Chapter 26
Chase
The fact that Maryellen and I weren’t arriving at this party together bothered me. I wanted her on my arm the entire night, from start to finish. It made sense when she explained that she and Evie would take a car.
But she was leaving with me.
Even though I brought my guitar, I hadn’t decided if I was going to sing. I told Gage it would be a game-time decision, and I’d see how the party was going. Bottom line, I didn’t want my singing to take the spotlight away from their night. People were still overreacting to me doing it in public.
Gage asked me to arrive early. Turns out my father and Sara arrived early as well. He wanted to have a sit-down with Gage and me since our meeting with him about the company had been canceled.
It was always about business with him.
The three of us went into one of the empty rooms to talk shop. I tried hard to make it look like I was paying attention, but it was Saturday night for fuck’s sake. There was no need to do this. My girl could be out there looking for me.
My father asked how the new role was going in addition to my new assistant.
He was happy to hear my praise of Mallory.
I did my best to make it seem like I knew what I was talking about with my new job, but I was only a week into it.
I had no fucking idea what I was doing yet.
Gage knew that and took over the conversation.
Eventually, I excused myself and returned to the main room of the party. There was no longer a need for me to be involved in their discussion.
I found Mitch and got a beer.
“Are they here yet?” I asked as we sat.
“Nope, but Evie said their car is pulling up.”
My focus flew to the door, hoping to catch a glimpse of her as soon as she arrived.
There was something about this party that had her spooked, and I wasn’t sure what it was.
Maybe the idea of marriage was something she didn’t like to think about.
That was the only thing I could come up with.
But I wanted to make sure she had a good time tonight, that was my goal.
My brother texted me asking where I ran off to. Choosing not to answer, I placed my phone upside down on the table. As I did, Mitch tapped me on the arm.
“They just walked in,” he said.
When I found her, my breath left my lungs. It was as if she brought the sun into the building on a dreary night. The room lit up around her, and everyone stopped and stared. And she was completely unaware as she made her way directly to me.
Standing, I was lured to her like a moth to a flame. “Jesus Christ, Mare, you look amazing.” I kissed the smooth skin along her neck, and my dick twitched. “This was the perfect choice, and I wouldn’t have thought it.”
She was in pants, and it was the fucking hottest thing I’d ever seen. The top was this backless thing that wrapped around her neck.
And they were both leather. White leather. Fuck me.
“You don’t look half bad yourself,” she said with a twinkle in her eye.
Then her friend tore her from my arms.
“OK, you two, knock it off,” Evie said. “I’m stealing her and we’re heading to the bar.”
And they did. But I got to watch that fine ass in those leather pants walk away. And my dick twitched again.
“Fuck,” I said as I returned to my seat. “This is gonna be a tough night to get through.”
Mitch laughed with his beer bottle at his lips.
“Got a stiffy already?” He barked out another laugh. “From what I can see, there are plenty of empty rooms here, go find someplace.”
“Oh, yeah right, with my dad here. That’s the worst possible idea you’ve ever had.”
The girls were coming back already, and I couldn’t keep my eyes off her.
Everything about her look tonight had me staring.
I pulled out my chair, gesturing for her to sit.
Anxious to feel her silky skin, I rubbed her exposed back and loved the response.
Bumps rose under my fingers everywhere I touched her.
“So, when are we going out on a double date?” Evie asked.
Maryellen had mentioned they were interested in doing that. Mitch looked my way and gave a slight eye roll. I shrugged, letting him know I was on board.
“I’m good with that. How about next weekend?” I asked.
Thankfully Maryellen didn’t mention anything about Iggy’s. For my first Friday, I wanted to go in without the big crowd of friends and family I had there this week, so we weren’t telling anyone yet.
“That sounds good, Evie and I can figure something out this week,” Mare said.
“Oh, Maryellen,” Mitch said. “I forgot you used to work for Chase’s dad. He was sitting with us before you guys got here and was asking about you.” Mitch glanced around the restaurant. “He wanted us to find him when you got here.”
I felt Maryellen’s back stiffen at the mention of my father. She tried to shake it off, but I felt it. The glass shook in her hand as she placed it on the table.
“I worked for him first, before he retired.” Her voice seemed calm, but it had an edge to it.
There was an awkward silence at the table.
“If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to the ladies’ room,” she said.
She stood to leave, and Evie did as well. As they were about to walk away, Harper joined us.
“Hey, guys! Thanks for coming.” Harper wrapped her arm around Maryellen, so she sat back down.
“Isn’t this place amazing? Thanks to this one here, she got the whole place so we could have a private party.
” She pointed to Maryellen who appeared ready to bolt.
“And thank you for honoring the no gift request. It gets overwhelming, ya know?”
Harper moved over to talk to Evie. As soon as she did, Maryellen shot up from her seat and left the group, walking toward the back of the restaurant.
Of course, I followed her.
“Mare!”
She wouldn’t stop. Her pace increased.
So did mine.
She was heading toward the back rooms, not the restrooms.
As soon as I reached her, I grabbed her arm and pulled her against me. “Babe, what’s wrong?”
At that moment, Gage and my father walked out of the room they’d been in, their meeting finally over.
They almost collided with us.
“Sorry, guys,” Gage said. “Didn’t expect anyone to be back here.”
Maryellen turned toward her boss’s voice and froze.
“Hello, Maryellen,” my father said. His gaze shifted to me next, a perplexed look on his face. “Chase? What is this?”
Maryellen’s entire body shook in my hold. Then she subtly slid away from me, putting the slightest bit of distance between us until no part of her and me was touching.
“Hello…Robert,” she said in a shaky voice.
My father looked back and forth between us. I knew this would surprise him, but I wanted to tell him in person. He loved Maryellen, and I figured he would be happy for both of us.
But the look on his face as he stared at us confused me.
Maryellen started pulling away.
“I have to go…I’m sorry.”
And she took off.
Gage and I were left staring at the spot where she once stood. Then we stared at our father, who didn’t seem surprised by her actions.
“Chase,” my father said. “Are you and Maryellen in a relationship?”
Now I was getting pissed. What the fuck was going on?
“Yeah, why? Is that a problem?”
His mouth twisted as he rubbed at his chin. I looked to my brother, hoping he’d offer some support. He seemed as confused as I felt. My father put his arms around us both and led us toward the main room.
“Let’s go see where she went, shall we,” he said.
I stopped him and pushed his hand from me.
“Dad, what’s going on?”
“Son, there’s no reason to get upset. Let’s go find Maryellen.”
Then I caught sight of Gage. This was a special day for him and Harper, and they didn’t need my antics to ruin it. Nodding, I walked along with my father as he led us back to the main room. My eyes scanned for her immediately, looking for any sign of her blonde hair or white outfit.
Nothing.
“I’ll find Harper and see if she’s seen her,” Gage said.
My father and I stood together, silent, as I frantically searched.
“How long have the two of you been seeing each other?” he asked.
Sharing information about my relationship without her being here with me felt wrong. This was something I wanted us to do together.
“It’s, uh, kinda new. This time. We had a little something last summer that didn’t last long, but we’re trying again.”
It had become easier to avoid eye contact while talking to him. As I got older, I understood his culpability in the crumbling of our relationship.
“I’m going to walk around and look for her,” I told him.
The room was significantly more crowded since I was last in it. I saw many familiar faces, but none I wanted to see.
Evie came running up. “Have you seen Maryellen?”
“No,” I said, even more discouraged. “I was hoping you had.”
With a huff she took out her phone and sent a text. Staring at her phone for a full minute after she sent it, she angrily stuffed it back in her bag. Her eyes shot around the room looking for her friend.
“She’s not answering you?” I asked.
She shook her head. “I think she left, Chase.”
Fuck.
My palms were sweaty as I pulled out my phone to shoot her a text. When it went unanswered, I shot her another.
It also went unanswered.
Suddenly I couldn’t even swallow my own spit as I looked around the room. My initial instinct was to run from this place and go straight to her apartment. But there was a part of me that was angry, and I didn’t know how that part of me would react when I saw her.
Why did she run? Did she not trust me enough to help her with whatever she was dealing with?
My emotions were a jumbled messy ball in the pit of my stomach.
“Give her some time, Chase,” Evie said, still by my side.
I didn’t like that. “Time for what?”
Spinning on my heels, I turned from Evie. The bar was the best place for me at the moment.
“Bourbon, neat.”
The bartender nodded, and as soon as he placed the drink in front of me, I tossed it back.
“Keep ’em coming,” I said.