Chapter 20
CHASE
“Do you think you have time for dinner tonight?” I do my best to act normal when I ask Nix.
“Did you have something in mind?” He looks up from the computer at the front desk. “We both know Russ will eat anything.”
“This would just be the two of us.” That’ll tip him off that something happened.
“Chase, is everything okay? What did he say?” Nix looks up at me, concern written across his face.
“No, it’s not like that. He’s good. He knows everything. I just thought we could use a little alone time. Actually, Russ suggested it.”
“Russ suggested that we ignore him and get dinner ourselves?”
Yeah, I didn’t think this all the way through. “Yes?”
“Chase—”
“Please say yes. I’ll arrange everything.”
“I’m saying yes, but only because I’m curious.” He sighs and starts to rearrange the stack of bookmarks on the counter.
“Great. Can I get your keys?”
“Here.” He holds out a gold key to me, one that’s shiny and new. “I had this made for you.”
“The key to your house?” I take it and flip it over a few times.
“Yeah, I figured you should have your own. This way, you can come and go. Sorry. Was that too presumptuous?”
“No, it’s just the right amount.” I’d been concerned that maybe I was imagining things.
That Nix didn’t reciprocate my feelings.
A crush is different from being in an actual relationship.
Now that he’s seen behind the curtain, he might feel very differently about me.
I don’t know that I’ll stop thinking about it until I hear the words come out of his mouth, and, even then, I’ll probably keep worrying.
At least for a while. But telling him how I feel tonight? No doubts.
“Is seven okay?” I ask.
“I think I can make that work.” He gives me a gentle kiss on the cheek. I love the way he has to go up on his toes to reach me. “Hey, things with Russ are really okay?”
“They’re great. Promise. But I do think he’ll be down in a few minutes to talk to you.”
“Good. I can’t wait to hear this.” There’s a big grin on Nix’s face. He’ll finally get his friend back and tell him everything he’s been holding in the last several weeks.
It takes me twenty minutes to figure out what I want to make for dinner and then a few more to make my way to Wynter’s Wonderland Market to get the ingredients.
I tried to pick something simple since this isn’t a big grocery store.
They’ve got a good selection, but sticking to the staples seemed safer.
I’m standing in the middle of the frozen foods section, contemplating desserts, when I hear my name.
“Chase? Is that you?” A tall woman in high heels approaches me. She looks familiar, but I can’t place her. “Geraldine Culver. Nix introduced us at Pride.”
It comes flooding back to me. She looks different without the glitter on her face. “Of course, it’s nice to see you again.”
“I’m so glad I ran into you. I was going to stop by Tannenbaum Tales later today to ask Nix for your number, but this is even better.”
I push my cart off to the side and lean against it. “Me?”
“Yes, I was hoping maybe you decided to stick around. I just heard from our track and field coach that they’ve taken a job in Burlington. It’s a big step up for them, but it leaves us in a bit of a pinch. Especially since they also handled the cross-country team and the season starts in six weeks.”
“That’s too bad.” Running in middle and high school was my main outlet. Without it, I probably would’ve ended up in all sorts of trouble. Plus, it’s the reason I got a scholarship. My grades were always average at best, but I could run. “How can I help?”
“Well, if you’re still looking for a job, I thought maybe you’d be interested in the position. It doesn’t pay a lot, but we do have a budget for it. It’s part-time, nine months of the year.”
“Are you offering me a job?” My mouth is practically hanging open. Here I am, standing in a market, wearing shorts that clearly show off my tattoo, and someone is willing to let me be in charge of things? That can’t possibly be right.
“Technically, I’m offering you an interview. We have to do things by the book, but you’re a shoo-in. Everyone already loves you, and you’ve got more experience than anyone else we’ve talked to.”
“But I’ve never worked with kids before.”
She shrugs, as if that isn’t a massive red flag on my resume.
“We’ll pair you up with the physical education teacher to start.
They’ll show you the ropes and get you used to them.
” Someone calls her name from the front of the store.
“Look, think about it for a day or two, then send me a resume. Nix knows where to send it. Just don’t take too long.
You’re our first choice, but we’ll have to make our decision in the next week. ”
“Okay. Thank you.”
She walks off, her heels clicking against the tile as she goes.
For a long while, I stand there, completely in shock.
It’s a Christmas miracle. Even though it’s months away, this place refuses to believe differently.
Maybe that’s not such a bad thing. First, it brought me Nix.
Then a coaching business. Now, the possibility of turning my passion into more.
An opportunity to give back to the community that gave me so much.
“You okay, doll?” An older woman pinches my cheek, pulling me from my thoughts.
“What?”
“I asked if you’re okay. You’ve been standing here for a long time. If you can’t find what you need, maybe I can help.”
“No.” I clear my throat a couple of times. “Thank you. I think I’ve got everything.”
NIX
“It smells incredible in here.” I don’t remember the last time my kitchen smelled like anything other than takeout and microwave burritos. Between work and, well, more work, I rarely have time to cook. Or rather, it’s not a priority. Why would it be when Reindeer Roadhouse is right there?
“I hope you like it.”
I round the corner to the kitchen to find Chase standing next to a table full of food. It’s not the chicken or mashed potatoes that catches my attention, though. “Are you wearing pants?”
“Oh, yeah. I thought that maybe I’d dress up a little.”
Chase’s version of dressing up is apparently dark-wash jeans, but he looks incredible in them. I do miss seeing his incredible thigh muscles. Maybe I’ll be able to adore them a little bit later instead.
“Is there a special occasion I should know about?”
Chase pulls my chair out from the table for me to sit, a move that I don’t think I’ve ever seen outside a fancy restaurant. “Did you talk to Russ?”
That’s very clearly not an answer to my question, but one that I’m willing to answer.
“I did. He seems genuinely happy for us.” Not that I’m surprised.
Mostly. He’s protective of both of us, so I wasn’t sure exactly what he’d say.
When he came into the store after his talk with Chase, the smile on his face was so big it practically lit up the whole store.
“It’s nice not to be keeping a secret from him anymore.
We usually tell each other everything. The last time I tried not to tell him something was back in middle school. ”
“Really? What was it?”
I cough a few times. “It was that I had a crush on you. I wasn’t subtle, though, and he figured it out within a week.”
“That means every secret you’ve kept from him in the last decades has been about me.”
Huh. Guess that’s true. “You’re worth it.”
Chase sits down at the table and puts a hearty helping of potatoes on both our plates before offering me my choice of chicken pieces.
“This is incredible. What did you use?” I don’t think I’m changing my usual dinner routine, but it would be nice to have something like this a little more often.
“It’s just some Italian dressing and other seasoning. It should really marinate overnight, but it’s okay like this.”
In my mind, it’s much better than okay. Instead of arguing with him, I take a few more bites.
“So, you never did tell me what the occasion is? Russ told me he was giving us some space and taking himself out for dinner. What he wouldn’t tell me is why he needed to give us space.
” And I’m not panicking. Nope, not even a little bit.
“You know Geraldine?”
“The principal?”
“Yeah, I ran into her at the store today. She offered me a job. Actually, she offered me an interview for a job, but it sounds like a done deal.”
“A job?”
“Part-time coaching of the cross-country and track teams. It’d still let me do my virtual coaching on the side. Plus, I could help out at the bookstore. I mean, if you need it.”
“Chase.” I drop my fork onto the table. “Are you telling me that you want to stay? Here? With me?”
“Yeah, that’s what I’m saying. I’ve been thinking about it, and I’ve been happier here than I remember ever being in my life. A lot of that is because of you.”
“You can’t move here for me.” In a few months, he’ll realize that small-town life isn’t a good fit for him. That, without big theaters and shopping malls, he’s bored out of his mind.
“Do you not want me?”
“Chase, no. I want you more than anything. I love you. I just can’t make you give up your life for me.”
“Do you mean it?”
I play back my words in my head. Shit. That’s not how I meant to tell him.
I actually didn’t mean to tell him at all.
I don’t want him to feel obligated to stay.
“Yeah, of course I do.” I won’t lie to him.
Chase Haywood was my first love. Maybe not the way I love him now, but it was still love.
People can call it teenage infatuation or whatever else they want. I always knew the truth.
“Then let me make this choice. I know it seems fast, but I’ve thought about it. A lot.” He reaches out and takes my hand. “Do you remember when you first moved here?”
“Of course.”
“Did you ever hesitate? Think that maybe it was the wrong choice?”
I think back. It’s hard to remember the details of those grief-filled months. This house felt haunted by all the memories of my great-aunt. Some nights it felt like too much. I’d sit in the kitchen, right here where I used to watch her cook, and sob until I wore myself out.
“No, I knew it was what was best. My old life wasn’t working for me. If I didn’t make changes, I knew I’d eventually completely lose it.”
“That’s where I am. Except, instead of walking away from everything, a lot of it walked away from me. I was at the lowest point in my life when I showed up here. I didn’t seek out change; it found me. But I’m so glad that it did. I couldn’t see what was possible until you showed me.”
He squeezes my hand, and I lose it. The tears start streaming down my face. I’m not even sure why I’m crying. It’s not sadness, but rather an overload of emotion that has to go somewhere.
“Nix Jansen, I love you more than I thought possible.”
I launch myself into his arms. The chair beneath us rocks, but Chase manages to keep it from tipping over.
“I love you. So much.” I kiss him until I’m drunk on the taste of his lips.
The food is probably cold by now, but I can’t bring myself to care.
We can reheat it later or order takeout.
Right now, I can’t think of anything other than being close to him.
Slowly, we start to slow down our make-out session. I know we should move to a more comfortable position or reheat the food, but right now, I want to savor this moment for as long as possible.
“You’re really staying?”
“I’m staying. Well, assuming your studio is still available. Once I start working, I can pay you for it.”
“Sorry. It’s unavailable.”
“Oh.” Chase’s face falls. “I’m sure I can find something else.”
“I have a better idea.” I grin, ready to unleash my own surprise. “Move in with me. Here.”
“Isn’t it too soon?”
I shrug. “Who cares? We already survived in that little studio together. There’s far more space here. Plus, no surprise cats in the bed.”
“That’s one of the best-selling points of the studio.”
I still can’t figure out how Nick is getting in, but I put a note on the listing that Nick is a fixture of the place. If he shows up, they’re expected to tolerate him. It’ll mean some people won’t want to rent the place, but that’s okay.
“Completely agree. But this place has some great features as well.”
“Yeah? Like what?” Chase peppers kisses along my neck, and I nearly forget what I’m talking about.
“Well, there’s a great rain shower in the bathroom. And a double oven in the kitchen. Oh, and it comes with me.”
“Sounds perfect. What’s the rent?” Chase slides his hand up my thigh, and I moan.
“For you? I think a hundred kisses a month should cover it.”
“Seems cheap.” He rubs his hand over my hardening cock. I’m ready for us to move this game into the bedroom.
“I’m not done. I also expect regular stripteases, blow jobs, and free run coaching.” He bites along my shoulder, and I’m done. I hop off his lap and grab his hand.
“Are you serious?” Chase drops his napkin on the table and follows behind me.
“About the running? No, I’m not doing that. Now come on, we only have a little time until your brother gets back.”
“Oh, he’s sleeping at the studio tonight. He said he loves us both too much to listen to our sex noises.” I can practically hear Russ saying those exact words. “So we have the whole night.”
Good, that means I can take my time. Or go quick and then let us recover for round two.
“Tell me again,” I say.
“I love you.”
“No, the other part. The piece about you living here.”
“I’m staying in Sleighbell Springs.”
“Good. Now, I’m going to need you to say that several times while you fuck me.”
Chase shakes his head as I tug him down the hall. “Whatever you want.”