Chapter Three #2
“Rory, concentrate!”
“Sorry, continue…”
I exhale, exacerbated by her overzealous hormones, even though I totally understand them. “He knows Doughnut’s owners, so he’s coming with me, then I can return Doughnut to the San Fernando Valley.”
Rory’s suddenly very quiet. Her eyes linger out the window on Chase like she’s assessing him. “You don’t know him.”
I furrow my brows. “I know.”
“He could be a serial killer.”
“You were his number-one fan a second ago.”
She folds her arms over her chest in defiance. “Stranger danger, Lyri! Your precious goat won’t protect you.” She lowers her voice, “He could be a felon, a serial rapist… who knows?”
My heart leaps into my throat, so I turn to take him in again.
Chase’s sitting on the back of the tailgate, cuddling into Doughnut, his shoulders bobbing up and down in laughter.
The whole look tells me he’s a good guy.
I can feel it. There’s no way he has ever been in any trouble. That man is too clean-cut.
“You honestly think the guy cuddling into a goat like that…” I point at him, “… is a serial rapist?”
Rory observes him for a few seconds. I see her mind ticking over, just the way mine does when I look at Chase. He seems to have an effect on women, so I need to be aware of that fact and not get caught up in anything here.
She shakes her head. “You’re right. There’s no way. Sorry. Go… have fun. Just keep in touch. Message me often. Let me know you’re okay.”
“Love you, Rores. Thanks for caring.”
She waves her hand through the air. “Bitch, please, I have a heart of steel. Now, go on your adventure. I got this end covered.”
I turn to walk for the exit. “Don’t forget to order the—”
“Out,” she yells, pointing to the door.
Pushing slowly on the handle, I step through.
Chase glances up at me from his cell, where he was typing something.
As I approach, he stands from the tailgate, shuts it, then gives Doughnut a scratch behind the ear.
“It’s good to see you again, boy.” Then he walks around to the driver’s side of my truck.
I let out a long laugh. “Oh, hell no, I’m driving. Thank you.”
His eyebrows scrunch together tightly. “But I know the way.”
I walk to the driver’s door, yanking it open. “And you can tell me where to drive. But dude, you are not driving my truck.”
He dips his head and turns, making his way to the passenger’s side, mumbling something unintelligible under his breath.
As we both slide inside, the outside noise of the day disappears, and silence filters around us. I glance sideways at Chase, but his eyes are straight ahead, like he’s unsure of what to do as well.
We’re alone.
Truly alone.
And neither one of us knows what the protocol is.
The only thing I do know is that the energy I felt before is back, only this time we’re confined, and it’s making me want to reach out and touch him. But that would be fucking weird. Instead, I start the truck, pulling out of the parking space.
“So…” I murmur as I head for the main road back to San Fernando Valley.
He peers at me with a sly smile. “So…” he replies awkwardly.
We sit in silence for another minute, give or take, then Chase’s the first to speak, “I called Rip while you were in your shop. Told him we have Doughnut, and we’re bringing him home.”
“Oh, you did? That’s good. At least he knows Doughnut’s safe. Is he angry I took a couple of days to find them?”
“No. He’s just happy Doughnut’s coming home.”
I feel sad to be saying goodbye to this goat so soon. I wanted to hang out with her—no, him—a little more. But I know he needs to be with his family.
Maybe I can find a fainting goat of my own?
Though if Doughnut’s interactions with Polly are anything to go by, that’s not such a great idea. The goat would be out of it on the carpet more than it would be standing. Polly can’t keep his mouth shut most of the time. And I am not sure the cleanup duty would be all that great either.
“You’re deep in thought.” Chase’s voice is soft and caring as he startles me from my own mind.
I steal a glance at him and catch the concern etched across his face. The strange thing is, I’ve only known this guy for half an hour, yet it already feels like he’s been part of my whole damn life.
I figure, damn it!
“I know this sounds horrible, but a part of me didn’t want to find Doughnut’s owners.
I think that’s why I kept putting it off.
I really like him… he’s so cute. He made me feel like someone, you know, needed me.
” I let out an exhale. “God, when I say that aloud, I realize how much of a whack job I sound.”
He exhales. “Doughnut has that effect on people. He makes you forget all your problems, and he makes you feel better about yourself. That’s why he’s such a damn good friend.”
“Speaking from experience?”
He tips his head down. “You could say that.”
“Oh, now this I do want to hear.”
“Another time, maybe. For now, I think you need some gas.”
My eyes dart down to see the red light flashing. “Yeah, okay, pitstop. Maybe we can get some road trip snacks, too.”
Chase bobs his head. “Good idea. There’s a Chevron up here on the right.” He points to the blue and red sign, and I signal for the turn. I pull up to the pump, then jump out. Doughnut greets me at the side of the truck, so I reach out, petting his head.
Chase surprises me by jumping out and coming to stand with me as I push the nozzle into the truck.
“Let me pay for the ga—”
“I’m not a charity case, Chase. I can pay for gas.”
“I know you can, Lyri, but I want to. This is as much my trip as it is yours. I’m going to see an old friend, and I’m a part of this, so please, I insist.”
I roll my eyes as he pulls out his card, moving to the pump, ready to pay. Doughnut lets out a little baa, making the people in the car on the opposite pump glance over. It’s not every day you see a goat in the back of a pickup in the outskirts of LA.
Chase pays for the gas when the pump ends its cycle. “I’ll walk over and grab some snacks while you drive up. When I come out, you can head in to grab yours, so someone is with Doughnut the whole time.”
He’s protective of Doughnut.
I like this side of him.
He’s careful about what happens to people and goats he cares about.
It’s a positive attribute.
Chase heads off to the convenience store as I hop back into the truck, then drive it forward into a parking space.
I jump out and walk around to the back to hang out with Doughnut a little more.
Doughnut rushes to the rear of the truck to greet me, tongue hanging out, eyes wide, seemingly happier than ever.
“Hey, buddy. We’re gonna have to part ways soon. But I want you to know, I’m never going to forget you. Okay?”
Baa. He nuzzles into my shoulder while I rest my head against his.
“Good little billy goat.”
Moments later, Chase walks out with a plastic bag and a cocky smirk on his face. I sit taller as he approaches with a knowing expression. “You’re gonna have to let him go, you know?”
I furrow my brows. “Who?”
He dips his head toward the goat. “Doughnut.”
Dismissing him, I groan. “I need to get snacks. Then we have to get back on the road.”
Chase chuckles as I head off toward the store. The doors slide open, and I walk over to the sugar aisle. For a trip like this, I’ll need something to keep me on my toes.
Ah, there they are, my go-to. I reach out for the Red Vines and Fun Dip.
However, I’m not sure how I’m going to manage the Fun Dip while driving.
But where there’s a will and all that. After making my purchases, I head back to the truck.
Chase is sitting with Doughnut, having a conversation, much like I was.
I approach quietly and catch the tail end of it.
“Yeah, I think she’s pretty, too.”
I can’t fight my smirk as I walk closer, letting my presence be known.
Chase’s head jerks up, and his eyes widen like he knows he’s been caught, but he says nothing.
“You ready to go?” I ask.
“If you are.”
Anxiety fills my entire body, but I try to hide it as best I can. “Let’s do it!”
I don’t think I’m at all ready for this.