Don’t give in. Do not give in.
“I need to go to work, Justin,” he said without turning around.
“Why won’t you claim us?”
Chase’s head dropped down to his chest as he gripped the doorframe, feeling a wealth of regret wash over him. “Justin, I don’t have time to talk about this right now. I need to get to work.” And I need to get away from you before I do something I’ll regret.
“Just answer my question.”
“Justin—”
“Answer me, damn it!” Justin shouted as he grabbed Chase arm and pulled on it until Chase eventually turned around. “Why won’t you claim us?”
“It’s not that simple, Justin.”
“Then make it simple.”
“I can’t, Justin.” Chase wished he could. His whole life would be a lot easier if he could just forget his past and move on, but he couldn’t. It haunted every waking moment. Chase pushed his hand roughly through his hair, feeling frustration bubble up until it spilled over.
He so did not want to be having this conversation right now, or anytime. That was why he had tried his level best to avoid Justin and Taylor. He had things in his past he would rather forget, and yet he lived with them every day of his life. He couldn’t escape them, and he couldn’t endanger his mates by claiming them. At times Chase felt as if he was going to lose his damn mind.
“Is it me?” Justin asked. “Is it because I’m sick?”
“No, of course not.”
Justin fell back a step, his face paling until it was almost ashen white. “It is me. I thought…I thought that just maybe—” Justin’s face scrunched and for a moment, Chase thought the man might start crying. Please don’t let him cry. But then Justin seemed to pull himself together. “Okay, I guess I can understand that.”
“Justin, that’s not—” Chase frowned when Justin started backing away from him. “Justin, what are you doing?”
“Taylor is a good guy, he really is, and he would make you a good mate. You just need to give him a chance.” This time, when Justin’s face scrunched up, a tear did slide down his cheek. Chase wanted desperately to pull the fallen angel into his arms and wipe away that lone tear. “You’d be good for each other.”
Concerned, and confused, Chase reached for Justin, but the man quickly stepped out of his reach. “Justin, wha—”
“Good-bye, Chase.”
Chase’s jaw dropped as Justin turned and walked away. He continued to watch the little man until he turned a corner and disappeared from view. That was the oddest conversation he had ever had. He had the distinct feeling that Justin was really saying good-bye—for good.
Chase shook his head as he jumped into his truck and pulled out of the driveway. He didn’t know exactly what was going on with Justin, but he knew he needed to find out before the man got himself into trouble.
Chase drove down the street he had seen Justin turn down, scanning the sidewalks and alleyways for a distinctive redhead. After driving up and down the streets for over an hour, Chase admitted defeat. He hadn’t seen Justin anywhere.
Maybe he had gone home.
Chase changed directions and drove toward the small apartment Justin shared with Taylor. He didn’t want to have to talk to Taylor if he could help it, but he needed to. Taylor could be pretty fierce where Justin was concerned.
Chase also didn’t want yet another temptation staring him in his face. He was only so strong when it came to his mates, and staring at Taylor’s pretty pale-blue eyes would chip large holes in his defense walls.
It took less than ten minutes to reach the apartment. He pulled up in front of the building and turned off his engine, looking over toward the bottom apartment that he knew belonged to the couple. He’d been there often enough to know every inch of the outside of the place.
He knew the small apartment had an upstairs where the two slept together, and he knew the downstairs was where the patio doors were located. He had paced by the patio doors often enough to know exactly where every piece of furniture was set in the living room.
Heaving a deep sigh, Chase climbed from his truck and started up the walkway. He shored up his defenses and knocked on the door when he reached it, waiting, hoping Taylor was home. He wasn’t sure what he was going to do if he wasn’t. Justin’s bizarre behavior concerned him, and Chase had to make sure his redheaded mate was okay.
The door opened, and Taylor stood there. Chase found himself suddenly tongue-tied and nervous as all hell. He had no idea what to say to the man. Taylor was so damn stunning that all Chase could do was stare.
“Chase,” Taylor whispered.
“Uh, hey.” Chase frowned at the eager look on Taylor’s face. “Is Justin here?”
“No, he’s out running errands. Why? Is there a problem?”
Chase ran his hand over the back of his neck, wondering if he hadn’t overreacted. “No. At least, I don’t think there is. Justin stopped by my place earlier, and he was acting really strange.”
Taylor laughed like Justin’s behavior was no big deal. Chase found himself enthralled by the musical sound. It took every ounce of restraint he possessed to keep his hands at his sides. “Justin always acts strange.”
Chase had no idea if that was true or not. He barely knew the man. Hell, he barely knew either of them. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to know every damn last thing about them, but that meant getting closer to them, and he wasn’t ready for that. His life
