Chapter Twelve
LYRIC
Monday
I feel like I’ve been hit by a gigantic lead weight.
I haven’t had much sleep over the last two nights, but I guess that’s to be expected when you are equal parts sexually deprived and confused. But nevertheless, when you own your own business, you still have work to do. So off to work I shall go.
Opening the door to Love and Lavender, I drag my feet inside to see Rory already watering the ferns by the back desk.
With a quick exhale, I make my way to her, trying to brighten my mood. “Morning,” I somehow drone out.
She turns to me, her eyes widening before she lets out a gasp. “Jesus.”
I stand a little taller. “What?” I dust off my top.
Did I miss crumbs from the half a piece of toast I ate this morning?
Rory puts down the watering can and strides over to me with purpose. She slams into me with a giant hug. “What happened?”
After shaking myself free from her sympathetic embrace, I walk around the desk, placing my bag under the counter. “We had a great night, an even greater kiss…” Rory nods emphatically, “… then he ghosted me.”
She jerks her head back in confusion. “He ghosted you! What the hell do you mean?”
My stomach churns. “I mean, I’ve been thinking it over for the last couple of days, and the only thing I can think of as to why Chase would pull back from me like that, and then ignore me, is because maybe he’s married, or he’s got a girlfriend—”
“Or he’s gay?” she mumbles, matter-of-factly.
I stifle a laugh. “He’s not gay, Rory.”
“Just checking. I have this friend, Trevor, I swear they’d be so cute together.”
I scoff. “Seriously?”
She throws her hands up in surrender. “Right, sorry. Why don’t you message him?”
“Don’t want to seem desperate. I kinda already threw myself at him Saturday night, then he turned and left. Think that pretty much speaks volumes, doesn’t it?”
She narrows her eyes. “Not always. Sometimes there’s an underlying reason. Just ask! If he’s not into you, then you’re losing nothing.”
“And if he is?”
“Then he should be honest and tell you what’s going on. Because he won’t want you thinking the worst of him.”
I stand taller. “You know, Rory, sometimes you’re really smart.”
“Ha.” She smirks like she didn’t expect me to say that.
I reach under the desk, grab my cell from my bag, and then I walk out the back to the stockroom.
I don’t want to pussyfoot around, so I’m going to make it simple and straight to the point.
I decide to send Chase a text rather than call because he might be at work.
At least this way, he won’t have to talk to me in front of his dad or whoever else might be in his office. Text messages are far more discreet.
Me: Look, I don’t want to fuck about if you’re not into this. Just tell me one thing… are you married or something?
Wanting to press send but not knowing if I’m doing the right thing, I hover over the button. I know the message comes off a little aggressive, but he’s shut me out for almost two days. I sent him a couple of text messages, but there was no response.
I want an answer.
No, I need an answer.
I am owed an answer.
Taking a deep breath, I hit send.
My foot taps on the floor as I wait impatiently.
Anticipation or nerves take hold—I can’t tell which one.
I’m expecting something, but nothing comes back.
My anxiety grows with each passing minute until almost half an hour has passed.
I know Rory’s out there working on her own, and I need to do my job.
Chase can officially go to hell.
I groan, throwing my cell on top of the nearby cleaning cupboard and walking back out the front with a loud, exasperated huff.
Rory grimaces. “So… he’s married, then?”
“Still not sure. He’s giving me the silent treatment.”
Her nose pushes up like she has smelled something bad. “I’m so sorry, Lyri.”
I shrug, then get on with my day.
Even though there’s a hollow pit in the bottom of my stomach.
***
The day’s been busy.
I haven’t had a moment to stop and think about Chase, which has been a saving grace.
I’ve started closing up, and as I go to place some disinfectant in the back cupboard, I notice my cell sitting where I dumped it this morning.
Regrettably, I pick it up, taking a deep breath, then swipe it to turn on the screen.
I see two missed calls and a text from Rip and one from Chase.
My heart flutters a little, but then it thumps hard, wondering if Chase’s called to say goodbye.
I can’t face Chase just yet, so I open Rip’s picture text instead.
It’s Doughnut, flat on his back like a beached walrus, if walruses had hooves, with a tiny black cat perched on top of him like it owns the joint.
The cat looks absolutely done with life, while Doughnut’s tongue lolls out the side of his mouth like he’s just discovered nirvana through interspecies friendship.
And of course, Rip’s half in the frame, grinning like a maniac and throwing up the shaka sign like he’s some surfer god instead of a badass biker squished into a selfie with a goat and a grumpy cat.
I can’t help it.
A smile creeps across my face.
The photograph is chaotic, ridiculous, and precisely what I need. A little hit of happiness to ease the pressure cooker my brain’s been stewing in all day.
But I’m torn.
I don’t want to read Chase’s message in case it’s bad.
But I guess it’s best to rip the Band-Aid off, as they say.
With a sigh, I slowly open the text, squinting as I read it as if trying to shield myself from the pain that’s inevitably about to pour off the screen and straight into my heart.
Chase: Tried to call. Sorry for being absent. Work was really intense for a while. Am I married? To my job maybe? Do I have a girlfriend? Depends. I was hoping to ask this new girl I’ve been seeing that very question, but I have a feeling she’s angry with me. Can I let you know when I know?
My eyes shoot open as I read his message. “Holy crap.”
Rory pops her head around the corner. “You okay?”
My eyes slowly glance up. “I think Chase just asked me to be his girlfriend in the most roundabout, weirdest way possible.”
She lunges into the room, grabs my cell from me, and assesses the text. Her eyes widen with delight. “Ahh… that would be a yes. I do believe that was his way of asking you. He is a weird one, that gorgeous hunk of a man.”
“Well, what the hell do I say to that?”
She snorts out a laugh. “Oh, sweetheart, you proposition him right back.”
I bite my bottom lip, then type out my reply.
Me: I have a feeling this new girl is more curious than angry.
Why would you kiss her like that, then bolt faster than a guy sprinting from emotional intimacy?
Did said girl have bad breath? A tragic kissing technique?
Or maybe, like the movie title says… He’s Just Not That Into You.
If it’s that, then maybe… just maybe… said girl isn’t the right girl for you after all.
I wait impatiently for his reply and jump when the phone rings in my hand. My eyes widen before I show Rory the caller ID—it’s Chase.
Her hands flutter around in a flurry of excitement. “Answer it! Put it on speaker so I can hear,” she shrieks.
I press the green button, then the speaker button. “Hello, Love and Lavender, Lyric speaking.”
He chuckles. “I didn’t call the shop, Lyri. You know it’s me.”
Oh God, his voice is like heaven.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know anyone named me. You’ll have to be more specific.”
He groans. “You know how to make a man work for it, don’t you?”
Rory bobs her head like she’s loving this way too much.
“If he wants me… he’s going to have to prove it.”
Chase’s quiet for a moment, then exhales. “Lyri, I’m sorry I went cold on you…” His pause is a little longer than expected. “I was confused.”
My eyes open wide as I drop my humor, letting that sink in. “Confused?” I repeat, trying to see if I heard right.
“I don’t want to fuck this up with you. But by doing what I did, I’ve done just that.”
Rory extends up on her toes in her excitement as I gnaw on my bottom lip, taking in his words.
“Thank you for finally being honest with me. But Chase, if this thing… whatever it is between us is going to work… we just let it take the path it’s going to take naturally.
Am I nervous? Hell, yeah. But I’d never ghost you. Confused or not. That’s just uncool.”
He sighs. “I understand if you can’t forgive me… but I’m asking you to anyway.”
I think about it, but it only takes a second before I know I’m going to give him a chance to make it up to me. “My place tonight?”
“So, is that a yes?”
“That’s a… you can grovel at my feet and try to make it up to me.”
Chase lets out a relieved exhale like he can’t believe I’ve agreed. I can actually hear the tension rolling off him. I sense he’s sorry, now I just need him to prove it. “I’ll bring dinner with me. And don’t worry, I’ll make it up to you. I promise.”
I exhale. “Chase…”
“Yeah?”
“If you ghost me again, we’re done.”
He’s quiet for a short moment, then exhales. “Right. Yeah, I know, I am sorry.”
My heart hammers in my chest. I don’t know how I feel about this. I guess I won’t know if he’ll do it again or not. I simply have to take a chance. “See you tonight.”
“I can’t wait, Lyri.” I hear his smile through the tone of his voice, then he ends the call.
Rory lets out a squeal loud enough to wake the dead, which makes me clench my eyes shut.
Then she lunges at me, hugging me tightly.
She starts to bounce up and down with me in her arms. I can’t help but grin at her playfulness.
Finally, I can let all of the tension go from the last two days.
So I jump around with her like we’re giddy teenagers, both of us laughing like hyenas. Until I realize what we must look like.
“Geez, calm down!” I yell over her excitement.
She stops bouncing, as we both straighten out our clothing and put on stern faces. Then, we slowly smirk at each other as we move to continue closing up the store.
I need to get home. I have a date to get ready for. A date I want to end differently from the last one. Fingers crossed.
Which side of Chase will I get tonight?
The Hallmark romantic or the disappearing ghost?