He shakes his head. “No, she just ordered the furniture. Helped out a bit. She didn’t spend much time here.” He gulps down another mouthful of beer.
“Was that the woman on the phone?” I blurt.
He cocks his head. “You’ll need to be more specific.”
“That night—the night you came and helped me with Daddy. There was a woman’s voice in the background.”
“There was,” he agrees.
“Was that her?” I’m acting crazy, and I know it. I have no right to ask him these things.
“Would it bother you if it was?”
“Yes. No… maybe? I don’t know, Chase. It shouldn’t bother me ‘cause you weren’t mine. But I won’t lie and say it doesn’t sting.”
He walks around the counter and cups my face in his hands. His eyes are dark, his brows drawn. “I’ve always been yours.”
I bite my cheek to stop myself from saying things I have no right saying.
“You don’t think it drives me crazy to know you’ve been with Jax?” He growls Jax’s name and my stomach jumps into my throat. My head jerks back, surprised by his words. He thinks I was with Jax?
He crosses his arms. “Does he know about us yet, Goldi? Is he someone I need to worry about?”
“Where did you even get that idea? I was never with Jax.”
His forehead creases. “What? That’s not… I was sure.”
I shake my head, stepping into him and running my hands over his arms. “He’s my best friend, and yeah, he wants more.” Guilt swims around my veins. “But I’ve never felt that way about him. I’ve never felt that way about anyone. Only you.”
“Are you saying you’ve never been with anyone else?”
My mind goes to Logan. “I’m not sayin’ that… but you’re the only relationship I’ve ever had.” I shrug like that fact doesn’t make me sound completely pathetic.
A grin creeps up his face. “Does it make me an asshole to say that I fucking love that?”
“Yes. But you’ve always been an asshole.” I smile, leaning up to kiss him. “So, how long has this ‘ex’ been an ex? If she—”
“I don’t want to talk about her.” He’s quick to cut me off. “I want to focus on us.” He walks me backward until I hit the back of the sofa. His tongue traces my lips before he dips it into my mouth, kissing me deep. I whimper. What was I talkin’ about, anyway?
He breaks the kiss, taking my hand, and leading me to the kitchen. “Contrary to what you may believe from what I’ve whipped up at your dad’s house, I’m not a culinary genius by any stretch of the imagination. I hope you’re good with homemade pasta.” He kisses his fingers like he’s a chef.
“That depends. Will there be garlic bread?”
He grabs his chest. “I’m offended you even asked that.”
I giggle. I love this.
I watch him move around the kitchen while he makes dinner. Chase can act like he hasn’t learned how to cook, but compared to the skills he had growing up, things have vastly improved. Honestly, he could have ordered pizza and I would have thought it was a gourmet meal as long as I was having it next to him. But it’s truly delicious.
I lean back in my chair, patting my belly. “I ate way too much. I feel like I’m gonna explode.”
“Sexy.” He wags his eyebrows.
“I sure hope so. I’m really makin’ an effort here.” I laugh.
“Don’t tell me you didn’t save room for dessert.” He’s clearing the plates, walking them to the sink.
“Depends.” I rest my chin on my hand, watching him. “What’s on the menu?”
A shrill noise interrupts the conversation. The blood in my veins turns to ice. I know that ringtone.
“Daddy must be at The Watering Hole.” I frown.
Chase stops doing the dishes and turns toward me. “How do you know?”
“Because that’s the ringtone I set for when they call. It’s the only one that wakes me up if it’s the middle of the night.” I grind my teeth, grabbing my phone out of my purse.
“Hey, Johnny. Let me guess.”
“Lee… the cops are here. I’m sorry, there was nothin’ I could do. My owner’s here tonight and wasn’t havin’ it.”
I rub my forehead, the headache growing strong behind my eyes. “Don’t worry about it. Daddy does it to himself. Should I head there or the station?”
Chase stands straighter at my words.
“The station. I’m sorry, Lee. My hands are tied.”
“Stop apologizin’, Johnny. The only one who should be sorry is Daddy. Thanks for the call.”
I hang up, my tears of frustration boiling over. Chase rushes to me, kneeling between my legs. His hands squeeze my knees and I focus on his touch to keep me grounded.
“I’m so sorry. Our date is ruined and I was so lookin’ forward—” My voice chokes, my hand coming up to cover my mouth.
“Hey, hey… it’s okay, baby.” He brushes my hair back. “Our date isn’t ruined. We’ll go take care of this, and then you’re gonna come right back here. With me. Where you belong. Okay?”
I hiccup. “Okay.”
He doesn’t ask any more questions. Not until we’re on the road and he needs to know where to go. The whole drive, he touches me. Rubbing my knee, stroking the back of my hand. He’s just there. Supporting me. Letting me know I’m not alone. That he’s in it with me, now.
I don’t remember when I fell in love with Chase Adams the first time around. It was mixed in somewhere with all the other feelings of growing up.
But this time? This time, I’ll remember.
40
Chase
Goldi’s fucking dad, man. I shouldn’t be surprised we had to pick him up from the Sweetwater County Detention Center, but I am. I assumed Eli would take his father’s issues seriously. Goldi let me know that wasn’t the case. Maybe this will be the wake-up call Eli needs because things are not okay here. He left Goldi with a hell of a burden on her shoulders. One that she didn’t ask for, and that she shouldn’t have
