bliss surges through my veins.
I lay still, hand between my legs, chest heaving, and my ears numb. Reason slowly filters back to me. I just masturbated to thoughts of Chase.
I think I might be sick.
My bath is ruined from my complete lack of self-control, so I drain it and slip into my coziest pajamas, curling under the blankets. I set my alarm so I don’t miss brunch with Becca in the morning and send up a quick prayer that Chase won’t be in my dreams.
God doesn’t listen.
The next morning, I pull into the parking lot of the diner. I haven’t talked to Becca since last week’s Saturday brunch, even though she’s been blowing up my phone. Avoidance—I’ve realized—is my go-to when it comes to telling my friends about Chase. But she’d kill me if I didn’t show up today, and I don’t think I can keep it in anymore. I’m no good with secrets.
She texts me as soon as I park.
Becca: Hello, is anybody there? Should I even bother waiting for you today? You’ve gone radio silent… wonder why that is?
Me: Parking now! Just been busy.
I rush inside. Becca’s glaring down at her phone, sitting at our usual spot in the back corner. I slide in the booth across from her, a smile plastered on my face.
“Hey, girl.”
She purses her lips as she gives me the once-over. “She lives.”
I wave her off. “I’m sorry, Becca. You know it’s been crazy with the new job and all.”
“Mmhm.” She sips from a mimosa and eyes me over the rim. “How is the new job?”
“It’s alright. My boss is kind of a ballbuster, but it’s nothin’ I can’t handle. I was lookin’ forward to all the cute little kids in their leotards, but she’s havin’ renovations done, so there’s nobody there except for me most days.”
“Mmmm. Sounds thrillin’. An introvert’s paradise.”
I giggle. “I don’t mind it.”
The conversations from the tables around us fill up the silence. I fidget, taking a deep breath and vomiting out the words. “Chase is back.”
She raises a brow. “I know.”
I groan, throwing my head into my hands. “Dang it. How’d you know about that already?”
“Ran into him the other day. He let it slip you knew he was back.”
Guilt crawls around in my chest. “I just didn’t know how to bring it up.”
She watches me for a few seconds, her eyes growing hazy before she snaps back into focus. “I get it, I guess. We all have secrets. How’d you find out he was back anyway?”
“Ugh, that’s the worst part. He’s the contractor doin’ the reno at the studio. Caught me totally off guard when I walked in on my first day, and he was just standin’ there.”
“What?” She laughs. “That’s some twisted sort of luck. I bet Jax lost his shit when you told him.”
My head drops. The napkin I’m tearing apart becomes the most interesting thing in the world.
“Alina… tell me you’ve told Jax.”
“I swear, I’m gonna call him tonight.”
“Girl, you better.”
“Oh, and you’ll never guess what else.”
“Does it have to do with you, Logan, and a bottle of lube?” She grins.
I roll my eyes. “No, you deviant. Eli’s comin’ home.”
She jerks. “What?”
“You heard me. Daddy dropped the bomb on me last night at dinner.”
“What?”
I nod and make a face. “I know. Get this, he’s gettin’ married.”
“What?”
“Are you broken?” I joke. “Is that all you can say?”
Her arm wraps around her stomach, the color draining from her face.
My brows furrow. “Hey, are you okay?”
She shakes her head, her fiery curls whipping around her face. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just suddenly don’t feel too well. Those damn mimosas.” She musters up a hint of a smile. “I’ll be okay, nothin’ good food and some water won’t fix.”
“If you’re sure.”
She winks, taking a chunk of bread from the basket in the center of our table and starts rambling about her high schoolers. I relax, knowing the Chase conversation is tabled, for now.
When I call Jax later that night, he doesn’t answer.
27
Chase
It’s Monday and the results finally came back from the lab. Luckily, asbestos is not a problem. Thank fuck. I’m more than ready to get the ball rolling with this project. Anxious to prove to the guys on my team I’m more than just Sam’s son. That I actually know what the hell I’m doing. It’s already past four p.m., but I tell Jack I’m planning to head over and work through the evening. I want to catch up on lost time. He decides to join me and manages to grab a couple of other guys willing to put in some extra hours.
By the end of the night, we’ve made some nice progress, so I tell the guys to stop at the local bar on the way back for a round, on me. The bar’s a little outdated, dark, and dingy with sticky tables, but for a group of guys who are coming off a job site, a cold beer and a few apps are all we need to be happy.
We’re shooting the shit, winding down from the day when one of the younger kids on the crew, Matt, leans back and groans. “Man, there are no girls in this place. I was hopin’ I’d be able to find one and show her a good time before I head back home. Guess I’ll have to call one of my weekend ladies, see if she’s down for a Monday night special.” He wiggles his brows.
Jack chuckles. “Son, who you tryin’ to impress? No one at this table gives a damn about your made-up girlfriends. Save the imagination for later when you’re entertainin’ your hand.”
I grin into my beer. Jack is the oldest one here—around Sam’s age. There’s a good dynamic he has going with his crew. It makes
